These slow cooker chicken teriyaki quinoa bowls are fake-out, take-out done easy, healthy and delicious!  Tender shredded chicken tossed with smooth, rich teriyaki sauce, piled high on fluffy quinoa and topped with diced pineapple, smoky red pepper, creamy avocado, crunchy cashews and crisp scallions.  These bowls are weeknight dinner winning!

**Updated**

This post was originally published in September 2016.  I made edits to the photos and added a RECIPE VIDEO to show you how easy this is to make!  However, the actual written words below in this post remain the same.

Hi-ya friends!

Today I have a real treat for you.  Well, I have TWO delights, technically.

One.  This dish.

Obviously.  But, we will get to that in 7.86 seconds.

Two.  I am going to keep this super short today.

We are talkin’, shortest post EVER on No Spoon Necessary.  So you can go ahead and high five your computer screen and relax knowing I’m not about to go on and on and ooooon about random nonsense like I normally do.

Well, I might ramble a tad.  Bad habits die hard, ya know?

So what’s up with my urge to keep things short and sweet today?  I am EXHAUSTED.

The smoke detector in our master bedroom decided to be a real asphalt and start chirping to notify us the batteries needed to be changed at an un-Godly hour.  But, to make matters worse, the dang detector is about 14 feet up on the wall.  <–WHO decided it should be located there?!?  Ugh.  Clearly, someone who hates me, that’s who.

And to make matters worse, we don’t own a ladder.

I KNOW.

Who doesn’t own a ladder, right?  Well, us… obviously we aren’t that smart.  Ugh the sequel.

Sooo, I’ve been awake since WAY before the crack of dawn, listening to an annoyingly loud chirping sound and I’m going on about 2 hours of sleep.

Let’s just say I feel crazy… and I’m 99.99999% positive my looks match the feels.

#NoSelfiesForMe

Ergo, I’m done rambling.  Let’s get to the good stuff shall we?

Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken Quinoa Bowls

AKA Fake out take out done EASY.

AND infinitely more delicious.

AND healthy!

Hollaaa!  (<–Yeah yea, I know that’s old school.  I’m livin’ on the edge.  😜)

These sweet and savory slow cooker bowls are jam packed with goodness.  Fluffy, nutty quinoa piled high with tender, succulent shredded chicken tossed and glistening in luscious, rich, silky smooth and slightly sweet teriyaki sauce.  Topped with fruity chunks of pineapple, smoky red bell peppers, crunchy cashews, creamy avocado and crisp scallions.

Smack me Sally, SO GOOD!  Healthy bowl food FOR THE WIN!

And in case you aren’t sold on just the pure deliciousness of this dish, these bowls could NOT be easier to whip together.

Prep your toppings and set them aside, plop some chicken into the slow cooker and dump on the sauce.

Turn the slow cooker on and go live your life for 2-3 hours.  Do the laundry, mow the yard, have a party in the USA, I donno know, do you.  Meanwhile, your house will start to smell intoxicating.

Come back and shred the chicken; then stir in the cornstarch slurry.  Cover and cook an additional 20-30 minutes, or until the sauce is thickened.

Assemble the teriyaki chicken bowls and CHOW DOWN.

You have now seen the light known as easy, healthy deliciousness, my friends.  Fist bumps for ALL!  👊

Is teriyaki chicken healthy?

While teriyaki chicken isn’t healthy per se, it is healthier than fried chicken!

Chicken teriyaki is a good source of both protein and nutrients, however it is high in sugar and fat.

The key to making teriyaki chicken healthier, is to eat it in moderation and to pair it with healthier, nutrient-dense foods.  This slow cooker teriyaki chicken bowl does just that!  Pairing it with super-grain quinoa, heart healthy avocado, and antioxidant rich red bell pepper is a healthy way to eat teriyaki chicken.

What vegetables go with teriyaki chicken?

Chicken teriyaki is a pretty versatile dish and can be served with a number of things.

Vegetables to serve with crockpot teriyaki chicken:

• Broccoli or broccolini
• Bell Peppers
• Carrots
• Bok choy
• Sugar snap peas or snow peas
• Mushrooms
• Edamame
• Cabbage

Notes, Tips & Tricks for the best Slow Cooker Chicken Teriyaki Quinoa Bowls recipe:

1. I used skinless, boneless chicken breast in the recipe below, but you can substitute chicken thighs if desired. Simply increase the cooking time accordingly and cook until an instant read thermometer (inserted AWAY from the bone, if bone-in) reads 165 degrees F.
2. My chicken breasts took approximately 2 hours and 50 minutes (total) on high, but this will depend on the type of slow cooker you have.  If you aren’t familiar with your slow cooker, I recommend you use an instant read thermometer to check the chicken for doneness.
3. The recipe below calls for adding a slurry (cornstarch + water).  This step ensures a silky, rich, thickened sauce, however, if you want to skip it you absolutely can.  You will just end up with a thinner sauce.

These easy Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken Quinoa Bowls are Weeknight Dinner WINNING, friends!

Bust out the crockpot and let’s DO THIS!

Until Thursday, cheers – to the slow cooker, lazy dinners best friend.

XOXO

Cheyanne

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How to make Slow Cooker Chicken Teriyaki Quinoa Bowls recipe and video👇

5 from 18 votes

Print

Slow Cooker Chicken Teriyaki Quinoa Bowls

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

2 hrs 30 mins

Total Time

2 hrs 45 mins

 

These slow cooker chicken teriyaki quinoa bowls are fake out, take out done easy, healthy and delicious! Tender shredded chicken tossed with smooth, rich teriyaki sauce, piled high on fluffy quinoa and topped with diced pineapple, smoky red pepper, creamy avocado, crunchy cashews and crisp scallions. These bowls are weeknight dinner winning!

Course: entree, Main Course

Cuisine: American, Asian

Keyword: avocado, bowls, cashews, chicken, Crock pot, crockpot, Easy, Healthy, pineapple, quinoa, red pepper, Slow Cooker, teriyaki

Servings: 6

Calories: 325 kcal

Author: Cheyanne Holzworth

Ingredients

• Teriyaki Chicken:
• 1 ½ - 2 Pounds Boneless , Skinless Chicken Breasts
• 2 Cloves Garlic – minced
• 1 TBS Ginger – grated
• 1/3 Cup Mirin
• ¼ Cup Sake
• ½ Cup Low Sodium Soy Sauce
• 2 TBS Honey
• ¼ Cup Light Brown Sugar , packed
• 1 TBS Water
• 1 TBS Cornstarch
• Bowls:
• 4 Cups Cooked Quinoa (can substitute rice)
• 1 Avocado – sliced
• 1 Roasted Red Pepper – diced
• 1 Cup Pineapple - diced
• 2 Scallions – thinly sliced
• Sesame Seeds , to taste
• Cashews , to taste
• Red Pepper Flakes , optional

Instructions

1. Cook the chicken: In a medium bowl, whisk together the garlic, ginger, mirin, sake, soy sauce, honey and light brown sugar. Place the chicken breasts in the bottom of your slow cooker in a single layer and season generously with salt and pepper. Pour the teriyaki sauce over the chicken. Cover and cook on high for 2-3 hours or low for 4-5 hours, or until the chicken is tender and cooked through.

2. Uncover and shred the chicken breasts with two forks.  In a separate small bowl whisk together the cornstarch and water. Add it to the slow cooker and stir to thoroughly combine.  Cover the slow cooker and cook on HIGH for 20-30 minutes or until the sauce is thickened and silky.  

3. To serve: Divide the quinoa (or rice) between bowls and top with teriyaki chicken, avocado, peppers and pineapple. Garnish with scallions, sesame seeds and cashews.  Enjoy!

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

1. I used skinless, boneless chicken breast in the recipe below, but you can substitute chicken thighs if desired. Simply increase the cooking time accordingly and cook until an instant read thermometer (inserted AWAY from the bone, if bone-in) reads 165 degrees F.
2. My chicken breasts took approximately 2 hours and 50 minutes (total) on high, but this will depend on the type of slow cooker you have.  If you aren’t familiar with your slow cooker, I recommend you use an instant read thermometer to check the chicken for doneness.
3. The recipe below calls for adding a slurry (cornstarch + water).  This step ensures a silky, rich, thickened sauce, however, if you want to skip it you absolutely can.  You will just end up with a thinner sauce.

Nutrition Facts

Slow Cooker Chicken Teriyaki Quinoa Bowls

Amount Per Serving

Calories 325 Calories from Fat 63

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 7g 11%

Saturated Fat 1g 5%

Sodium 908mg 38%

Potassium 475mg 14%

Total Carbohydrates 57g 19%

Dietary Fiber 6g 24%

Sugars 22g

Protein 7g 14%

Vitamin A 2.7%

Vitamin C 24.8%

Calcium 4.7%

Iron 15%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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