Description
Creamy, zesty slow cooker chicken with coconut milk, fresh lime, and tender vegetables. Bright flavor, easy prep, and perfect over rice for a weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
3 Tbsp avocado oil
1.5 to 4 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
Sea salt to taste
1 large yellow onion, sliced
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 (14 oz) cans full fat coconut milk
1 Tbsp fish sauce
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
2 Tbsp pure maple syrup
1 Tbsp gluten free all purpose flour (optional)
3 large carrots, chopped (optional)
2 medium zucchini, chopped (optional)
4 to 6 cups baby spinach (optional)
1/2 cup fresh basil, chopped
Lime wedges, for serving
Cooked rice or cauliflower rice, for serving
Instructions
1. Pat chicken dry and season with salt. Heat oil in a hot skillet. Sear chicken 2 minutes per side until golden. Transfer to slow cooker.
2. Sauté onion in the same skillet 2 to 3 minutes. Add garlic and cook 1 to 2 minutes until fragrant. Add onions and garlic to the slow cooker.
3. Whisk coconut milk, fish sauce, lime juice, maple syrup, flour if using, and a pinch of salt in a bowl. Pour into the slow cooker and stir.
4. Add chopped carrots. Cover and cook on high for 2 hours.
5. Stir in chopped zucchini. Cook 1 to 2 hours more, until chicken is tender and sauce is hot and slightly thickened.
6. Stir in spinach until wilted. Add fresh basil just before serving. Serve with rice or cauliflower rice and lime wedges.
Notes
Flour thickener: replace with cornstarch or tapioca flour, or omit for a thinner sauce.
Substitutions: coconut oil for avocado oil. Coconut cream for thicker sauce. Soy sauce for fish sauce. Try broccoli, bell pepper, or bok choy. Use cilantro instead of basil.
Spice options: add red pepper flakes or fresh chili.
Reduced fat: use one can coconut milk plus 1 1/2 cups chicken broth or use light coconut milk.
Storage: refrigerate in an airtight container up to 5 days.
Serving ideas: pair with white rice, brown rice, coconut rice, or cauliflower rice.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours
- Category: Slow Cooker Recipes
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8 recipe
- Calories: 441
- Sugar: 15
- Sodium: 827
- Fat: 26
- Saturated Fat: 17
- Unsaturated Fat: 6
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 27
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 28
- Cholesterol: 73