This is a recipe adapted from my new Cook’s Illustrated Slow Cooker Revolution
cookbook.
I posted about the book a few weeks ago and several of you have asked how I like it. I am enjoying it and plan to do a full review of it soon, but I wanted to share one of our favorite recipes from it so far.
This chicken was one of the first recipes that I tried from the cookbook and it was really good. The original recipe called for chicken wings, and I adapted the recipe and used chicken breasts.
Mainly because I did not have chicken wings, but I did have some chicken breasts in the freezer. I am not a huge fan of chicken wings anyway, and the chicken breasts did work fine. My husband thought that this would be really good with chicken legs or thighs and I think I will try that next time.
Really, I think you could use just about any cut of chicken for this and it would be good.
Slow Cooked Sticky Chicken
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons of minced ginger ( I did not have any ginger, so I used 1 teaspoon of ground ginger)
- 4 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne or red pepper
- 3 lbs chicken, breast, thighs, legs, etc.
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/4 cup tomato paste
- Combine 1/4 cup sugar, 2 tablespoon soy sauce , ginger, garlic, and cayenne pepper. Add chicken and toss to coat.
- Place in a slow cooker and cook on low for about 4 hours or until done.
- When done place chicken in a broiler proof dish.
- Combine remaining 1/2 cup sugar, water, and tomato paste, and remaining soy sauce. Brush on chicken and cook under the broiler for about 5 minutes or until chicken is slightly crisp. But keep in eye on this while it is cooking under the broiler, things can cook quickly when broiling. (You may be tempted to skip the broiling, but it really does help give this a nice sticky and good texture.)
And I did change this a little from the CI original recipe, because you know me I have trouble following a recipe exactly.
What did you serve with This? Rice? Veggie? Looks Good!
@sara, I served this with a simple rice, seasoned cooked in chicken broth and seasoning. I don’t have the rice recipe on my site yet. I also served cauliflower and broccoli with it. It did not have enough sauce really to serve over rice or noodles, so it does need something on the side to go with it.
Lynn, this sounds awesome. Was your chicken boneless? Would it matter either way?
How funny I put a sticky chicken in my crock pot this a.m.
My recipe was different though, maybe next time I’ll try yours.
boneless skinless chicken breasts and maybe green and red pepper strips served with rice??
@Deb, I used boneless, but I don’t think it would really matter. I think almost any cut of chicken will work for this.
This sounds very, very yummy. Plus, I’m a lover of the crockpot. Pulling some chicken out of the freezer to thaw in the fridge tomorrow morning — this will be Sunday’s dinner!
This looks so good….going on my “to try” list! Thanks!
This looks great…and we will be trying it tonight 🙂 thanks!
This does sound yummy. I think I might try it next week. I love me some crockpot recipes.
Okay, so I have what may be a dumb question. I’ve never cooked anything in the slow cooker that didn’t require liquid (broth, water, etc.) to be added to the mix. In your recipe, it does not say to add any liquid (other than the soy sauce) to the slow cooker. I’m cooking 3 lbs. of boneless, skinless chicken breasts as that’s all I have on hand. Is it safe to do this, or will the chicken burn? Help! LOL 🙂
@Saleta, It is not a dumb question. 🙂 I did not have any trouble with mine burning or getting too done and I cook roasts all the time in my crockpot with no liquid added, so I think you should be fine. If you think your crockpot cooks a little high you might want to keep an eye on it. I hope you like it and it turns out.
I never realized you could roast in a slow cooker; will change my way of thinking about slow cookers. Thanks for the recipe, it might tempt me to pick up the book!
@Janice Harper, Yes, I love cooking meat in my slow cooker. Here is how I do a basic roast with no liquid and also how I cook a whole chicken in the crockpot. https://www.lynnskitchenadventures.com/2009/03/crock-pot-roast-and-vegetable-tip.html
https://www.lynnskitchenadventures.com/2009/04/crock-pot-chicken.html
this looks good – I have chicken thighs in the freezer and had planned to just do BBQ ckn with them, but I think I am going to use this recipe instead!
Thank you for this recipe! Tried it tonight with drumsticks and everyone loved it! Although I think I like the first “sauce” much better than the second, and might try adding those spices to it again before broiling. It was a little bland for me. But excellent recipe, my husband LOVED it.
I tried this sunday with boneless chicken thighs and it turned out FABULOUS!!!! I only used one lb of meat leaving the rest of th measurments the same and it turned out perfectly! I don’t have a broiler so I turned the heat up to 450 on the oven and it worked perfectly!
@amandak23k, I am glad that you enjoyed it and that it worked in the oven at 450 instead of the broiler. Thank you for letting me know.
I really enjoyed this recipe and shared it on my blog. Thanks for your hard work!
This was AWESOME! Thanks for sharing!
Ahhhhh…yet again…this is in my crock pot for dinner!!!! Thank you for all your wonderful recipes!!!!!
Okay – so I’m making this for the family tonight to have while we watch the BCS Championship – Geaux Tigers. My question is what temp do you put the broiler on. I have never used the broiler function on my oven.
My broiler only has one setting, so I am not sure on that, I can’t adjust the temperature. I do know you want it pretty high, so you might try that and just watch it closely.
Looks like a great recipe. Christine from ‘It’s a Keeper’ directed me to your blog. You certainly have many great looking recipes. TFS.
This one is a winner. We just made it and now it is my favorites file. Thanks!
Lynn,
I just wanted to stop by and let you know I made this for our dinner tonight and it was absolutely FANTASTIC! I used 2 large boneless chicken breasts but kept the sauce measurements the same. After my husband’s first bite these were his exact words “I don’t know what you did to this chicken tonight, but this is the best chicken you have ever made”. He also praised it like three other times during dinner as well. Needless to say, it is in my SAVE file to make again and again. Thank you so much. I have been looking for a great bbq type chicken recipe for so long and this is the ONE! Thank you!!
Thanks so much for letting me know how much you enjoyed it! I really appreciate and am glad that you both enjoyed it so much.
Would this slow cooked sticky chicken be gluten free? I need so much info on gluten free cooking. Husband has been diagnosed with celiac sprue disease and I know nothing about gluten free. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks
If you use a gluten free soy sauce it will be gluten free. Have you checked out my allergy section? I have a gluten free menu plan and lots of recipes on it. Gluten free can be overwhelming at first, but it does get easier. Here is my allergy section in case you have not checked it out. https://lynnskitchenadventures.com/lra/
Thanks for the great recipe Lynn! Just recently, two of my children have had to go gluten free, so I am always looking for “winners”. I made it with drumsticks and served it with a steam cooker full of rice. I heated the extra sauce a bit and used it up too. Easy and delicious!
I am making this for Sunday! Yum! I have Chicken legs to use. Oh, I can’t wait!
I hope you enjoy it!
We loved it. My hubby really liked it.
This is a keeper for us. Thank you for the recipe! I’ll have to try chicken breasts next time. The legs were perfect.
Just made this tonight (gluten free) with chicken tenders and it was really good!!! Broiling it after slow cooking it made such a difference !! Thanks !
I am glad you enjoyed it! I have not made it in awhile and need to again. We love it.
I made this for the second time tonight and my kids said I need to make double next time! My 7 year old said it was the best thing she’d ever eaten. 🙂 Thanks for a great recipe! We used bone-in thighs and they were so extremely moist. I did change up the second sauce a little. I used ketchup instead of tomato paste and cut the brown sugar down to a couple TBSP, left out the water and added a few shakes of sesame oil and some ground ginger and a 1/2 tsp of crushed garlic. Also, I cut down the cayenne pepper to 1/4 tsp, since it was a little spicy for my 5 yr old last time. Sooo yummy! I have been enjoying your site. Can’t wait to try more recipes!
Thanks for letting me know. I am so glad your family enjoyed it!
Hi Lynn, Just wanted to make sure it was 4 hours on low- not high. Can’t wait to try this recipe!
Heidi
Yes, but that may vary with crock pots and cuts of meat. Boneless skinless breasts take shorter time than drumsticks.
Thank you for getting back to me so soon! I really appreciate your time!
Heidi
I love this recipe I shared it with my soon to be sister and mother and law they loved it I served it with sticky rice, green beans, and garlic bread. I had a debate with my mother in law she says it taste like bbq I argued saying most of the based ingredients are the same in Mongolian beef!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hope everyone tries this out its a must try.
I am so glad your family enjoys it! I have not made this in awhile and need to put it on the menu plan again soon.
HI! Just wondering what the conversion would be if I were to cook it in the slow cooker on high?
I have not tried it on high, so I am not sure. My guess would be three hours for the chicken. I am not sure how the sauce will be on high though. It might be too hot for it.