Description
Crockpot Chicken Pho is a comforting Vietnamese noodle soup made with tender slow-cooked chicken thighs simmered in a fragrant broth infused with star anise, cinnamon, cloves, and charred onion and ginger. Served with rice noodles and fresh herbs, this easy slow cooker recipe delivers authentic flavors with minimal effort.
Ingredients
Scale
Broth and Chicken
- 1 1/2 pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
- 8 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 small onion, halved
- 1 (3-inch) piece fresh ginger, halved lengthwise
- 2 star anise pods
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 4 whole cloves
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- Salt to taste
Noodles and Garnishes
- 8 ounces rice noodles (banh pho or flat rice noodles)
- 1 cup bean sprouts
- 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
- 1/4 cup chopped green onions
- 1 lime, cut into wedges
- Fresh Thai basil leaves
- Sliced jalapeños (optional)
Instructions
- Char the aromatics: Place the halved onion and ginger under the broiler for 5–7 minutes, turning once, until nicely charred. This step adds a deep smoky flavor to the broth.
- Cook in the crockpot: Add the charred onion and ginger to the crockpot along with the chicken thighs, chicken broth, star anise pods, cinnamon stick, cloves, fish sauce, brown sugar, and a pinch of salt. Cover and cook on low for 6–7 hours or on high for 3–4 hours until the chicken is tender and the broth is flavorful.
- Prepare the broth and chicken: Remove the chicken thighs from the crockpot. Strain the broth through a fine mesh sieve into a large bowl to discard solids. Shred the chicken meat, discarding the skin and bones, then return the shredded chicken to the broth.
- Cook the noodles: Prepare the rice noodles according to the package directions. Once cooked, rinse them under cool water to stop the cooking process and prevent sticking.
- Assemble and serve: Divide the noodles among serving bowls. Ladle the hot broth and shredded chicken over the noodles. Garnish with bean sprouts, chopped cilantro, green onions, lime wedges, Thai basil leaves, and sliced jalapeños if using. Serve immediately.
Notes
- For a richer flavor, sear the chicken thighs in a hot pan until browned before adding to the crockpot.
- You can use a mix of chicken thighs and drumsticks as a variation.
- Add a splash of hoisin sauce or sriracha at serving time for extra flavor and heat.
