When I need a dinner that feels a little fun but takes almost no effort, this 5-Ingredient Slow Cooker Firecracker Festivity Chicken is exactly the kind of recipe I reach for. It has that sweet-spicy-sticky sauce combination that makes plain chicken tenders taste much more exciting, and using the slow cooker means I can get everything started earlier in the day and come back to a meal that is basically ready to go. Fresh chicken tenders cook up tender and flavorful, and the short ingredient list keeps it realistic for busy weeknights.
This chicken is great served over fluffy white rice, jasmine rice, or even buttered noodles to soak up the extra sauce. For something fresh on the side, I like steamed broccoli, green beans, or a simple cucumber salad, especially when the sauce has a little heat. If you're serving it in the summer, it also works really well with grilled corn, watermelon, or slider buns for a casual backyard-style dinner.
5-Ingredient Slow Cooker Firecracker Festivity Chicken
Servings: 6
Ingredients
2 pounds fresh chicken tenders
1 cup firecracker-style sauce or buffalo-style sweet chili sauce blend
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
Directions
1. Lightly coat the inside of your slow cooker with nonstick spray if desired, then arrange the fresh chicken tenders in an even layer in the bottom.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together the firecracker sauce, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, and cornstarch until smooth.
3. Pour the sauce mixture evenly over the chicken tenders, covering them as much as possible.
4. Cover and cook on LOW for 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 hours or on HIGH for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, until the chicken is fully cooked and very tender.
5. Gently stir the chicken in the thickened sauce before serving. If you'd like, break the tenders into smaller bite-size pieces with two forks right in the slow cooker.
6. Serve hot over rice, noodles, or on buns with extra sauce spooned over the top.
Variations & Tips
Make it milder: If your firecracker sauce runs spicy, stir in a little extra brown sugar before cooking or serve the chicken over plenty of rice to balance the heat. This is my favorite trick when I know kids are joining us for dinner.
Add a vegetable: For an easy all-in-one meal, add a bag of steamed broccoli or snap peas at the very end and toss them with the sauce just before serving so they stay bright and not overcooked.
Use chicken breasts instead: If you do not have fresh chicken tenders, boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into large strips work well too. Just keep an eye on the cook time so the chicken stays tender.
Meal prep tip: This chicken reheats well for lunches, so I like to portion it into containers with rice for a few grab-and-go meals during the week. The sauce thickens a bit more as it sits, which actually makes leftovers even better.