Recipe: Slow Cooker Thai-Style Chicken Tacos

Patty Catalano
Patty CatalanoFood Editor at The Kitchn
The only subject that has ever held my attention has been food, because there’s no end to what you can taste, smell, learn, and cook. I patchworked my way to recipe development and food writing by earning degrees in Family & Consumer Sciences (you may have known it as Home Ec) and Food, Nutrition, and Culinary Science, and working anywhere that would take me: university food services, local bakeries, and the set of Good Eats on Food Network. Early on, I asked my mom how she knew what a cookbook recipe (with no pictures) would look and taste like. While my mom was there to teach me, I realized that not everyone has someone to turn to for trusted cooking guidance. I try every day to be that person for The Kitchn’s readers by sharing smart recipes they can feel proud to serve. Recipe development is the most fun job I can imagine, but it also comes with a lot of dirty dishes and hours spent in the grocery store. I’ve found that I actually really love grocery shopping — especially at Costco and Aldi — and it brings me such joy to share my finds with The Kitchn readers.
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updated Nov 21, 2019
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Chicken thighs, peanut butter, and spicy sambal combine to create the easiest-ever slow cooker chicken tacos.

Serves4

Makes8 tacos

Prep5 minutes

Cook3 hours to 4 hours

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(Image credit: Joe Lingeman)

Wondering what to do with the chicken thighs you bought this week? Let your slow cooker transform them into the juiciest, nuttiest taco filling with just two extra ingredients. When it’s done, fold the slow-cooked chicken into a tortilla with crunchy-sweet honey-roasted peanuts and a few sliced scallions for an impossibly easy weeknight dinner.

More: These Easiest-Ever Tacos Only Need 3 Ingredients

(Image credit: Joe Lingeman)

How to Make 3-Ingredient Thai-Style Chicken Tacos

Chicken thighs, creamy peanut butter, and spicy sambal are all you need for these Thai-Style tacos. You’ll combine these ingredients with 1/4 cup of water directly in the slow cooker — no prep required. (In fact, leaving the chicken whole keeps the thighs moist and gives you a larger window of time to do things other than babysit dinner). Conventional peanut butters such as Jif are perfectly smooth and slightly sweet, which balances the spicy chile-garlic sauce.

Once cooked, you’ll remove the juicy thighs from the sauce and chop into bite-sized pieces, then whisk the sauce until it is smooth and emulsified. Return the chicken to the slow cooker and toss, toss, toss until every piece is coated in spicy peanut sauce. Serve on warm tortillas with crushed honey-roasted peanuts, sliced scallions, and, if you dare, another drizzle of sambal.

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Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos

Chicken thighs, peanut butter, and spicy sambal combine to create the easiest-ever slow cooker chicken tacos.

Prep time 5 minutes

Cook time 3 hours to 4 hours

Makes 8 tacos

Serves 4

Nutritional Info

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds

    boneless, skinless chicken thighs (6 to 8)

  • 1/4 cup

    water

  • 1/2 cup

    creamy peanut butter

  • 2 teaspoons

    sambal oelek or chile-garlic sauce

  • Serving options: warm 6-inch flour tortillas, honey-roasted peanuts, thinly sliced scallions

Instructions

  1. Place chicken thighs in a 4 1/2-quart or larger slow cooker. Whisk the peanut butter, water, and sambal together in a small bowl, then pour over the chicken.

  2. Cover and cook until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the chicken registers 165°F, 3 to 4 hours on the LOW setting.

  3. Transfer the chicken to a clean cutting board and chop into bite-sized pieces. Whisk the peanut sauce until smooth and creamy. Return the chicken to the sauce and toss to coat. If desired, serve on warm 6-inch flour tortillas and garnish with crushed honey-roasted peanuts, and sliced scallions.

Recipe Notes

Storage: Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

Filed in:
Chicken
Cooking Methods
Dairy-Free
dinner
easy
Ingredient