Sweet Chili Chicken in the Slow Cooker Recipe
This Slow Cooker Sweet Chili Chicken is an irresistible, easy-to-make recipe featuring tender, shredded chicken cooked in a tangy sweet chili sauce combined with ranch seasoning and creamy Philadelphia cream cheese. It’s perfect for a comforting meal served over rice with a sprinkle of green onions and a side of vegetables.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 4.5 hours (LOW) or 3.5 hours (HIGH)
- Total Time: Approx. 4 hours 40 minutes (using LOW)
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasoning
- 2 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 oz. packet ranch dressing mix
Sauce and Toppings
- 20.75 oz. sweet chili sauce (about 2.5 cups, Panda Express brand recommended)
- 8 oz. cream cheese (Philadelphia brand for best melting)
- Sliced green onions for serving
Instructions
- Prepare Slow Cooker: Add 2 lbs. of boneless skinless chicken breasts to the slow cooker base, spreading them evenly.
- Add Seasoning: Sprinkle the entire 1 oz. packet of ranch dressing mix evenly over the chicken breasts to infuse flavor during cooking.
- Pour Sauce: Pour approximately 2.5 cups (20.75 oz.) of sweet chili sauce over the chicken and ranch seasoning, ensuring the chicken is well coated.
- Add Cream Cheese: Place the 8 oz. block of Philadelphia cream cheese on top of the chicken and sauce without stirring. This will melt as it cooks, thickening the sauce.
- Cook: Set the slow cooker to LOW and cook for 4.5 hours or on HIGH for about 3.5 hours, until the chicken is fully cooked and tender.
- Shred Chicken: Using two forks, shred the cooked chicken directly in the slow cooker, mixing the melted cream cheese thoroughly into the sauce and chicken for creamy texture.
- Serve: Serve the sweet chili chicken over cooked rice, garnished with sliced green onions. Accompany with steamed green vegetables if desired for a complete meal.
Notes
- You can substitute chicken thighs for a juicier result.
- Adjust the amount of sweet chili sauce to your preferred level of sweetness and spiciness.
- Cream cheese can be softened before adding for easier mixing, but adding as a block works well during slow cooking.
- Leftovers store well in the refrigerator for 3-4 days and can be reheated gently on the stovetop or microwave.
- For a lower sodium option, look for reduced sodium ranch mix and chili sauce alternatives.
Keywords: sweet chili chicken, slow cooker recipe, shredded chicken, creamy chicken, easy chicken dinner, ranch chicken
