Slow Cooker Sweet and Spicy Chicken
13 Comments Sep 12, 2016
Updated May 15, 2025
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This sweet and spicy chicken is an easy slow cooker meal packed with bold flavor, perfect for busy weeknights or when you’re craving something a little different.
This recipe for Slow Cooker Sweet and Spicy Chicken with Veggies has fresh ingredients, also it has a few pantry items you may already have on hand. I came up with this recipe by converting a grilled chicken recipe of mine that we use during the summer.
How to make Sweet and Spicy Chicken
This from scratch chicken and veggie meal is so good. Find the full recipe in the recipe card below the images.
This recipe uses simple ingredients that come together for big flavor. Boneless, skinless chicken thighs stay tender and juicy as they cook in a sweet and tangy blend of barbecue sauce, Italian dressing, brown sugar, garlic, and a touch of red pepper flakes for heat. Dried or fresh cilantro adds a fresh, herby note, while sugar snap peas and sliced yellow squash are stirred in at the end for a pop of color and crunch. Serve it all over steamed rice for a complete, satisfying meal.
Tips and Variations
Make this recipe unique and your own with these suggestions:
Don’t skip the Italian dressing – it adds tang and depth that balances the sweetness of the BBQ sauce.
Shred or slice – shred the chicken for a saucy rice bowl or leave it whole for more traditional plating.
Swap the protein – boneless pork chops or even sliced kielbasa can work great in place of chicken.
Try a different BBQ sauce – use spicy, honey, or smoky varieties to change up the flavor.
Add more veggies – bell peppers, zucchini, or broccoli can be added in the last hour instead of or along with squash and snap peas.
Best Ways to Serve
Here are easy ways to serve this tangy chicken:
Serve the sweet and spicy chicken over rice to soak up all the flavorful sauce.
Try it over noodles for a fun and filling twist.
Spoon it into lettuce cups for a fresh, low-carb option.
Serve it with tortillas or flatbreads to make easy, saucy wraps.
Featured Comment
“We made this we love it. Delicious flavors and so easy.. My honey suggested to add water chestnuts. Thank you for a yummy and easy meal.”
– Veda
Slow Cooker Sweet and Spicy Chicken Recipe
How to Video
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 1 cup barbecue sauce
- 2 Tbsp. brown sugar
- ½ tsp. red pepper flakes
- ¼ tsp. black pepper
- 2 tsp. minced garlic
- 1 ½ tsp. dried cilantro or 1 Tbsp. minced fresh
- ½ cup Italian salad dressing
- 3 cups sugar snap peas
- 3 cups sliced yellow squash
- Steamed white or brown rice for serving
Instructions
- Start by laying the chicken thighs in the bottom of the slow cooker. Spread over the barbecue sauce. Sprinkle over the brown sugar, red pepper flakes, black pepper, garlic and cilantro over the chicken and barbecue sauce. Pour over the Italian dressing.
- Cover and cook on HIGH for 4 hours. Don’t open the lid during the cooking time.
- After the cooking time is up. Add the sugar snap peas and squash.
- Cover the slow cooker again, and cook for an additional hour on HIGH.
- Serve over rice and enjoy!
Sarah’s Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
More chicken thigh recipes that you will love:
Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore and Teriyaki Chicken Thighs both bring bold, saucy flavor—one classic and savory, the other sweet and tangy.
Slow Cooker Crack Chicken and Mississippi Chicken are rich, creamy, and full of comforting flavors that make them perfect over rice or in sandwiches.
40 Clove Garlic Chicken and Root Beer Chicken may sound unusual, but both offer tender, juicy meat with surprisingly mellow and flavorful sauces.
We made this we love it. Delicious flavors and so easy.. My honey suggested to add water chestnuts. Thank you for a yummy and easy meal.
Delicious and easy.
I would like chicken breast recipe.
Hi! Would this be possible to make using the instant pot?
This is legit one of the best slow cooker meals I’ve ever come across. Thank you!
I was wondering about the chicken breasts as well? I would like to use both. Also, if you used the new crockpot that browned the meat, should we brown the meat in advance?
Looks great! Can you use chicken breasts instead? What other vegetables can be used instead of yellow squash? Thank you
This looks amazing! Must try soon!!!!
Thanks Deborah! Let me know how you like it!
This looks really good, but I think (for my personal taste) an onion quartered in with the other veggies would be an ideal addition.
Onions would be a great addition!
Hi Sarah my wife has an egg allergy and a lot of your recipes are chicken do you gave any beef or pork recipe?
Thanks
Andrew
Hi Andrew, I usually make a variety of meals, but yes I’ve been posting a lot of chicken recipes. Here are my beef and pork recipes: https://www.themagicalslowcooker.com/category/beef/ https://www.themagicalslowcooker.com/category/pork/