Peanut Chicken Dish for Easy Weeknight Suppers and Meal Preparation with a Slow Cooker
### Peanut Chicken Recipe for Easy Weeknight Meals and Meal Prep with a Slow Cooker
#### Introduction
Peanut chicken is a tasty dish that pairs tender chicken with a deliciously rich, creamy peanut sauce. It’s not only scrumptious but also simple to make, making it a perfect choice for hectic weeknight meals and meal prep. Utilizing a slow cooker allows the flavors to combine seamlessly while you carry on with your day, leading to a stress-free cooking experience.
#### Ingredients
To prepare peanut chicken in a slow cooker, you will require the following ingredients:
– **Chicken**: 2 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
– **Peanut Butter**: 1 cup of creamy or chunky peanut butter
– **Soy Sauce**: 1/4 cup of low-sodium soy sauce
– **Honey**: 1/4 cup of honey or maple syrup
– **Garlic**: 3 cloves of minced garlic
– **Ginger**: 1 tablespoon of freshly grated ginger
– **Coconut Milk**: 1 can (13.5 oz) of coconut milk
– **Lime Juice**: Juice of 1 lime
– **Red Pepper Flakes**: 1 teaspoon (optional, for heat)
– **Vegetables**: 1 cup of chopped bell peppers, carrots, or broccoli (optional)
– **Cilantro**: Fresh cilantro for garnishing
– **Rice or Noodles**: For serving
#### Instructions
1. **Prepare the Chicken**: Lay the chicken in the bottom of the slow cooker. If adding vegetables, place them atop the chicken.
2. **Make the Sauce**: In a mixing bowl, mix the peanut butter, soy sauce, honey, minced garlic, grated ginger, coconut milk, lime juice, and red pepper flakes. Whisk until creamy.
3. **Combine**: Pour the peanut sauce over the chicken and vegetables in the slow cooker, making sure everything is well coated.
4. **Cook**: Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours. The chicken should be tender and easily shredded.
5. **Shred the Chicken**: Once done, take the chicken from the slow cooker and shred it using two forks. Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker and mix it with the sauce.
6. **Serve**: Serve the peanut chicken on a bed of rice or noodles, topped with fresh cilantro.
#### Meal Prep Tips
– **Storage**: Let the peanut chicken cool before placing it into airtight containers. It can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
– **Reheating**: To reheat, simply warm it in the microwave or on the stovetop until fully heated. If frozen, defrost in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
– **Versatility**: This dish is easily adaptable. Add various vegetables, modify the spice level, or switch chicken for tofu for a vegetarian alternative.
#### Conclusion
Peanut chicken prepared in a slow cooker offers a convenient and fulfilling meal that can streamline your weeknight dinners and meal prep. With minimal effort, you can savor a delightful, nutritious dish that the entire family will appreciate. Whether enjoyed over rice or noodles, this recipe is bound to become a favorite in your meal lineup.