Slow cooker firecracker chicken is a bold takeout replica, with very little effort and all the same taste! Spicy, sweet, and savory – try this incredible combination of flavors over your favorite veggies, rice, or noodles.

Slow cooker firecracker Chicken served and garnished

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What is firecracker chicken?

Firecracker chicken is a super flavorful dish that combines spicy, sweet, and tangy elements. The sauce is typically made with a combination of hot sauce, tomato sauce, and brown sugar. It is a tasty main entrée to serve over rice, noodles, or with sautéed veggies.

This recipe is inspired by takeout-style dishes, which are often pan-fried or baked. With this easy adaptation for the slow cooker, you can achieve the same incredible flavor and get super tender bites of chicken.

What’s To Love About This Recipe

This chicken dish packs a bold flavor combination. It has some spice, but is also slightly sweet and creamy. What more could you ask for?
The recipe prep is just as easy as picking up takeout. It only needs one pot and is a minimal-prep meal. It’s even easier than the stove or oven because you just chop, combine, and let the slow cooker go!
Another advantage of the slow cooker is the depth of flavor you can get in the sauce without extra hands-on work! As it simmers, the flavors meld beautifully, and the chicken turns out so flavorful.
Firecracker chicken is a versatile base that you can serve with your favorite sides. Add a scoop of chicken over rice, or turn it into a pasta dish.
This recipe can easily be modified for both kids and grown-ups! Adjust the spice level before cooking, or add a little extra hot sauce and seasonings to individual servings.

Ingredients Needed

Boneless skinless chicken breast – Chop up the chicken into bite-sized pieces for even cooking and simplified serving.
Chicken broth – Chicken broth adds a savory base and brings more flavor to the chicken. The added sodium in the broth also contributes to tenderizing the chicken.
Hot sauce – Use your preferred hot sauce (such as Frank’s Original Hot Sauce) to get just the right amount of heat in the dish.
Tomato sauce – Tomato sauce brings richness and depth to the chicken. The acidity in the tomato sauce will balance both the sweet and spicy flavors.
Brown sugar – Brown sugar is the best addition for sweetness since it starts to caramelize and add a glaze-like element to the sauce after slow cooking.
Red pepper flakes – This is the perfect addition of traditional firecracker spice to the dish! Use more or less depending on your heat tolerance.
Cornstarch and water – Whisk these together into a slurry to add thickness to the sauce. This makes it the perfect consistency to serve over rice or noodles.
Heavy cream – Add heavy cream near the end of cooking to add a rich element to the base and balance all the flavors.

All ingredients to prepare Slow cooker firecracker Chicken on counter ready

How To Make Slow Cooker Firecracker Chicken

Place the cubed chicken into the slow cooker.

Raw diced chicken in slow cooker ready to cook

Whisk together broth, hot sauce, tomato sauce, sugar, pepper flakes, and cornstarch slurry.

Pour the sauce mixture over the chicken in the slow cooker, cover, and cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-8 hours.

Mixture being mixed into slow cooker bowl

Chicken and firecracker sauce being whisked in

In the last 30-45 minutes of cooking, add the heavy cream to the slow cooker to thicken the sauce and allow it to fully heat through.

Mixed firecracker chicken mixture and heavy cream being mixed into slow cooker

Pro Tips

Cut chicken into uniform pieces to ensure even cooking and plenty of sauce coverage.
If you want to adjust the spice level:
- Add extra red pepper flakes or a few dashes of sriracha sauce for more spice.
- Reduce the amount of hot sauce slightly and add extra cream or tomato sauce to decrease the spice level.
To thicken the sauce even more, mix up another cornstarch slurry (1 tablespoon cornstarch and 1 tablespoon of water) and stir it in during the last 15–30 minutes of cooking, while leaving the pot uncovered.
Be sure to add heavy cream at the end of cooking for a creamy, balanced finish.

Recipe Substitutions and Variations

Vary the recipe with different cuts of chicken. Chicken breasts are leaner and will cook faster, or you could try using chicken thighs for deeper flavor and more tender results.
Try different sauce options for slight variations in flavor.
- Frank’s RedHot sauce produces the classic firecracker flavor.
- Buffalo sauce will add a richer, buttery finish.
- Sriracha creates a spicier, thicker sauce that is also slightly sweet.
Swap brown sugar for either honey, maple syrup, or coconut sugar.
Make this a heartier, more nutrient-rich dish by adding veggies or tangy fruit! Bell peppers, broccoli, and green beans are great options to add in the final hour, or simply use a steam-in-bag for serving with the chicken. Pineapple chunks are another option to add to the slow cooker for a sweet and spicy combo.

How To Serve Slow Cooker Firecracker Chicken

Serve firecracker chicken over a fluffy white rice or brown rice, or with noodles such as lo mein, egg noodles, or linguine noodles. Quinoa or cauliflower rice would also be excellent lower-carb choices to soak up the spicy, sweet sauce.

Complete your meal with simple sides such as roasted or steamed broccoli, Sautéed Green Beans with Garlic, or Oven Roasted Carrots. Add prepared egg rolls or a fresh cucumber salad on the side.

Firecracker Chicken Pasta

With just a few more steps, turn this recipe into a fabulous firecracker chicken pasta dish! Follow these modified steps to cook the pasta right in the slow cooker:

Assemble the recipe as directed – except increase the broth to 2 ½ cups. Cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-8 hours.
In the last 45 minutes of cooking, turn the slow cooker to high heat. Add 1/2 cup heavy cream (more or less depending on how creamy vs. spicy you prefer) and the noodles, and stir and press noodles to submerge in liquid as much as possible.
Let cook until noodles are done, about 45 minutes, stirring a few times while cooking. (Closely monitor the noodles to ensure they don’t get mushy.)

Storing and Reheating

How to Best Store Leftovers

Fridge

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. If you serve and store the chicken with pasta, the sauce may thicken more over time, and can be thinned with additional broth.

Freezer

Freezing is not recommended if pasta or cream has been added to the chicken, since the texture will change when defrosted. If you wish to freeze the chicken, do so before adding cream and pasta, and thaw overnight before reheating and finishing.

How to Best Reheat Leftovers

Gently reheat on the stovetop over medium-low heat, or reheat in 30-second increments in the microwave, stirring each time to distribute heat evenly. Add a splash of broth or cream if needed during reheating.