Pre-Summer Kickoff Chicken-Slow Cooker. This easy slow cooker chicken uses just 5 simple things you probably already have at home. A rich, deep red sauce wraps around every piece of chicken while it cooks low and slow all day long.
Prep Time: 5 minutes | Cook Time: 4–5 hours (Low) or 2½–3 hours (High) | Servings: 4
Have a busy day coming up? This chicken is just what you need. You take frozen chicken, cover it in a thick, dark red sauce made from tomato paste and smoky spices, and let the slow cooker do all the hard work. By the time you’re back, the sauce is rich and sticky, and the chicken is super tender. It tastes like it cooked all day on the grill — but you never even went outside! It gives you those fun backyard BBQ flavors you love, without the grill, the wait, or the mess.
You can serve this yummy chicken over warm rice, couscous, or buttered egg noodles so they soak up all that great sauce. Want a cookout feel at home? Pile the pulled chicken onto toasted buns and add some coleslaw or pickles on top. A simple green salad, steamed green beans, corn on the cob, or roasted potatoes on the side makes it feel like a full backyard summer meal — even if you never lit a single match!
Ingredients
- 2 pounds frozen chicken tenderloins (do not thaw them — use them straight from the freezer!)
- 1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste
- ¼ cup honey
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce (regular or low-sodium both work fine)
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika (regular paprika works too if that’s what you have)
Pre-Summer Kickoff Chicken-Slow Cooker
Pre-Summer Kickoff Chicken: Directions
- Set up the chicken. Lay the frozen chicken tenderloins flat on the bottom of your slow cooker (4 to 6 quart size works great). It’s okay if they overlap a little bit, but try not to stack them up too high so they cook all the way through nicely.
- Make the sauce. In a medium bowl, mix together the tomato paste, honey, soy sauce, and smoked paprika. Stir it really well until you get a smooth, thick, dark red paste. Don’t forget to scrape the sides of the bowl so everything gets mixed in!
- Cover the chicken. Spoon the dark red sauce over the frozen chicken. Use the back of your spoon or a spatula to spread it all around so every piece is covered and you can’t see the tops of the chicken anymore.
- Let it cook. Put the lid on the slow cooker. Cook on LOW for 4 to 5 hours, or on HIGH for 2½ to 3 hours. The chicken is done when it reaches 165°F (74°C) inside. Here’s an important tip: don’t lift the lid during the first 2 hours — the cooker needs to stay warm to cook the chicken safely!
- Stir and choose your style. Once the chicken is fully cooked, give it a gentle stir. Want to keep it in whole pieces? Just turn them around in the sauce to coat them well. Want it extra saucy and pulled apart? Use two forks to shred the chicken right inside the slow cooker and mix it all into that thick red sauce. So good!
- Taste and serve! Give it a little taste. Want it smokier? Add a tiny bit more smoked paprika. Want it sweeter? Add a little drizzle of honey. Want more savory flavor? Add a small splash of soy sauce. Then serve it hot with your favorite sides and enjoy every bite!
Tips for Serving
- Spoon it over warm rice, couscous, or buttered egg noodles
- Pile it onto toasted sandwich buns with coleslaw or pickles for a BBQ sandwich
- Serve with corn on the cob, roasted potatoes, or steamed green beans for a full meal
- A simple green salad with tangy dressing balances the rich sauce perfectly