Simple Slow Cooker Pho is super easy. This cheater recipe saves you money, no need for takeout.
Vietnamese pho is such a great meal for any night of the week. Who wouldn’t welcome a bowl of noodle soup?
A savoury broth with the flavours of star anise, cloves, and cinnamon, with a touch of fish sauce.
RECIPE and INSTRUCTIONS for this homemade pho are at the bottom of this post.
I love Asian takeout. Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Thai, all so full of flavour. Since I love cooking at home, making some of these wonderful dishes is a fun way to travel the world without leaving the kitchen.
This chicken pho recipe packs a flavour punch. If you love chicken noodle soup, this is the Asian version.
Looking for a little more soup fun, Cambodian Pineapple Soup is fun to make too.
Are YOU a noodle lover? We sure are. Authentic Ukrainian Egg Noodle Casserole and fun Chinese Spaghetti and Meatballs are a few of the dishes we enjoy. This easy pho recipe is another family favourite.
Can You Cook Pho In The Slow Cooker?
YES! This really is a simple soup to make, and the perfect crockpot dinner recipe.
The broth, chicken and shrimp are all prepared in the slow cooker. The noodles and bean sprouts are the only things you need to make on the side.
Slow Cooker Pho Ingredients
- chicken breasts
- chicken stock
- brown sugar
- *(affiliate) fish sauce
- tamari sauce
- cinnamon stick, star anise, and whole cloves
- cooked shrimp
- bok choy
- fresh basil
- lime
- jalapeno
- *(affiliate) Sriracha sauce
- *(affiliate) rice noodles
- bean sprouts
How To Make Chicken Pho In The Slow Cooker
- Just like all slow cooker recipes, this pho soup is no exception.
- Lightly coat the slow cooker with cooking spray.
- Place the chicken breasts into the slow cooker.
- Combine the stock, fish sauce and seasonings, and pour over chicken breasts.
- Cook on low for 9 hours.
- Prepare shrimp and bok choy (see instructions in recipe card), and add to the pot.
- Continue to cook for 30 minutes.
- Remove chicken, shred and return to pot.
- Prepare rice noodles according to directions on the package.
- Place cooked noodles in a serving bowl, ladle on broth, garnish and ENJOY!
Recipe Tips
- I love chicken and shrimp so I decided to use both in this pho soup. You can make this a chicken only version if you like. You can also use chicken thighs for this recipe.
- Thai basil is not always easy to find, so you can use whatever fresh basil you can find at the grocery store (or your garden).
- For the rice noodles, I chose the kind you would find in Pad Thai. I cooked them ahead of time and placed them in the fridge.
- I blanched my bean sprouts (some people prefer to eat them raw).
- For pho toppings, I used jalapenos and Thai basil. Nuts like cashews or peanuts would be a great option too. Also, you might consider sliced snap peas or bell peppers.
Is Pho Healthy?
I guess it depends on what YOU class as healthy. For some people, it may be high on sodium because of the fish sauce, but you could adjust the amount you use.
It contains rice noodles (that are gluten-free). Protein from the chicken and shrimp. You get some veggies from the bok choy and bean sprouts.
Vietnamese noodle soup is a tasty dish that acts as a main course. Just like noodle bowls.
Pho in the crockpot is easy and totally delicious. Perfect for any night of the week. Better than takeout. Hope you give it a try soon.
Since I know you will LOVE this recipe, Slow Cooker Creamy Fish Soup is the ultimate comfort food. Easy, hearty and so delicious.
Slow Cooker Spicy Kale Soup is the ultimate comfort food. Hearty and delicious. The heat comes from the dry-cured sausage.
This recipe was inspired by Served From Scratch Crockpot Chicken Pho.
What is YOUR favorite flavour of pho soup?
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Vietnamese Slow Cooker Pho
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken breasts (skinless/boneless)
- 8 cups chicken stock
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 2 tbsp fish sauce
- 1 tbsp tamari sauce
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 10 star anise
- 2 inch piece of fresh ginger (peeled and sliced)
- 6 whole cloves
- 1 pound frozen cooked shrimp (thawed/tail on)
- 4 cups baby bok choy (chopped)
- 1/2 cup Thai basil (roughly chopped)
- 2 jalapenos (sliced)
- 1 lime (quartered)
- Sriracha sauce (as needed)
- 12 ounces Pad Thai noodles (pre cooked)
- 12 ounces Fresh bean sprouts (raw or blanched)
Instructions
- Place chicken breasts in slow cooker.
- Combine stock, fish sauce, cinnamon, star anise, ginger, cloves, tamari, and brown sugar.
- Pour over chicken breasts.
- Cook on low for 9 hours.
- Roughly chop bok choy.
- Rinse and dry shrimp.
- Remove chicken breasts from slow cooker along with the cinnamon stick, cloves, and star anise.
- Add bok choy and shrimp to the slow cooker.
- Replace lid, turn slow cooker to high and cook for 30 minutes.
- At this point, you can blanch the bean sprouts in boiling water. If you are eating them raw, be sure to RINSE thoroughly.
- Shred the cooked chicken breasts.
- Return shredded chicken to pot and heat for a few minutes.
- Place noodles in bowls, ladle broth, garnish with jalapenos, basil, Sriracha and bean sprouts.
- ENJOY!
Nutrition Information
Leanne
My two favourite things together – pho and my slow cooker. Thank you so much for this fabulous and simple receipe. I made this exactly according to the recipe except omitted the shrimp, it was amazing!
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
I am so glad you enjoyed this recipe. It is delicious…and I love how the house smells while this cooks too.
Misty
I have made this recipe 4 or 5 times now, and it truly is delicious ,easy, and tastes just like restaurant Pho. However, each time, I’ve noticed that the broth loses flavor over time or when reheated. Any tips??? Has this happened to anyone else? I’m just so greedy, I want to enjoy that flavor until the last drop!
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
So glad you enjoyed the recipe. That seems to be the case, even with takeout food. You could always add a bit more fish sauce to the broth, but remember it is really salty.
Elena
I just wanted to tell you how wonderful this recipe is. This has to be my 10th + time making this dish- my husband and I are in love! I don’t put bok choy or shrimp in it but everything else I follow exactly as directed. It tastes like restaurant quality pho! Thank you for sharing this recipe with us.
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
I am sooooooooo happy you love this recipe. The aroma is amazing….and the taste is fantastic. Thanks so much for letting me know how much you enjoy this. I really appreciate it.
Christopher Lupold
An excellent and convenient recipe. I might pull the chicken earlier next time and add it as i serve. Thanks for a great Pho experience.
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
Thanks for letting me know so glad you enjoyed the recipe.
Christopher Lupold
It’s in the crock pot…a 4 quart crock will hold the 8 cups of stock and two split breasts with a bit of room to spare. No tamarin so i used soy… and did 7 star anise and 4 clove. Will let u know in 10 hrs or so. Thanks.
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
ENJOY…I am sure it will be delicious.
Christopher
I’ve tried several pho recipes and finally found one that was top notch using a whole chicken….but now i see this and must try. My question is the recipe i liked had half the star anise and clove…won’t this be overpowering?…and is my crockpot big enough?
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
Thanks so much for the questions. I have sent you an email with my thoughts. ENJOY!
Trish Bozeman
We love pho but have never thought to use the slow cooker to make it! Absolutely genius. A great way to get a rich and flavorful broth, but it’s super easy too. Great recipe, Gloria!
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
This is such a great recipe. I am making some this weekend. The slow cooker does a great job on this tasty soup. ENJOY!
Dana
I’ve been dying for a huge bowl of pho! Since moving to our new little town, we have to drive at least 30 minute to get a bowl of pho. And that’s hard with a baby. I can’t wait to make this and *finally* sate my craving.
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
This is a super cheat way to get your pho on!! I am making a huge pot on Sunday. Super easy and super delicious. ENJOY!