Slow Cooker Korean Chicken Sliders Recipe

Introduction

These Slow Cooker Korean Chicken Sliders offer a deliciously tender and flavorful twist on classic sliders. Made with a spicy-sweet gochujang sauce and topped with vibrant kimchi, avocado, and pickled bean sprouts, they’re perfect for easy entertaining or a fun weeknight meal.

Ingredients

• 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts and/or thighs
• 1/4 cup gochujang
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1 small red onion, grated
• 4 cloves garlic, grated
• 1″ piece of ginger, peeled and grated
• 3 tablespoons mirin
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1 teaspoon arrowroot powder or cornstarch
• 1/4 cup water
• Slider buns and/or Bibb lettuce
• Kimchi
• Avocado, thinly sliced
• Lightly pickled bean sprouts (see below)
• Gochujang Aioli (see below)
• 1 bunch scallions, chopped
• Sesame seeds
• 1 cup bean sprouts
• 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
• 1/2 cup warm water
• 1/2 scant tablespoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
• 1/3 cup sour cream
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1 1/2 tablespoons gochujang
• 1 clove garlic, grated with microzester
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• Pinch of garlic powder
• Pinch of onion powder

Instructions

1. Step 1: Spray the inside of your slow cooker bowl with nonstick cooking spray. In the slow cooker bowl, stir together gochujang, soy sauce, grated red onion, grated garlic, grated ginger, mirin, brown sugar, sesame oil, and pepper until fully combined. Add the chicken and stir to evenly coat it with the sauce.
2. Step 2: Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for about 4 hours, until the chicken is fully cooked and tender. Remove the chicken to a large bowl and shred it using two forks.
3. Step 3: In a small bowl, mix arrowroot powder or cornstarch with water until smooth. Pour this mixture into the slow cooker and stir well to incorporate into the sauce. Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker, stir to coat, and cook for an additional 10-15 minutes to thicken the sauce.
4. Step 4: For the lightly pickled bean sprouts: In a small bowl, combine rice vinegar, warm water, sugar, and Kosher salt, stirring until dissolved. Pour this mixture over the bean sprouts and let them sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.
5. Step 5: For the gochujang aioli: In a small bowl, combine sour cream, mayonnaise, gochujang, grated garlic, salt, garlic powder, and onion powder. Mix until fully incorporated. This can be made ahead and refrigerated.
6. Step 6: To assemble the sliders, place a portion of the chicken on each slider bun or Bibb lettuce leaf. Top with kimchi, avocado slices, lightly pickled bean sprouts, gochujang aioli, chopped scallions, and a sprinkle of sesame seeds. Serve immediately.

Tips & Variations

• For a gluten-free option, use tamari or a gluten-free soy sauce in place of regular soy sauce and be sure slider buns are gluten-free.
• Swap chicken thighs instead of breasts for extra juicy and flavorful sliders.
• If you prefer less heat, reduce the amount of gochujang in the sauce and aioli.
• Make the gochujang aioli ahead of time to let the flavors meld and save prep time on serving day.
• Try adding thinly sliced cucumber or pickled radish for extra crunch and freshness.

Storage

Store any leftover cooked chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Keep the gochujang aioli and pickled bean sprouts in separate containers for best freshness. Reheat the chicken gently in a microwave or on the stove until warmed through before assembling sliders again.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use frozen chicken for this recipe?

Yes, you can use frozen chicken breasts or thighs, but be sure to add extra cooking time in the slow cooker to ensure the chicken cooks through completely. Cooking on low for 6 to 7 hours usually works well.

What if I don’t have a slow cooker?

You can make this recipe on the stovetop by simmering the chicken with the sauce in a covered pot over low heat until fully cooked and tender, about 1 to 1.5 hours. Shred the chicken and thicken the sauce as directed.

Slow Cooker Korean Chicken Sliders Recipe

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★★★★★

4.8 from 137 reviews

These Slow Cooker Korean Chicken Sliders are a flavorful and easy-to-make dish featuring tender shredded chicken simmered in a spicy, sweet gochujang sauce. Served on slider buns or Bibb lettuce wraps and topped with kimchi, avocado, pickled bean sprouts, gochujang aioli, scallions, and sesame seeds, these sliders bring bold Korean-inspired flavors to your table with minimal effort.

• Author: Lila
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 4 hours 15 minutes
• Total Time: 4 hours 30 minutes
• Yield: 12 sliders 1x
• Category: Main Course
• Method: Slow Cooking
• Cuisine: Korean

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Chicken and Sauce

• 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts and/or thighs
• 1/4 cup gochujang
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1 small red onion, grated
• 4 cloves garlic, grated
• 1” piece of ginger, peeled and grated
• 3 tablespoons mirin
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1 teaspoon arrowroot powder or cornstarch
• 1/4 cup water

Toppings and Assembly

• Slider buns and/or Bibb lettuce
• Kimchi
• Avocado, thinly sliced
• Lightly pickled bean sprouts (see below)
• Gochujang Aioli (see below)
• 1 bunch scallions, chopped
• Sesame seeds

Lightly Pickled Bean Sprouts

• 1 cup bean sprouts
• 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
• 1/2 cup warm water
• 1/2 scant tablespoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt

Gochujang Aioli

• 1/3 cup sour cream
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1 1/2 tablespoons gochujang
• 1 clove garlic, grated with microzester
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• Pinch of garlic powder
• Pinch of onion powder

Instructions

1. Prepare the Slow Cooker and Sauce: Spray the inside of your slow cooker bowl with nonstick cooking spray. Stir together gochujang, soy sauce, grated onion, grated garlic, grated ginger, mirin, brown sugar, sesame oil, and pepper directly in the slow cooker bowl until fully combined. Add the chicken breasts and/or thighs, stirring to evenly coat them in the sauce.
2. Cook the Chicken: Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for about 4 hours, until the chicken is fully cooked and tender. Remove the chicken from the slow cooker into a large bowl and use two forks to shred the meat finely.
3. Thicken the Sauce and Combine: In a small bowl, fully combine arrowroot powder or cornstarch with water. Pour this mixture into the sauce left in the slow cooker, stirring well to incorporate. Add the shredded chicken back into the slow cooker and stir to coat in the thickened sauce. Cook uncovered for an additional 10-15 minutes to let the sauce thicken around the chicken.
4. Make the Lightly Pickled Bean Sprouts: In a small bowl, combine rice vinegar, warm water, sugar, and kosher salt, stirring until dissolved. Pour this pickling liquid over the bean sprouts and let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes to lightly pickle.
5. Make the Gochujang Aioli: In a small bowl, combine sour cream, mayonnaise, gochujang, grated garlic, salt, garlic powder, and onion powder. Stir until fully incorporated. This can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator.
6. Assemble the Sliders: Place a generous amount of the Korean chicken on each slider bun or Bibb lettuce leaf. Top with kimchi, thinly sliced avocado, lightly pickled bean sprouts, a dollop of gochujang aioli, chopped scallions, and a sprinkle of sesame seeds.
7. Serve and Enjoy: Serve the sliders immediately while warm, devouring the bold, spicy, and tangy flavors in every bite.

Notes

• The recipe works with either chicken breasts, thighs, or a mix. Thighs will be more tender and juicy.
• You can adjust the gochujang quantity to control the heat level.
• For gluten-free, ensure you use gluten-free soy sauce and mirin.
• The aioli and pickled bean sprouts can be made a day in advance to save time.
• Slider buns can be substituted with lettuce wraps for a low-carb option.
• Leftover shredded chicken is great for rice bowls or tacos.

Keywords: Korean chicken sliders, slow cooker recipe, gochujang chicken, Korean sliders, easy chicken recipe, Korean fusion food, slow cooker chicken, spicy chicken sliders