So I know that some of you have been busting out low carb slow cooker recipes all summer – I mean Carolyn over at All Day I Dream About Food made CHOCOLATE CAKE in the slow cooker a few weeks ago! Color me impressed!
For me though, busting out the slow cooker is like saying goodbye to Summer. I have a mental block against it, but I’m trying to overcome my aversion. With kids heading back to school in the next couple of weeks, the slow cooker is making a comeback in my kitchen – and earlier in the season than usual.
You just can’t beat the convenience of throwing your ingredients into a slow cooker and coming home to dinner being ready hours later. So I’m getting on board, and working on some keto friendly slow cooker recipes to make the back to school transition/chaos a little easier to deal with.
This low carb Slow Cooker Mandarin Chicken is one of my new faves. A little sweet, a little spicy, and with a decidedly Asian flair, I could eat this all week long (and I will!) It would be perfect served over my low carb coconut cauliflower rice!
I usually hate the extra step of browning my meat first, and will avoid it if possible – I don’t recommend skipping it for this recipe though, because the browning of the meat adds a lot of flavor. It also crisps up the skin which keeps it from being flabby and unappetizing after 6 hours in the slow cooker. The couple of minutes it will take you to brown this Slow Cooker Mandarin Chicken is definitely time well spent!
While your chicken is browning, you can throw the sauce ingredients into a bowl. Make sure you get no sugar added mandarin oranges in water. They are plenty sweet and low enough in carbs to work in this dish. If you don’t have access to fresh red chili peppers, you can use dried red pepper flakes instead.
Then just nestle your chicken thighs in the slow cooker and pour the sauce over it. Cook on low for 6 hours (or high for 4 if you’re short on time) and you’re good to go.
Before serving the Slow Cooker Mandarin Chicken, I recommend removing the thighs from the sauce first. Then transfer the remaining liquid to a magic bullet or blender and add about 1/2 tsp of xanthan gum. Blend for about 20 seconds and you’ll have a beautiful sauce to serve with your chicken and cauliflower rice (if using.) That step is optional, but I find that when you blend and thicken it, the sauce sticks to the chicken better and feels more authenticly Asian.
Hope you guys like this one as much as we did!
Slow Cooker Mandarin Chicken – Low Carb and Gluten Free
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Description
An Asian inspired low carb chicken recipe made in the slow cooker – lchf, keto, and Atkins diet friendly recipe!
Ingredients
Scale
For the chicken:
- 6 chicken thighs
- 1 Tbsp Chinese Five Spice Powder see example
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
For the sauce:
- 1 cup no sugar added mandarin orange slices see example
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp minced ginger
- 1/2 tsp sliced red chilis (or red pepper flakes)
- 1 Tbsp lime juice
- 1 Tbsp granulated sugar substitute
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 2 Tbsp fish sauce see example
Instructions
- Rub the chicken thighs with the five spice powder and salt. Sear skin side down over high heat for about 3 minutes. Turn and sear the other side for 3 minutes. Place the chicken skin side up in the slow cooker. Add all of the sauce ingredients (except for the xanthan gum) to a small bowl and stir. Pour over the chicken in the slow cooker. Cook on high for four hours, or low for 6 hours. Remove the chicken from the slow cooker to a serving dish. Pour the remaining sauce into a magic bullet or blender and add 1/2 tsp xanthan gum. Blend for about 20 seconds. Pour over the chicken on the platter and serve warm. Cilantro garnish is optional.
Notes
Approx. nutrition info per serving: 392 calories, 23g fat, 3.5g net carbs, 37g protein
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken thigh, 2 Tbsp sauce
Looking for more great low carb chicken thigh recipes? Try my Easy Roasted Chicken with Tomatoes or Chicken Paprika with Sour Cream Gravy – both equally delicious and easy to make!
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Reader Interactions
Comments
Calvin says
Love it, the sweetness of mandarin absorbed by the chicken, makes a nice eastern feel to the dish
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Jessica says
I use my slow cooker in the summer – I just plug it in outside. Without central air, I’m loathe to have any appliance heating up. :)
Gillian says
This looks delicious. Do you know if it can be done in the instant pot?
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Missymonypenny says
I would imagine this could be done in any IP or pressure cooker. U just need to figure yr time needed to cook. IP has a poultry button on the newer ones. I have a cusinart, I will estimate by the pounds amount in recipe. I’m gonna give it a go. I think I have everything on hand!
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Frank Yao says
My son is on the Spectrum Protocol Diet which limits Managanese intake and promotes more iron as these two elements seem to fight for the same receptor sites in the blood brain barrier. He has SPD.
Been actively searching for recipe ideas, some of these look great! I’ll have to substitute out the rice with something else. Thanks for ideas.
Anything on more vegetable-based recipes by any chance?
★★★★
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Lee says
Wow, this was delicious! I just made it on the stovetop in my dutch oven, cooked for 2 hours. I used fresh mandarins, which just disintegrated into the sauce. I only had skinless thighs but it was still awesome. Didn’t need any sweetener, so I’m glad I didn’t add any. I took the lid off for 15 mins at the end to reduce the liquid, and added some broccoli. Sooooo gooood!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can’t wait to make it again.
★★★★★
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Dawn says
Excellent! Will make again
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Christin says
Xanthan Gum is not in the list of ingredients
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Dani S. says
Any chance you will convert the cooking instructions for the Instant Pot?
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Malainie says
Mellissa, I have a crockpot that’s insert can be used on the stovetop to brown the meat in. One fewer pan to clean up! This looks scrumptious!
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Mellissa Sevigny says
Now that is an awesome idea! :)
Missymonypenny says
Melanie, what brand is it? That’s an awesome idea?
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carolyn says
I just got a pingback for this now…thanks for the shout-out. I am pinning this delicious recipe!
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Adrienne says
Help! what can I use instead of xanthan gum…. can not find this anywhere and I want to thicken my sauce… not a fan of runny sauces and reallllly wanna try this :)
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Mellissa Sevigny says
You can try arrowroot powder or a little cornstarch if you can tolerate corn!
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Hélène says
I’m having a hard time finding no-sugar-added mandarin oranges. Is this one of those speciality-order-from-amazon items?
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Mellissa Sevigny says
No I got mine at our local food lion which isn’t known for its variety! In a pinch you could probably use the regular, rinse them well, and add some extra water and sweetener to taste!
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Beth says
I found mandarin oranges in monk fruit juice, too. These are no sugar added. That generally comes in the little individual cups, though.
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Beth says
I’ve found them in my local grocery store. Try the individual cups they sell. Some of the mandarin oranges are sold in monkfruit juice now. It’s no sugar added. I find those have an odd aftertaste, but it’s better after they’re rinsed.
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Beth says
The directions mentions xanthan gum, but it’s not in the ingredients list. How much is supposed to be used? And what is its purpose?
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Mellissa Sevigny says
Thanks for catching at, I’ll add it to the recipe! It thickens the sauce so it sticks better to the chicken, but it’s not crucial to the recipe, your sauce will just be thinner without it!
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Dita says
This looks like a great recipe. One question: do we drain the mandarin oranges or use making sauce. Don’t want to mess this up. I love your site and your great recipes!!!!
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Mellissa Sevigny says
Great question, I should have been more clear! Don’t drain them, spoon the oranges into your measuring cup and then fill in the extra space with the liquid to the one cup mark. Hope you like it!
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Nick says
You can never have enough slow cooker chicken thigh recipes, and this looks incredible. I’ll have to grab some mandarin slices next time I’m at the store. I don’t use the slow cooker so much in the summer either, so I think this will be absolutely perfect in a month or two.
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Mellissa Sevigny says
I agree nick, chicken thighs are the best!!! Hope you like this one!
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Resa says
This looks amazing–can’t wait to try it! BTW, your chicken with sour cream gravy is one of my absolute favorite recipes!
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Sue says
This does look wonderful! I’m thrilled that you plan to do more slow cooker recipes!!! Thank you!!!
My husband intensely dislikes chicken with bones. Can I make it with boneless chicken thighs? hat about skinless?Reply
Mellissa Sevigny says
Mr hungry is not a huge fan of bone in chicken either so I get it – definitely yes to boneless skinless thighs!
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Kathy says
Just looking at the ingredients makes my mouth water, will have to dig out the cooker and try this one for sure, thanks Melissa!
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Mellissa Sevigny says
Hope you love it as much as we did Kathy!
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Hélène says
I bet this is incredible and I will have to try it as soon as I get chicken!
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