In the whirlwind of daily life, finding delicious, healthy, and effortless meals can feel like a quest. For anyone who cherishes family time over kitchen duties, or simply wants to savor a home-cooked meal without the fuss, the slow cooker stands as an invaluable culinary ally. This is precisely why I’m thrilled to share one of my all-time favorite, go-to recipes: a mouthwatering Crock Pot Teriyaki Chicken and Veggies dish. It embodies the perfect blend of convenience and flavor, promising a delightful dinner that will undoubtedly become a regular in your household menu rotation.
Effortless Crock Pot Teriyaki Chicken and Vegetables: Your Weeknight Savior
Imagine this: the aroma of a delicious dinner wafting through your home, but you haven’t spent hours slaving over a hot stove. That’s the magic of this Crock Pot Teriyaki Chicken and Vegetables recipe. It’s the ultimate “set it and forget it” meal. Simply toss your ingredients into the slow cooker, carry on with your day – whether it’s tackling chores, running errands, working, or enjoying precious moments with loved ones – and return to a perfectly cooked, flavorful meal ready to be served. It truly redefines what’s possible for busy weeknight dinners, proving that wholesome, satisfying food doesn’t have to demand extensive preparation or culinary expertise.
The beauty of slow cooking lies in its ability to transform simple ingredients into something extraordinary with minimal supervision. Meats become incredibly tender, and flavors meld together beautifully over hours, creating a depth that rushed cooking methods often miss. This Teriyaki Chicken recipe is a shining example, delivering succulent chicken and vibrant vegetables bathed in a rich, savory-sweet sauce that’s universally appealing. It’s a comforting, well-balanced meal that provides essential protein and nutrients without compromising on taste or requiring a mountain of pots and pans to clean.
The Secret Ingredient: Discovering Soy Vay’s VERI VERI TERIYAKI® MARINADE
At the heart of this incredibly flavorful dish is an exceptional marinade, and for teriyaki, nothing quite compares to Soy Vay. Many might not know the charming origin story behind this beloved brand. Soy Vay was born out of a shared passion for food and friendship at a potluck party in 1982. Two friends, driven by their culinary creativity, blended cherished family recipes with authentic Asian flavors to craft what would become an instant pantry staple. What makes Soy Vay stand out, beyond its fantastic taste, is its commitment to quality ingredients. They pride themselves on creating products free from preservatives and artificial additives, a detail that resonates deeply with home cooks seeking healthier options without sacrificing convenience.
While their original Hoisin Garlic flavor quickly gained a loyal following, Soy Vay has expanded its range to include an array of exciting options, with the VERI VERI TERIYAKI® MARINADE being a particular standout for this recipe. This versatile marinade offers a harmonious balance of savory soy sauce, zesty ginger, robust garlic, and a hint of sweetness, creating a complex flavor profile that elevates simple chicken and vegetables into a gourmet experience. Its rich texture and authentic taste cling perfectly to every piece of chicken and vegetable, ensuring a deeply satisfying bite every time. The ease of use, combined with its superior quality, makes Soy Vay’s Teriyaki Marinade an indispensable component for this quick and delicious slow cooker meal.
Beyond the delightful taste, choosing a trusted brand like Soy Vay also adds an element of convenience to your grocery shopping. Knowing that a high-quality, pre-made marinade is readily available at most major retailers means less time spent searching for obscure ingredients and more time enjoying the cooking process (or rather, the lack thereof, thanks to the slow cooker!). This accessibility allows you to consistently whip up delicious meals without the added stress of a complex shopping list, truly embodying the spirit of effortless cooking.
Essential Ingredients for Your Teriyaki Chicken Crock Pot Masterpiece
One of the many charms of this recipe is its simplicity and reliance on just a few key ingredients, each playing a crucial role in creating the final, spectacular dish. Here’s what you’ll need, along with some tips for selection:
- VERI VERI TERIYAKI® MARINADE: As highlighted, this is the cornerstone of our flavor. One full bottle ensures a generous coating and rich sauce.
- Chicken: For slow cooking, boneless, skinless chicken thighs are often preferred due to their higher fat content, which keeps them incredibly moist and tender over long cooking times. However, boneless, skinless chicken breasts can also be used for a leaner option; just be mindful not to overcook them to prevent dryness. Cut your chicken into 1-inch to 2-inch pieces for even cooking and easier serving.
- Stir Fry Vegetables: This is where you can truly customize your meal! A pre-packaged bag of Asian stir-fry vegetables (often found in the frozen section) offers ultimate convenience, typically including broccoli florets, sliced carrots, snap peas, and bell peppers. If using fresh, consider vibrant options like broccoli, bell peppers (red, yellow, orange), carrots, snow peas, water chestnuts, baby corn, or mushrooms. Cut them into bite-sized pieces for consistent cooking.
- Whole Pineapple: This ingredient serves a dual purpose. A portion of the fresh pineapple will be added to the slow cooker towards the end of the cooking process, lending a wonderful sweetness and tang that perfectly complements the teriyaki sauce. The remaining pineapple shell, once hollowed out, can be creatively repurposed as unique and charming serving bowls, adding an impressive tropical flair to your presentation.
Choosing the Right Slow Cooker for Optimal Results
While any slow cooker will technically get the job done, investing in a model with specific features can significantly enhance your cooking experience and ensure consistently perfect results. We highly recommend using a Crockpot that features a digital timer and an automatic “keep warm” function. This innovative feature allows you to set the desired cooking time, and once completed, the slow cooker automatically switches to a low “warm” setting. This prevents your food from overcooking if you’re delayed in serving, maintaining the ideal temperature and texture until you’re ready to eat. It’s a game-changer for busy schedules, eliminating the stress of rushing home to turn off the cooker and ensuring your dinner is perfectly done, whenever you are.
Look for models with programmable settings that allow you to customize cooking durations and temperatures. Another useful feature is a lid with a secure seal, which helps retain moisture and flavors, leading to more tender and succulent results. Capacity is also key; a 6-quart or larger slow cooker is generally ideal for family meals and provides enough space for all ingredients without overcrowding, ensuring even cooking. Some advanced models even offer smart capabilities, allowing you to control and monitor your cooking from your smartphone, adding another layer of convenience to your culinary routine.
Serving Suggestions for Your Teriyaki Chicken
This Crock Pot Teriyaki Chicken and Veggies recipe is wonderfully versatile when it comes to serving. While the pineapple bowl presentation is undoubtedly a showstopper, there are many other ways to enjoy this flavorful dish:
- Rice Varieties: Classic white jasmine rice or brown rice provides a comforting base that soaks up all the delicious teriyaki sauce. For a quick and flavorful side, this pairs perfectly with easy fried rice.
- Healthy Grains: Consider serving it over quinoa or farro for a boost of protein and fiber.
- Noodle Bowls: Ladle the chicken and veggies over a bed of ramen noodles, soba noodles, or even rice vermicelli for an Asian-inspired noodle bowl.
- Lettuce Wraps: For a lighter, low-carb option, serve the teriyaki mixture in crisp lettuce cups (such as butter lettuce or romaine hearts).
- Steamed Vegetables: If you’re looking to add even more greens, a simple side of steamed broccoli or asparagus complements the dish beautifully.
Tips for Perfect Crock Pot Teriyaki Chicken
- Chicken Prep: For best results, cut chicken into uniform pieces. This ensures even cooking.
- Veggie Timing: Adding the more delicate vegetables like bell peppers and snap peas towards the end prevents them from becoming mushy. Root vegetables like carrots can go in earlier.
- Thickening the Sauce: If you prefer a thicker sauce, remove the cooked chicken and veggies, then whisk a cornstarch slurry (1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons cold water) into the slow cooker liquid. Cook on high for another 15-20 minutes, or until thickened.
- Garnish for Freshness: A sprinkle of sesame seeds, sliced green onions, or fresh cilantro just before serving adds a burst of flavor and visual appeal.
- Storage: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days, making it an excellent option for meal prep.
Explore More Slow Cooker Delights
The slow cooker is an absolute powerhouse for creating diverse and delicious meals with minimal effort. If you’ve fallen in love with the convenience and flavor of this Teriyaki Chicken, you’ll be thrilled to discover the vast world of Slow Cooker Chicken Recipes. From hearty comfort foods to international flavors, your crockpot can handle it all. Here are a few other fantastic chicken recipes to inspire your next slow cooker adventure:
- Mexican Chicken Tostadas Recipe
- Chicken Ramen
- White Chicken Chili
- Chicken Orzo Casserole
Beyond chicken, our CrockPot Recipes category is brimming with ideas for every meal of the day. And if you’re a fan of recreating restaurant favorites at home, be sure to check out our copycat recipes, or satisfy your sweet tooth with our delightful dessert recipes. We’re always experimenting and sharing new ways to make cooking enjoyable and accessible.
Stay connected for all our latest recipe posts and culinary inspiration! You can follow Tammilee Tips on MSN, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. We love sharing our passion for easy, delicious food with our community!
Crock Pot Teriyaki Chicken and Veggies Recipe
Print
Rate
Ingredients
- 1 bottle VERI VERI TERIYAKI® MARINADE
- 2-3 pounds Chicken
- 10.8 Ounce Asian vegetables
- 1 pineapple
Instructions
- Cut chicken into pieces and place into the crock pot.
- Pour bottle of VERI VERI TERIYAKI® MARINADE over the top, cook on high for 4 hours
- Add in Asian veggies and cook for 30 minutes
- While these are cooking cut open pineapple and scoop out fruit, add pineapple to the crock pot before serving
- Scoop teriyaki chicken and veggies into the pineapple bowls for serving
Kitchen Tools
- Slow cooker
Nutrition
Calories from Fat 198
Recipe originally shared on March 21, 2017. Updated November 2020.