Slow Cooker Kung Pao Chicken

(from desert.rose32’s recipe box)

Categories: Chicken

Ingredients

  • 1/3 cup cornstarch (or arrowroot powder)
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 2 pieces), cut into bite-sized chunks
  • 1 tablespoon avocado oil or olive oil
  • **4 - 6 dried red chili peppers (to taste) found in Asian supermarkets or the International section of a large chain grocery store - see NOTE
  • 2/3 cup roasted cashews (or roasted peanuts)
  • 1 red bell pepper, chopped into bite-sized pieces
  • 1 medium zucchini, chopped into halves
  • Sauce (Feel free to double the sauce if you like more sauce)
  • 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 3 Tablespoons honey
  • 2 Tablespoons hoisin sauce
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tsp grated fresh ginger
  • 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon dried red pepper chili flakes
  • Cornstarch slurry
  • 2 Tablespoons cornstarch or arrowroot powder
  • 2-3 Tablespoons water (plus more as needed to thin out consistency of sauce)

Directions

  1. In a large zip-top bag, toss in chicken, cornstarch, salt and black pepper. Shake until well-coated.

  2. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook chicken about 2-3 minutes on each side, until lightly browned. Transfer chicken into slow cooker. (SEE NOTE FOR STOVETOP DIRECTIONS)

  3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, water, honey, hoisin sauce, garlic, ginger and red pepper chili flakes and pour over chicken.

  4. and cook on LOW for 2.5 – 4 hours or HIGH for 1.5 – 3 hours. (SEE NOTE)

  5. About 30 minutes before serving, whisk together the cornstarch and water in a small bowl. Stir into the slow cooker. Add the dried red chili peppers, red bell peppers, zucchini and cashews.

  6. Cover and cook on HIGH for another 20-30 minutes or until the vegetables are tender and the sauce has thickened up. (Add more water to thin out sauce to your preferred consistency).

  7. Sprinkle with sesame seeds, green onions and serve over rice, quinoa or zoodles, if desired.

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