Name: Slow Cooker Salt and Pepper Chicken Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 5 h
Total time: 5 h 10 min
Cuisine: Chinese
Ingredients: 800 g Chicken breast, cut into chunks; 1 tbsp Ginger puree; 2 tbsp Tomato ketchup; 6 tbsp Soy sauce; 1 tsp Chinese five spice; 1/2 tsp Chilli flakes; 1/2 tsp Garlic granules; 1 tsp Brown sugar; 1 tsp Black peppercorns, crushed; Sea salt, to taste; 2 Red peppers, diced; 6 Spring onions, cut into long pieces; 1 tbsp Cornflour; Rice; Sliced red chillies

There’s something incredibly comforting about this Slow Cooker Salt and Pepper Chicken Recipe. It’s a perfect balance of savory, tangy, and a touch of heat, all slow-cooked to tender, sticky perfection. Get ready for a fuss-free, hands-off dish that fills your kitchen with irresistible aromas.

A black slow cooker filled with a stew made of light brown meat chunks mixed with bright red bell pepper pieces and greenish-yellow vegetables, all sitting in a thin brown sauce. The slow cooker is on a white marbled surface, next to a wooden pepper grinder and a small white bowl with salt. A white plate with cooked white rice is partially visible on the bottom left side of the image. The photo has a clear, natural light and soft shadows. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

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Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Slow Cooker Salt and Pepper Chicken Recipe
Top Tip

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I’m genuinely smitten with this Slow Cooker Salt and Pepper Chicken Recipe because it takes all the guesswork out of dinner. You throw everything in, let the slow cooker do the magic, and come back to amazing flavors—and tender chicken that practically melts in your mouth.

Effortless Cooking: Just toss in the ingredients and walk away while your slow cooker handles the rest.
Deep, Layered Flavor: The combination of soy, ginger, five spice, and black pepper makes every bite burst with taste.
Flexible Timing: Whether you’re on high for a shorter day or low to slow-cook all afternoon, it works beautifully.
Perfect Texture Contrast: Adding the peppers and spring onions at the end gives a lovely crunch that balances the sticky chicken.

Ingredients & Why They Work

This Slow Cooker Salt and Pepper Chicken Recipe thrives on simple yet bold ingredients that complement each other perfectly. Each item plays a crucial role—from tender chicken chunks soaking up the rich sauce, to aromatic spices that build layers of flavor.

Flat lay of fresh raw chicken breast chunks arranged neatly next to a small mound of bright red diced bell peppers, several whole spring onions with vibrant green stalks and white bulbs, a small white ceramic bowl filled with smooth golden ginger puree, another white bowl holding thick deep red tomato ketchup, a third white bowl containing dark glossy soy sauce, a small white bowl with finely crushed black peppercorns, a tiny white bowl of fine light brown sugar, a small heap of Chinese five spice powder alongside a scattering of bright red chilli flakes, a small white bowl of pale beige garlic granules, a neat pile of pure white cornflour powder, a few whole uncracked brown eggs with clean shells, a small cluster of sliced fresh red chillies, and a pinch of coarse sea salt crystals arranged symmetrically, all placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Chicken breast: Lean and tender, it soaks up the sauce wonderfully, giving soft, juicy bites.
Ginger puree: Adds zest and a hint of warmth to brighten the dish.
Tomato ketchup: Balances saltiness with a touch of sweetness and tang.
Soy sauce: The salty, umami backbone—a must-have for depth.
Chinese five spice: This magical blend packs subtle warmth, licorice notes, and smokiness.
Chilli flakes: For that gentle kick to keep things exciting.
Garlic granules: A convenient way to infuse garlic flavor without chopping.
Brown sugar: Helps caramelize the chicken and balances the umami.
Black peppercorns: Adds that essential salt and pepper signature heat; crushing them releases amazing flavor.
Red peppers: Added at the end for a crisp, fresh bite that contrasts the sticky chicken.
Spring onions: Freshness and subtle onion crunch to brighten the dish.
Cornflour: Thickens the sauce for that glossy, sticky finish we all love.
Sea salt: To fine-tune the seasoning depending on your soy sauce saltiness.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

This recipe is a blank canvas for your taste buds. I love tossing in a bit more chilli flakes when I want a spicier kick, or swapping black peppercorns for Sichuan peppercorns for a numbing sensation that’s irresistible.

Variation: When I’m in a hurry, I sometimes add frozen mixed peppers with the chicken at the start; they soften more but it’s just as delicious.
Seasonal twist: Add sliced mushrooms or baby corn for extra veggies and texture.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Slow Cooker Salt and Pepper Chicken Recipe

A white round plate holds a serving of white rice on the upper left half, with a richly colored stew covering the remaining bottom right half. The stew has several light brown pieces of tender meat, scattered with bright red bell pepper chunks and some long, thick green onion pieces. Red chili pepper slices lie on top, adding a pop of vibrant red. The dish sits on a soft beige cloth, with a small bowl of coarse white salt and a stack of round brown crackers in the background. A silver fork rests beside the plate on the white marbled surface. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Step 1: Mix the Base Flavors

Start by placing the chicken chunks, ginger puree, tomato ketchup, soy sauce, Chinese five spice, chilli flakes, garlic granules, brown sugar, and crushed black peppercorns into your slow cooker. Give it all a good stir so everything is evenly coated. This is where the magic begins—ensure the chicken pieces are submerged in the sauce to soak up every bit of flavor.

Step 2: Slow Cook It Low and Slow (or Fast and Hot)

Pop the lid on and cook on HIGH for 3 hours or LOW for 5 hours. I like using LOW for a slow afternoon cook because the chicken turns out melt-in-your-mouth tender. Resist the urge to fuss and peek—let the slow cooker do its work undisturbed.

Step 3: Thicken the Sauce

After the chicken is tender, scoop out a few spoonfuls of liquid into a small bowl, then mix with cornflour to create a smooth slurry. Stir this back into the slow cooker. This trick thickens the sauce to that perfect sticky consistency that clings beautifully to every bite of chicken.

Step 4: Add Peppers and Spring Onions

Finally, add the diced red peppers and chopped spring onions. Cook on HIGH for another 30 minutes, so the peppers stay crisp while the onions soften just right. Before serving, taste and season with sea salt carefully, since your soy sauce might already be salty—adding salt little by little is the way to go.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Ingredients & Why They Work

Make It Your Way

Step-by-Step: How I Make Slow Cooker Salt and Pepper Chicken Recipe

Step 1: Mix the Base Flavors

Step 2: Slow Cook It Low and Slow (or Fast and Hot)

Step 3: Thicken the Sauce

Step 4: Add Peppers and Spring Onions

Top Tip

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Freezing

Reheating

Frequently Asked Questions:

Final Thoughts