Sweet & Spicy Chinese Chicken

My personal theory is that you can never have too many quick & easy freezer meals ready to go, especially ones that use budget-friendly chicken! This juicy, flavorful sweet & spicy Chinese chicken was a huge hit with both my husband AND kids; in fact, my five year old, after cleaning her plate in about 2 minutes flat, went on and on in her little accent about how it was so yummy and she wanted “mo” and it was the best dinner “evoh.” So there you go.

To make it as part of a freezer cooking day, just split the sauce & chicken into multiple bags, then throw it right into the freezer–no cooking required! Making it ahead of time is not necessary, though, as it is equally delicious just marinated at room temperature.

You can use any type of chicken but my family much prefers the boneless, skinless chicken thighs, which are a darker, juicier meat and also tend to be cheaper than the boneless skinless breasts.

Here is what you need:

 Step 1: Chop green onion; set aside.

Step 2: In large bowl, whisk together olive oil, garlic, pineapple juice, chili sauce, vinegar, brown sugar, green onions and soy sauce.

Step 3: Divide chicken into two gallon size freezer bags (be sure to label bags first!)

Step 4: Divide sauce into bags over top of chicken. Freeze until needed.

Step 5: Thaw; pour contents into slow cooker. Cook on low for 4-5 hours or high for 2-3 hours, or place in casserole dish and bake at 400 degrees for 30-40 minutes. Serve over cooked rice.