Slow Cooker Chicken Adobo might not be the prettiest dish you’ll ever make, but I bet everyone will be asking for seconds once they taste this sweet, spicy chicken dish!



OK, so listen. Some foods are really colorful and photogenic like Mexican pizza or Asian noodle soup. Others are kind of brownish and, well, fairly ugly. Take this slow cooker chicken adobo for example. It tastes GOOD y’all. Fork tender chicken thighs are smothered in an irresistibly spicy, sweet sauce making for a dinner you’ll look forward to. I wish I could convey all that deliciousness in the photos, but you’ll just have to trust me on this. I haven’t had the pleasure of trying many Filipino dishes, but I would like to try more. I do love Hawaiian BBQ, and this recipe shares some of the same flavors but with more sticky, delicious sauce. I served it over medium grain rice with sauteed bok choy. I’ll write up my version before long, but I found an authentic garlic baby bok choy recipe at The Woks of Life that I would recommend! This does not need to be an all-day recipe. I personally think that chicken can get dried out if it cooks too long in the crockpot, but dark meat is definitely more forgiving than white. I don’t think you’ll be sorry if you cook this one for eight hours for more, but a half day is all you need for perfect results. I hope this recipe makes it to your dinner table very soon!
Adapted from The Gourmet Slow Cooker: Volume II, Regional Comfort-Food Classics

Slow Cooker Chicken Adobo
You will love this fork-tender chicken covered in a sweet, spicy sauce!
- Total Time: 4 hours 5 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
Ingredients
- 1/2 c. soy sauce tamari soy sauce or reduced-sodium is fine if you prefer
- 1/4 c. white wine vinegar
- 4 cloves garlic minced or crushed
- 1 tbsp. grated fresh ginger
- 2 tbsp. brown sugar
- 1 jalapeño sliced
- 6–8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 1/4 c. cold water
- 1 tbsp. cornstarch
- sliced green onions optional
- cooked rice I like medium grain white rice for this dish
Instructions
-
In your slow cooker, whisk together soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, ginger, and brown sugar. Add jalapeño and chicken, and spoon sauce over chicken to cover. Place lid on slow cooker, and cook on low for 4-5 hours, or until chicken is tender.
-
About a half hour before serving (I do this when I start the rice), stir cornstarch into cold water with a fork until dissolved, and pour into slow cooker. Gently stir, and continue cooking.
-
Serve chicken and sauce over rice, and garnish with green onions if desired.
- Prep Time: 5
- Cook Time: 240
- Category: Main
- Cuisine: Slow Cooker
Marguerite Waggener says
I tried this recipe tonight but I don’t know what I did wrong. The sauce never thickened. It just did not taste that good. I followed the recipe exactly as stated. Oh well, live and learn.
Andi says
I’m really sorry to hear you didn’t like this one, Marguerite. I have made it a number of times and have always been happy with the result.
Brenda says
Hi,
This recipe looks delicious. Just wondering, is there enough sauce?
Thanks
Andi says
Hi, Brenda. If you like a lot of sauce, you could double the recipe except the chicken. I just like a modest amount of sauce I guess, so it was plenty for me. Thank you!
Bernadyn @ B is For... says
I know what you mean about not all foods being photogenic but I’m sure this one tastes great! I’m Filipino and love Chicken Adobo, I cook it every now and then and have was thinking about using a slow cooker next time. I’ll have to try this, I’m sure it’s delicious, pinning. :)
★★★★★
Andi says
The pressure is on since you are Filipino and have surely had wonderfully authentic Chicken Adobo! I hope you enjoy this version :) Thanks so much for your visit (and sorry for the delay in replying)!
marcie@flavorthemoments says
This sounds delicious, Andi! One of my Filippino friends from my old paying job in SF made chicken adobo for a group of us once and I loved it. This slow cooker version sounds perfect. Pinning! :)
Andi says
Thank you, Marcie! I hope you like this version too!
Liz says
Thank you Andi – nice recipes. Will make the Adobe Chicken soon. Have a Great Weekend!
Andi says
Thank you, Liz! I hope you like it!
Annie @Maebells says
I know what you mean, slow cooker food just isn’t pretty! But it is delish! Love the flavor combo here. I can’t wait to try this, you can never have too many slow cooker recipes!
★★★★★
Andi says
Thank you, Annie! I have another recipe coming up tomorrow that I don’t think is very pretty. I need to come up with something more attractive ASAP! ;)
Taylor @ Food Faith Fitness says
I totally had to laugh at your opening sentence! I JUST took pictures of meatloaf…and just could not make them pretty, but it’s so yummy I will post it!
I totally trust that tastes delish! LOVE chicken adobo..and crockpot? YES! Pinned!
Andi says
Thank you, Taylor! Meatloaf sounds really challenging too. If anyone can make it look pretty it’s you :)