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Slow Cooker Orange Chipotle Chicken

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Slow Cooker Orange Chipotle Chicken is the perfect balance of sweet and spicy. Easy prep, flavorful results. Love it for busy weeknights! This makes a great freezer meal - be sure to check out the simple instructions on how to do it!
Total time for the recipe to be finished.6 hours 5 minutes
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Closeup of orange chipotle chicken being served.

In this easy Orange Chipotle Chicken recipe, simple ingredients combine to create a sweet, spicy, smoky party for your taste buds. Add some excitement to weeknight dinners without any extra effort-this hearty, mouthwatering meal takes just minutes of prep and the slow cooker does all the work!

An overhead view of orange chipotle chicken in a slow cooker.
Table of Contents

Save this recipe by clicking on the ❤️ heart on the right-hand side of the screen or in the recipe card.

🗝️ Key takeaways: why this recipe is your new favorite

  • The combination of sweet orange flavor and smoky chipotle peppers in adobo sauce goes great with rice and just about any veggie you like.
  • You'll want to have slow cooker orange chipotle chicken on a weekly basis because it's a great way to meal prep for busy days!
  • Thicken the cooked marinade with some corn starch to create a sweet and spicy orange sauce for serving-no extra ingredients needed.

If your family's getting tired of basic, boring chicken, this flavor-packed meal is the perfect solution. Ultra-juicy chicken, sweet and spicy chipotle flavor, and effortless prep-you really can't ask for anything more!

🧾 Gather your ingredients: what you'll need

This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the green recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.

Labeled ingredients for this recipe.

📖 Recipe

Closeup of orange chipotle chicken being served.

Orange Chipotle Chicken

5 from 1 vote
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Slow Cooker Orange Chipotle Chicken is the perfect balance of sweet and spicy. Easy prep, flavorful results. Love it for busy weeknights! This makes a great freezer meal - be sure to check out the simple instructions on how to do it!
Course Main Dish - Chicken
Cuisine American - Southern
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 6 hours
Total Time: 6 hours 5 minutes
Servings:6
Calories:165
Author:Marye Audet-White

Ingredients

  • 4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves
  • salt, to taste
  • pepper, to taste
  • 1 cup onions, diced
  • ½ cup chicken stock
  • ⅓ cup orange marmalade, up to 2 tablespoons more depending on tastes
  • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon minced chipotle pepper in adobo sauce
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1-½ tablespoons cornstarch
  • 3 tablespoons cold water
  • cilantro, for garnish

Instructions

  • Season chicken with salt and pepper.
  • Transfer to a slow cooker.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together the chicken stock, orange marmalade, vinegar, chipotle pepper, honey, and garlic powder.
  • Pour over chicken.
  • Cover and cook on low for 6 hours or until an instant-read thermometer reads 165°.
  • Remove chicken to a serving platter and keep warm.
  • Place cooking juices in a small saucepan; bring to a boil.
  • Combine cornstarch and water until smooth.
  • Gradually stir into the pan.
  • Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.
  • Pour over the chicken.
  • Sprinkle with chopped cilantro and serve.

Freezer meal

  • Put all ingredients except cornstarch and water into a large ziploc freezer bag or vacuum seal.
  • Label and date.
  • Freeze for 3-4 months.
  • The day before you're ready to cook it move to the refrigerator to thaw.
  • Next day dump it all in the slow cooker and proceed with the recipe as written.

Notes

Storage:
Refrigerate 3-4 days in an airtight container. Freeze for 3 or 4 months.
Tips:
  • Don't skip the cornstack slurry-this means adding water to the cornstarch. Dumping it straight in to the marinade will make it clumpy!
  • Try not to peek into the crockpot until the time is close to finished. Lifting the lid lets out steam that's vital to the slow cooking process.

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 165kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 49mg | Sodium: 128mg | Potassium: 352mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 35IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 18mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

This recipe has been tested several times. If you choose to use other ingredients, or change the technique in some way, the results may not be the same.

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📖 Make it your own: yummy variations

  1. Use boneless chicken thighs if you prefer 'em or need to get them out of your fridge.
  2. Amp up the heat by using more chipotle chiles. Leave the peppers bigger (dice instead of mince) for extra smoky-spice in each bite.
  3. If you're out of honey, don't fret! You can use an equal amount of maple syrup or brown sugar.
  4. Trying to sneak in more veg? Toss in diced bell peppers! You can also use a frozen pepper/onion mix from the freezer section for faster prep.
  5. Depending on what I'm making to go with this, I usually garnish with fresh cilantro or green onions for extra flavor!

🔪 Step-by-step guide: instructions for success

This is an overview of the instructions. Full instructions are in the green recipe card at the bottom of the page. Click on the image to see it full size.

Boneless chicken breasts in the slow cooker.

Place chicken in the bottom of a slow cooker.

Diced onions placed over chicken.

Add the diced onions to the chicken.

Marinade ingredients mixed together in a bowl.

Combine the spicy marinade ingredients.

Marinade ingredients poured over the chicken.

Pour marinade over chicken and cook 4-5 hours.

🤫 Marye's secret for zhuzhing it up -

Before serving, whisk the juices from the slow cooker with a cornstarch slurry and simmer it on the stove for a few minutes. It'll thicken and create a slurp-worthy sauce to drizzle over your meal.

zhuzh: verb. To make something more interesting or attractive

🥫 Leftover love: how to store and reheat

One of the best parts about this easy chipotle orange chicken is that it keeps really well. Plus, it's versatile, so it doesn't even feel like you're eating leftovers.

Portion whatever you've got left into an airtight container or large resealable plastic bag. Store it in the fridge for up to four days or in the freezer for three months.

Reheat individual portions in the microwave in one-minute bursts until it's hot. If it's frozen, let the chicken thaw in the fridge overnight.

An up-close view of a scoop of orange chipotle chicken on a wooden spoon.

Marye's Tip o' the day

While the chicken is still warm, shred any leftovers and stir it up with the sauce. This makes it way easier to reheat or repurpose the next day!

💭 Insider tips: things to know

  • If you prefer extra orange flavor, simply add more orange marmalade.
  • The chipotles in adobo pack quite a punch, which is why I recommend mincing them. You can do this in a food processor, but I find a cutting board simplest since you only need about a tablespoon.
  • Don't skip the cornstack slurry-this means adding water to the cornstarch. Dumping it straight in to the marinade will make it clumpy!
  • Try not to peek into the crockpot until the time is close to finished. Lifting the lid lets out steam that's vital to the slow cooking process.
  • Serve this meal with minute rice and a microwave-steamed veggie (broccoli and green beans are great!) for an effortless, quick dinner.
  • Feel free to refer back here for the orange-chipotle glaze recipe to use on your other favorite meats. It's fabulous on grilled chicken and pork.

👩‍🍳 Let's answer those questions: FAQs

Have other questions? Ask me in the comments!

Can I use orange juice instead of marmalade?

Fresh orange juice or orange juice concentrate will work, but they're both slightly different in taste and sweetness levels. After mixing the marinade, taste test it and add more sugar or spice if needed.

What's the difference between marmalade and jam?

Marmalade is specifically made from a citrus fruit, and it also includes some of the peel. Jam is made from any type of crushed fruit, like berries. I prefer orange marmalade so that we get extra flavor from the orange zest-it makes a subtle yet delicious difference!

Do I have to sear the chicken, first?

Nope! Some people like to sear the sides of the chicken in some recipes for extra flavor, but orange chipotle chicken already has great flavor and plenty of juice.

Orange chipotle chicken on a serving plate with rice.

⏲️ Marye's time saving hacks -

This makes a great freezer meal. You can add all the ingredients to a freezer bag (or vacuum seal) and freeze it. The day before you want to serve it just pop it in the fridge to thaw. Dump the whole bag into the slow cooker the next morning and proceed with the recipe.

🍽️ Serve with...

Closeup of biscuits piled in a bowl.

Soak up every drop of smoky orange sauce with my favorite, easy Buttermilk Biscuits. Start to finish, they're done in under a half hour!

Overhead view of brussels sprouts in a serving dish.

The rich, roasted flavor of Bacon Brussels Sprouts perfectly complements any sweet and spicy main meal. These are my go-to veggie, especially in the fall and winter.

Slab of layer cake with thick filling and frosting.

Finish off dinner the right way! This show-stopping Orange Cake with Orange Buttercream is a simpler layered cake and the light, citrus flavors will have everyone "mmm"-ing from the first bite.

🍽️ Repurpose leftovers

Slow cooker orange chipotle chicken is so versatile that you can transform the leftovers in a whole new meal!

For example, shred the remaining chicken and spoon it on to crusty cornmeal sandwich rolls for lunch! Or, add it to halved baked sweet potatoes for a delicious twist on loaded potatoes.

Switch up taco night-chop your leftover chicken into bite-sized pieces. Roll it up in flour tortillas with black beans and mango salsa for the best street tacos ever. Margaritas are optional, but recommended!

📞 The last word

Y'all, back to school is upon us and effortless dinners are a necessity! This is so easy and absolutely delicious. It's not too spicy - so it's fine for the kids, too.

You'll just need a salad to round out the meal!

If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need.

If you love this recipe please comment below and give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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About Marye

Marye Audet-White is a professional food writer, New York Times bestselling cookbook author, and founder of Restless Chipotle, where she shares Southern comfort food, yeast breads, and from-scratch recipes tested in real kitchens. She’s known for explaining the little technique details that keep recipes from going off the rails, so home cooks can count on what comes out of the oven actually tasting good.

Comments

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  1. Sarah Brimble says

    5 stars
    This looks gorgeous but I’m making it as a quick grab dinner for a new mom who doesn’t have a slow cooker yet! 😬 could I make all this up as raw ingredients and then put it in a foil casserole dish that she could grab from the freezer and just pop in the oven to cook? Would it still work that way and what temperature would she set the oven to please and thank you ☺️

    Reply

    • Marye says

      No problem! Preheat the oven to 375F. Cover the thawed mixture with foil and bake for 25 minutes.

      Remove the foil and continue baking 10–15 minutes, or until the chicken reaches 165°F and the sauce is bubbling.

  2. Roger F. says

    Question: Would this be functional with Apricot Preserves? or Peach?
    [Love tons of your recipes, by the way!]

    Reply

    • Marye says

      I think it would work just fine. 🙂