Slow Cooker Firecracker Chicken Recipe

Introduction

Slow Cooker Firecracker Chicken is a flavorful and easy-to-make dish perfect for busy weeknights. Tender chicken coated in a tangy, sweet, and spicy sauce simmers all day in your slow cooker, delivering delicious results without standing over the stove.

Ingredients

• 1 ½ pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
• ⅓ cup cornstarch
• ⅓ cup oil (vegetable, avocado, or olive oil)
• ½ cup hot wing sauce (such as Frank’s wing sauce)
• 2 cups brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons water
• 4 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
• Scallions for garnish

Instructions

1. Step 1: Trim the chicken breasts and cut into bite-sized pieces, about 1 inch each.
2. Step 2: Pour the cornstarch into a shallow bowl. Use tongs to evenly coat the chicken pieces with cornstarch. Alternatively, place the cornstarch and chicken in a zip-top bag and shake to coat evenly.
3. Step 3: Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the coated chicken and lightly brown on each side without cooking through completely.
4. Step 4: Transfer the lightly browned chicken to the basin of a 6-quart slow cooker.
5. Step 5: In a small bowl, whisk together the hot wing sauce, brown sugar, water, and apple cider vinegar until smooth.
6. Step 6: Pour the sauce mixture over the chicken in the slow cooker and toss to coat the pieces well.
7. Step 7: Cover and cook on LOW for 4 hours, stirring occasionally to prevent the sugars from burning.
8. Step 8: Once cooked, garnish with sliced scallions and serve over white rice.

Tips & Variations

• Use sriracha or red pepper flakes instead of wing sauce for a spicy kick without the buffalo flavor.
• Double or triple the recipe, browning the chicken in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan.
• Substitute honey for brown sugar for a different kind of sweetness.
• Try this sauce with chicken thighs, meatballs, turkey, or cubed pork for variety.
• Add vegetables like bell peppers, broccoli, or carrots to bulk up the dish.
• Include pineapple chunks and a splash of pineapple juice for extra sweetness and a tropical twist.

Storage

Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stove or in the microwave until warmed through. Because of the sugar content, reheat carefully to avoid burning the sauce.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use chicken thighs instead of breasts?

Yes, chicken thighs work well. Just trim any excess fat before cooking and follow the same steps.

What if I don’t like hot wing sauce?

If you prefer a milder flavor, you can substitute BBQ sauce, though this recipe hasn’t been tested with it. Alternatively, try the Crock Pot Honey Bourbon Chicken recipe for a different taste.

Slow Cooker Firecracker Chicken Recipe

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★★★★★

4.9 from 135 reviews

This Slow Cooker Firecracker Chicken recipe delivers a perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and spicy flavors using boneless skinless chicken breasts coated in cornstarch, lightly fried, and then slow-cooked in a flavorful sauce made from hot wing sauce, brown sugar, and apple cider vinegar. Garnished with scallions and typically served over white rice, this dish is an easy, hands-off meal ideal for busy days or meal prep.

• Author: Lisa
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 4 hours
• Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes
• Yield: 4 servings 1x
• Category: Main Course
• Method: Slow Cooking
• Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Chicken and Coating

• 1 ½ pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, trimmed and cut into 1” bite-sized pieces
• ⅓ cup cornstarch
• ⅓ cup oil (vegetable, avocado, or olive oil works)

Sauce

• ½ cup hot wing sauce (such as Frank’s wing sauce; sriracha or red pepper flakes can be used as alternatives)
• 2 cups brown sugar (or honey as a substitute)
• 2 tablespoons water
• 4 teaspoons apple cider vinegar

Garnish

• Scallions, sliced for garnish

Instructions

1. Prepare the chicken: Trim the chicken breasts and cut them into roughly 1-inch bite-sized pieces to ensure even cooking and easy eating.
2. Coat the chicken: Pour the cornstarch into a shallow bowl or zip-top bag. Use tongs or shake the bag to evenly coat all chicken pieces with cornstarch, which helps create a crispy exterior when fried.
3. Lightly fry the chicken: Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the coated chicken pieces and lightly brown on each side without cooking fully through, which seals in moisture and adds texture.
4. Transfer to slow cooker: Place the lightly browned chicken pieces into the basin of a 6-quart slow cooker, spreading them out evenly.
5. Make the sauce: In a small mixing bowl, whisk together hot wing sauce, brown sugar, water, and apple cider vinegar until smooth and combined.
6. Add sauce and cook: Pour the prepared sauce over the chicken in the slow cooker and toss gently to coat all pieces evenly. Cover and cook on LOW for 4 hours, stirring occasionally to prevent sugars from burning and to ensure even cooking.
7. Finish and serve: Once cooking is complete, garnish the firecracker chicken with sliced scallions. Serve hot over cooked white rice for a complete meal.

Notes

• Vegetable oil, avocado oil, or olive oil are all suitable for frying the chicken.
• If wing sauce isn’t available, sriracha or red pepper flakes make good alternatives, though they alter the flavor profile.
• You can double or triple the recipe — just brown the chicken in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan.
• For a different protein, chicken thighs (trimmed of excess fat), chicken meatballs, turkey meatballs, or cubed pork can be used.
• Adding vegetables like red or green bell peppers, broccoli, or carrots can bulk up the dish.
• Chunks of pineapple and a splash of pineapple juice add extra sweetness and a tropical twist.
• Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• Slow cooker times can vary; adjust cooking duration as needed for your device.
• For a brown sugar substitute, honey can be used but amounts may vary; no exact conversion tested.
• Garnish with fresh scallions just before serving to add color and a mild onion flavor.
• For feedback and recipe updates, engaging with the recipe creator on social media is encouraged.

Keywords: Firecracker Chicken, Slow Cooker Chicken, Spicy Chicken, Easy Dinner, Crockpot Chicken, Hot Wing Sauce, Sweet and Spicy Chicken