Classic Asian flavors made easy, gluten-free, & paleo in the slow cooker! Slow cooker orange sesame broccoli chicken is a no-fuss weeknight dinner recipe that will have you leaving take-out at the door!
It’s not me, it’s you. You guys LOVE the slow cooker, you love easy, and you love chicken! So I’ve got you covered with another easy, flavorful, “dump” meal! This one’s got an Asian flare and is packed with veggies! Serve it with some rice or quinoa and you have a perfect weeknight dinner! Take-out is easy, but expensive and less healthy. Slow cooker-ing is easy, cheap and so much more healthy!
What’s me and not you is that I think the slow cooker takes more effort than baking or grilling chicken. WHAT!? Let me explain before y’all think I’m crazy (but I’m sure you already do)! I don’t have room in my kitchen to store the slow cooker(s) I have, so I keep mine in a cabinet at the bottom on the basement stairs. Additionally, I have to “plan ahead” to use the slow cooker. You can’t just say, “Hey! Let’s have chicken tonight!”, at 4 o’clock. The slow cooker takes time (i.e. slow cooker).
You see, I’m really indecisive. Some days I know exactly what I want to eat for dinner (this is only for dinner too, the other meals are easy and on rotation). Some days I’m just not sure. When I have to figure it out the day before, forget it! How am I supposed to know what I’ll want the next night for dinner? I may feel some Mexican the day before, but then the next day arrives, and bam! I need Italian!
So if my mind (and stomach) change at the last minute and the slow cooker is already going or not going, than I’m in trouble! It’s much easier to just throw some chicken in the oven or out on the grill and be done in 30 minutes. I mean, I love slow cooker chicken, but I actually end up not making it much. You might think, from the looks of this blog, that I use it all the time, but…not really. It’s a hoax!
But in the end, that’s just me being me. I’m always happy with slow cooker chicken once it hits my plate, whenever that may be! I’ve also never used the liners you can buy to put in the slow cooker and make clean up even easier. Maybe because it’s not as eco-friendly? Haha! Actually I’ve just never even looked for them in the store, nor would I bother wasting money on them. Nothing a little scrubbing can’t fix!
And I do LOVE washing dishes! (If I find something in the dishwasher…I take it out!) I’ve also never made anything that’s sticky and hard to clean out of the slow cooker. Maybe if I ever make that slow cooker granola or some “baked” treat, that may change. Until then, I’ll keep lugging up my slow cooker, indecisively turning it on, and cleaning it with a sponge. All’s well, it ends well!
Slow Cooker Orange Sesame Broccoli Chicken
- 4 Skinless Chicken Breasts
- 4 Cups Chopped Broccoli
- 1 Cup Sliced Water Chestnuts
- 1 Medium Sweet Onion (chopped)
- Zest, Juice, Flesh of 2 Large Oranges
- ¾ Cup Water
- 1 TB Coconut Aminos
- 1 TB Sesame Oil
- 1 TB Toasted Sesame Seeds (plus more for topping)
- 1 Tsp Minced Garlic
- ½ Tsp Ground Ginger
- ¼ Tsp Black Pepper
- In a slow cooker, place the chicken in first and then dump in all other ingredients.
- Cook on low for 6-7 hours.
- Top with more sesame seeds and serve with rice or quinoa.
Hopefully you’re still all about slow cooker-ing (slow cooker? or slow cooker…ing?). Actually, I know you are! And I know you’ll love a super healthy non-fried, greasy, or battered, gluten-free, paleo, moist, fall apart, flavor-infused, slow cooker orange sesame broccoli chicken dinner! (That was a mouthful!) To dump or not to dump, I’ll leave that up to you 😉
So tell me:
+ Is the slow cooker actually more work for you too?
+ Do you plan out every single one of your dinners beforehand or go with the flow?
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I just love a good dump and forget it recipe!
Nicole recently posted…Managing the Great Pasture
We all do~
Ha ha! I am the same way with my slow cooker. I don’t think about dinner in the morning or that might now sound good to me in the evening. I always say I’m going to use the slow cooker more so I don’t have to stress about dinner when I’m running around with 2 small kids, but that doesn’t always happen. But this one does sound delicious!
Kati | Houseful of Handmade recently posted…Fast Chicken & Vegetable Rice Bowls with Peanut Sauce
Haha! Well hopefully this can get you to get it out to try 😉
I’ve heard about people who actually like to wash dishes
My slowcooker gets quite the work out in our home! Your recipe sounds perfect for our home. We enjoy adding broccoli into our dishes.
Shirley Wood recently posted…April 2016 PINCHme Subscription Box
Haha, well I love it! It’s calming!
Thank you Shirley!
I love this recipe! Slow cooker meals are awesome and you can’t go wrong with orange broccoli chicken. YUM!
Emily @ Recipes to Nourish recently posted…Ginger Sesame Cabbage Salad from Sandi’s Allergy Free Recipes
Agreed!
I love my slow cooker and I think chicken and citrus always go really well together.
Emma recently posted…Hipp Organic live chat: Weaning with food allergies
Yes! They are a lovely combo!
Looks delicious and healthy.
Thanks!
LOL! It does look like you use your slow cooker more than you do! I love mine, utilize it whenever I can. I really love this recipe, I’ve saved it, we love orange chicken and sesame chicken and with this recipe I can have both in one meal! Win Win!!!
Nikki Frank-Hamilton recently posted…Social Media Blast – Let’s Stumble!
Yes! Total win-win!
What a great dish that we will just love!
Miz Helen recently posted…Texas Mud Pie
I hope you do!
Nice recipe and health at the same time.
Jennifer Abel recently posted…Over The Moon Link Up # 17
You bet!
I marinated chicken breasts with soy sauce and orange juice last night, along with ginger and garlic…I had a heavy hand and poured WAY too much orange juice in, haha! Next time, I’ll have to use fresh oranges to minimize risk 😉
Jess @hellotofit recently posted…Avocado Hummus With Boursin Cheese
Bahaha, well at least you’re getting your Vitamin C 😉
Looks delicious!! Love me some Asian food combine that with the slow cooker, winner winner! I do have to agree with you. I sometimes feel that the slow cooker requires MORE effort and planning than other meals. It’s great when I’m not home to actually cook at dinner time, but more planning at breakfast time.
Exactly! Haha! The process might be easy, but the beforehand prep is a killer!
I love how easy a slow cooker meal is – I can throw it in and not worry about dinner until it’s time to eat! Works out well when I’m running around with the kids in the afternoons after work and just don’t have a chance to prep much of anything. Love this orange-sesame-broccoli chicken too – would definitely be a hit around here!
Kathryn @ Family Food on the Table recently posted…Strawberry overnight oats {2 ways}
The slow cooker is a life savor for any busy family! Since it’s usually just me, haha, sometimes more of a hassle!
I love slowcooker recipes especially if I am working!
Amberjane recently posted…Pin Worthy Wednesday
They come in handy!
Hi Rebecca,
I love chicken and this recipe sounds fabulous! Pinned & tweeted!
Thank you Marla!
Would you believe I haven’t busted out my slow cooker in weeks?! Time to get back on it. I even have water chestnuts in my pantry!
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table recently posted…Cauliflower Crust Breakfast Pizza [Recipe]
This is a must then!!! I do go in stages of using mine and then not…I haven’t in a few months 😛
Keep the slow cooker recipes coming! Another winner!
Elle @ Only Taste Matters recently posted…Sweet Baking with Veggies: 45+ Gluten-Free Recipes
I’ll never stop 😉
This looks so delicious! I love a good slow cooker recipe, Pinned & Yummed 🙂
Angela recently posted…Sunday Fitness & Food Link-Up: Not Your Nanna’s Brussels Sprouts
Thank you!
I don’t eat chicken but I sure do love sesame! I’ve tried meal planning before and when I take the time to do it, it is amazing but sometimes I just don’t get around to doing it. I find that it’s super helpful to just prep a bunch of veggies, legumes, and grains at the beginning of the week!
genevieve @ gratitude & greens recently posted…Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies + This Week In Food and Sustainability: 3/20 – 3/217/2016
I think it’s good to just have a great stock of foods! My grocery shopping once a week keeps everything good!
This looks amaaazing! You are the slow cooker queen, girl! xo
Kristy @ Southern In Law recently posted…Recipe: Healthy Strawberry Cheesecake Blondies
Haha, anyone can dump and go!
I love a great slow cooker recipe! This is brilliant! If my pinterest was working, I’d pin it now! Twitter it is 🙂
Haha, o no!!! What happened?
And thank you xoxo
I’m always craving Asian flavors in the Spring. I love that fresh, crisp bite that stays with you. This is a great recipe and LOVE slow cooker dinners!
Robyn @ Simply Fresh Dinners recently posted…Roasted Herb Tomatoes
Yea!!! Thank you Robyn!
Classic Asian flavours. You got me hooked in, right there, in the first line!
Trouble is Rebecca, how long until Christmas before I can get my slow cooker? I mean it’s my birthday in May, but I’ve already asked Lynne for a whole load of stuff! 😀
neil@neilshealthymeals.com recently posted…Mediterranean Vegetable Soup
Ahhhhhh! I think this slow cooker situation needs to be your top priority!
Stunning! Anything slow cooked always catches my eye — plus it’s infused with orange flavors. Thanks for sharing this recipe! Pinning!
Totally! Slow cooking always leads to good food! Thanks Levan!
This recipe looks so delicious!
Anita @ Live Like You Are Rich recently posted…How to Save Thousands on a Bathroom Remodel
Thank you!
TRUTH the slow cooker does take time (the planning thing) but dang it’s one of my favorite appliances EVER!!! This looks so good once again. A meal my family would LOVE!
Chrissa – Physical Kitchness recently posted…Buff Lady Arms
Hahahaha 😉 Well I hope you can make it sometime! Thanks Chrissa!
Yum! This looks delicious! Thanks so much for sharing this! Great supper idea!
Than you, Tiffany!
I have yet to make a slow cooker meal. I have 0 patience when it comes to cooking. But Orange chicken is my favorite kind of chicken. I was horrified to learn that my meal of orange chicken from panda express is 1200 calories. I clearly need to find an alternative!
Sana recently posted…How To Take Pictures Of Yourself While Running?
Haha, well I can tell you THIS is the alternative 😉
This is perfect for a weeknight! Easy & delicious! The flavours are perfect for the spring with bright fresh citrus flavours!
Kaitie recently posted…Savoury Pear Salad
Yea they!! A perfect warm weather slow cooker meal! Thanks Kaitie!
One of my favorite flavors but I love how you have made it in the slow cooker and have lightened it up.
Michelle @ The Complete Savorist recently posted…Kale Chicken Noodle Bowls
I hope this will be a new favorite way to have your favorite 😉
This sounds delicious! I love slow cooker meals. I love that you add orange to this, such a delicious flavor.
Emily @ Recipes to Nourish recently posted…Blackberry Cheesecake Popsicles {Real Food}
Right? Chicken and citrus is always so lovely!
I love that you can throw everything in the slow cooker and go!
Thank you,
Chrystal
Chrystal @ Gluten-Free Palate recently posted…Gluten-Free Vanilla Birthday Cake Donuts (11 Ingredients)
Couldn’t be easier!
I can be pretty indecisive about dinner too. I plan ahead a lot and then change my mind as the week goes on. LOL So I don’t use my slow cooker as much as I should either, considering that I am always in a rush around dinner time! This looks really good and I bet my kids would love it too!
Michelle | A Dish of Daily Life recently posted…Sticky Honey Mustard Chicken
Haha, yes! Sounds exactly like me 😉 It’s easier to just go with the flow!
With all those amazing ingredients I’m sure this dish is a winner! 🙂
Mmmhm, thanks Raia!
My slow cooker is my life savior and keeps my house cool too. I LOVE orange chicken. I so need to make this.
Megan @ Skinny Fitalicious recently posted…WIAW…Why You Should Count Calories & Exciting News
Yea! That’s why people need to be using that slow cooker all summer long!
I LOVE anything that can be made in the slow cooker!! It seriously takes so much f the work away and it’s great being able to come home and just dish up dinner without having to dirty up the kitchen :). And any sort of asian flavor? YES PLEASE!
Christine@ Apple of My Eye recently posted…Honey Raspberry Baked Oatmeal
Haha, yes! Depending on your situation it can be the best time savor! But I just love to COOK too much, I’d rather have to work 😉
Love that you use real oranges to give the flavor, not a concentrate! Woohoo for real foods!!
Sam @ PancakeWarriors recently posted…Paleo Avocado Zucchini Hummus
Ew, never! Haha!
As a busy Mom of three, I use my slow cooker all of the time– sometimes several times a week! Finding healthy dump recipes is almost a part time job for me. Looks delicious!
Lisa @ RunWiki recently posted…The Best Foods for Runners and a Honey Chipotle Black Bean Burger Recipe
Perfect! Well I hope this one makes it in the rotation 😉
I like your healthy version orange chicken here Rebecca.
Citra Kale @Citra’s HOme Diary recently posted…Homemade Chicken Nuggets
Thank you!
This sounds delicious! A healthy version of a Chinese favorite.
lacey@fairytalesandfitness recently posted…Running Routes that produce Results
Yes! Thank you!
Looks wonderful! Gotta love crock pot meals:)
That’s for sure! Thanks, friend!
I love Orange Chicken, it is one of my favorite things to order when we get Chinese! This looks so much better! Yum!
Marye recently posted…Lemon Cream Cake
It is one of the best 😉 This one’s just a bit more healthy 😉 Hahahaha!