Slow Cooker Chicken Adobo

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This slow cooker chicken adobo is a great meal to add to your weeknight rotation. The tender chicken and sweet and tangy sauce are perfect served over rice or with some roasted vegetables. Enjoy takeout-style food in the comfort of your own home. 

You’ll also like Slow Cooker Ropa Vieja, Slow Cooker Tuscan Chicken Pasta.

Suitable for Gluten Free and Low Carb diets. Post includes Weight Watchers points.

top down view of chicken adobo served over rice in a ceramic bowl and garnished with sliced vegetables

Do you love to order Chicken Adobo when you visit your local Filipino restaurant? That sweet and tangy sauce is so delicious and the chicken is soooooo tender. It truly is comfort in a bowl, and you can get the same quality and taste right at home without a lot of work. 

Eating out can be expensive, especially when you are feeding your whole family. So learning to make some of your restaurant favorites at home is a great way to save money and still enjoy the tastes you love.

And you won’t believe how simple it is to make this Crockpot Chicken Adobo recipe. We’re talking a minimal amount of prep, then set it, walk away, and let the slow cooker do the work. #slowcookerforthewin  

top down view of slow cooker chicken adobo inside the crockpot being stirred with a large serving spoon

At the end of the day, you can serve your family a delicious and flavorful meal that tastes even better than takeout. Just as good as these classic Slow Cooker Grape Jelly Meatballs.

What is Adobo Chicken?

Chipotle peppers in adobo sauce may come to mind when you hear the word adobo. In Filipino recipes, adobo is something entirely different.  Typically adobo chicken has a vinegar-based sauce that contains soy sauce, garlic, onions, and spices like bay and coriander. It’s great for slow cooking meats like chicken thighs and creates a tender and tangy dish. 

a serving of adobo chicken in a ceramic bowl with a spoon

Why You’ll ♡ This

  • Easy – The recipe requires minimal prep work and a long, slow cook time while you do other things. 
  • Frugal – The cost of takeout for the whole family can add up, and cooking at home is a great way to save money. 
  • Authentic flavor – This tastes just like a dish you would order at your local Filipino restaurant. 
  • Pantry staples – made with affordable and everyday pantry staples.

Tools Needed

the ingredients needed for making adobo chicken in Instant Pot

Ready to make this slow cooker adobo? Gather your ingredients and I will show you…

How To Make Slow Cooker Chicken Adobo

Get the complete ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.

  1. Brown chicken in a skillet and add it to the slow cooker.
  2. In the same skillet, saute the onions until softened, then add the garlic before adding to the slow cooker.
  3. Mix together vinegar, soy sauce, chicken broth, ground coriander, brown sugar, salt, and pepper pour over the top of everything.
  4. Add the bay leaves, cover, and cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6-7 hours.
  5. Serve over rice and enjoy!
top down view of the finished crockpot chicken adobo recipe inside a slow cooker

Expert Tips 

  • Traditional methods of this recipe call for coriander seed. I prefer to use ground coriander for flavor and convenience. 
  • Adding chicken broth and brown sugar helps cut some of the sharpness of this dish. Omit them if you prefer a dish that is more tangy than sweet. 
  • Thicken the sauce by heating it in a saucepan before serving. 
  • If you prefer to keep this low carb, serve with riced cauliflower instead of rice. 

Delicious Variations

  • Use Rice Wine Vinegar – rice wine vinegar will be a little less tangy than white wine vinegar. 
  • Add Coconut Milk – add a bit of coconut milk to add a creamy coconut flavor to this dish. 
top down view of a bowl filled with a serving of crockpot adobo chicken

Storage and Make Ahead

  • Make Ahead – to save yourself some time before you head out the door in the morning, you can brown the chicken and prepare the onions and garlic the night before. Cover and store in the fridge overnight. In the morning, add the sauce to the slow cooker and cook as directed. 
  • Store – Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. 
the completed adobo chicken inside the slow cooker

FAQs

Do I Have to Use Chicken Thighs?

Chicken drumsticks with the skin on are also excellent in this recipe. You could use a mix of thighs and drumsticks. Chicken breast tends to dry out, so we don’t recommend it. 

Do I Have to Precook the Chicken?

You can add the chicken directly to the slow cooker and brown it under a broiler before serving. However, we recommend that you cook the onions in advance, so pre-browning the chicken only adds a few minutes to the process. 

Serving Suggestions

More Recipes You May Like

the completed crockpot chicken adobo recipe

Weight Watchers Points

There are 3 Blue Plan SmartPoints in one serving of this.

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top down view of chicken adobo served over rice in a ceramic bowl and garnished with sliced vegetables
Print Recipe
5 from 4 votes

Slow Cooker Chicken Adobo Recipe

A delicious chicken dinner for the whole family
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time4 hours
Course: Lunch, Main
Cuisine: asian
Diet: Gluten Free
Servings: 6
Calories: 175kcal
Author: Bintu Hardy

Ingredients

  • 2 teaspoons oil
  • 6 chicken thighs
  • 1 onion peeled and diced
  • 6 cloves garlic peeled and minced
  • cup (160ml) white wine vinegar
  • cup (80ml) tamari soy sauce or regular soy sauce if not gluten free
  • ¼ cup (59ml) low sodium chicken broth optional
  • ¼ teaspoon ground coriander optional
  • 1 teaspoon brown sugar optional
  • salt to taste
  • pepper to taste
  • 2 bay leaves

Instructions

  • Heat oil in skillet over medium heat, add chicken and brown both sides. When done, place them skin side up in the bottom of the slow cooker.
  • Add onions to the skillet and sauté for about 5 minutes till softened, stir in garlic for 30 seconds until fragrant, then transfer to the slow cooker.
  • In a bowl, whisk together the vinegar, soy sauce, chicken broth, ground coriander, brown sugar, salt and pepper. Pour into the slow cooker.
  • Add bay leaves, put the lid on, and set to cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6-7 hours. Avoid opening the lid during cooking.
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Notes

  • Traditional methods of this recipe call for coriander seed. I prefer to use ground coriander for flavor and convenience. 
  • Adding chicken broth and brown sugar helps cut some of the sharpness of this dish. Omit them if you prefer a dish that is more tangy than sweet. 
  • Thicken the sauce by heating it in a saucepan before serving. 
  • If you prefer to keep this low carb, serve with riced cauliflower instead of rice.
  • There are 3 Blue Plan SmartPoints in a serving of this.

Nutrition

Calories: 175kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 107mg | Sodium: 827mg | Potassium: 362mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 27IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 1mg

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Recipe Rating




5 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I have everything I need for this dish, can’t wait to make it this weekend!

  2. 5 stars
    This looks and sounds delicious Bintu! I love the use of the bay leaves and I am a sucker for anything Slow Cooked. I imagine this tastes amazing and super tender also.