Slow Cooker Chicken and Sweet Potato

This slow cooker chicken and sweet potato recipe is a warming, mildly spiced dish that’s perfect for busy weekdays or cosy weekends. With just a few simple ingredients and minimal prep, it’s an ideal throw-it-all-in meal for your slow cooker.

What You Need

Flavoured with rich harissa paste (you can substitute this with a different paste) and balanced by the sweetness of the potatoes and peppers, this recipe is as nutritious as it is delicious. Serve it with naan bread, rice, or even couscous for a satisfying dinner the whole family will enjoy.

What You Need

Note: Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom for the ingredients quantities and full detailed method.

Chicken Thighs

Boneless and skinless chicken thighs work great for slow cooking — they stay juicy and tender, even after hours of cooking. You can use chicken breast if you prefer, but the cooking time will be quicker.

Sweet Potatoes

Peel and chop them into bite-sized chunks. Their natural sweetness complements the gentle heat of the harissa, and they soften beautifully in the slow cooker.

Onion + Garlic

1 onion sliced, and crushed fresh garlic, frozen garlic or you can use garlic paste.

Mixed Peppers

Use any colour you like — red, yellow, green or orange peppers add a nice sweetness and pop of colour.

Chopped Tomatoes

Tinned chopped tomatoes help create a rich, slightly tangy sauce. No need to drain — pour the whole tin in.

Harissa Paste

Harissa paste gives this dish its signature flavour — a fragrant blend of spices with a touch of chilli heat. You can adjust the amount depending on your spice preference.

Alternative to Harissa Paste:
If you don’t have harissa, you can swap it for curry paste (such as tikka or madras), chipotle paste, or even a tablespoon of smoky paprika with a pinch of cumin and chilli powder.

You could even make your own harissa paste at home if you wanted to!

Making It

This is a wonderfully easy recipe — simply add all the ingredients to your slow cooker and give everything a good mix so the chicken and vegetables are well coated in the sauce.

Cook on:

• Low for 6–7 hours
• High for 3–4 hours

Once cooked, the chicken should be tender and fall apart easily with a fork, and the sweet potatoes should be soft but still hold their shape.

What To Serve It With

• Rice – Basmati or brown rice works well.
• Naan bread – Perfect for scooping up the rich sauce.
• Couscous or quinoa – Great for a lighter alternative.
• Fresh coriander – Sprinkle over just before serving for a fresh, herby finish.

What To Do With Leftover Harissa Paste

If you’ve got an open jar of harissa paste in the fridge, here are a few other recipes to try:

• Red Lentil and Harissa Soup
• One-Pan Harissa Chicken Tray Bake
• Harissa Roasted Veg and Halloumi Wraps – Roast your veg with a harissa marinade, then serve in flatbreads with halloumi.
• Air Fryer Harissa Chicken Thighs – Spread some harissa paste on the chicken thighs and pop them in the air fryer.
• Harissa Chicken and Couscous Salad – Use up cold leftovers for a delicious lunchbox filler.

Tips and Variations

• Make it creamy: Stir through a spoonful of Greek yoghurt or coconut milk at the end for a milder, creamier version.
• Add greens: A handful of spinach stirred in during the last 10 minutes adds colour and nutrients.
• Freezer-friendly: This dish freezes well — just cool, portion, and freeze. Defrost overnight in the fridge and reheat until piping hot.

More Slow Cooker Chicken Recipes

If you are looking for more slow cooker chicken recipes check out some of my favourites below:

• Slow Cooker Chicken Casserole
• Slow Cooker Chicken Curry
• Slow Cooker Chicken Salsa
• Slow Cooker Chicken and Chorizo
• Slow Cooker Chicken Chasseur
• Slow Cooker Chicken Fajitas
• Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Chicken

I hope you like this slow cooker chicken recipe, if you try it, let me know in the comments below or tag me on social media!