Slow Cooker Gochujang Chicken and Tomatoes Recipe
A flavorful and comforting Slow Cooker Gochujang Chicken and Tomatoes dish featuring tender chicken thighs cooked low and slow with sweet cherry tomatoes and a spicy-sweet gochujang sauce, enhanced with ginger, soy, sesame oil, and honey for a perfect balance of heat and sweetness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 to 6 hours
- Total Time: 5 hours 10 minutes to 6 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 to 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Korean-inspired
- Diet: Halal
Ingredients
Scale
Protein
- 1½ to 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs, patted dry
- Salt, to taste
Vegetables and Flavorings
- 1½ pounds cherry tomatoes
- 1 (3-inch) piece of ginger, halved lengthwise and smashed with a knife
Sauce and Seasonings
- 1 to 3 tablespoons gochujang, depending on heat preference
- 2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce, plus more as needed
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon honey, plus more as needed
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Lightly sprinkle salt all over the boneless, skinless chicken thighs to season evenly.
- Combine Ingredients in Slow Cooker: Place the chicken in a 6- to 8-quart slow cooker. Add the cherry tomatoes, smashed ginger, gochujang, soy sauce, sesame oil, and honey. Stir gently until all ingredients are well coated and mixed together.
- Cook Low and Slow: Cover the slow cooker and cook on low heat for 5 to 6 hours, or until the chicken is very tender and most of the cherry tomatoes have burst, creating a flavorful sauce.
- Adjust Seasoning: Taste the cooking broth and adjust seasoning as needed: add more honey if the sauce is too tart, salty, or spicy; add extra soy sauce if it tastes too sweet or muted, achieving the perfect balance.
- Serve: Once the chicken is tender and flavors are balanced, serve the dish hot, spooning the rich tomato and gochujang sauce over rice or your preferred side.
Notes
- You can adjust the amount of gochujang based on your preferred spice level.
- Use chicken thighs for best flavor and tenderness; breasts may dry out in slow cooking.
- To make this dish gluten free, substitute gluten-free soy sauce.
- Ginger adds a fresh, aromatic depth; do not skip it.
- This recipe is perfect for meal prep and tastes even better the next day.
Keywords: slow cooker chicken, gochujang chicken, Korean chicken recipe, slow cooker recipe, tomato chicken, spicy chicken, easy slow cooker dinner
