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.
We enjoy noodles in stir fries too. Fried cabbage and noodles is the perfect meal for busy weeknights, and is a fraction of the cost of takeout.
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.
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 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons fish sauce
- 1 tablespoons 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)
- ½ 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
Brandy M
I love Asian food but I have never heard of pho! It looks outstanding! I can’t wait to try this.
Chef G
WOW you have never heard of Pho? Give it a try…you’ll love it!!
Robin Rue (@massholemommy)
I have never heard of pho before, but it sounds really tasty! I would love to try it.
Chef G
Well if you like Asian…you will love it!!
Heather lawrence
I have never tried or made pho before but after reading the recipe I realized there are a ton of ingredients in this dish that I love! Can not wait to make a batch for myself.
Chef G
It is so easy….and oh so tasty!
Lana @ The Joy Blog
Definitely going to try this one. My husband can never pass up a bowl of Pho. He will go nuts if I make it at home!
Chef G
Hope he loves it….we do!!
Melanie
This looks amazing! I love my slow cooker, I use it at least once a week.
Chef G
I love using mine too.
Bella B (xoxoBella)
This looks so fresh and tasty. I have never made pho, but this recipe looks so easy!
Chef G
It is easy….and tasty!!
Krista Williams
Oh I love adding jalapeno here for some heat! This looks like something I could make for my boyfriend and he would LOVE it.
Amazing! Thank you so much!
Krista
Susanne
Yum, this looks delicious! I’ll definitely be adding this to my to-do list for dinner. Thanks for sharing!
Chef G
Hope you enjoy it!!
Amber
My mouth is watering just looking at these pics! I also love that this is a slow cooker recipe. Thanks for sharing!
Nicole
I was literally just looking up simple Pho recipes yesterday. I like this one a lot. I have to be careful with Asian food since so many Soy and Fish sauces have gluten in them. I need to make them myself.
Chef G
My moto: It always tastes better when you make it at home!! ENJOY!!
Becky
Yum, this looks so good! And anything I can do in the slow cooker is always great for convenience sake!
Chef G
YES….slow cookers are awesome!!
Evi
Yum!! I finally got a crock pot for Christmas, and this is going on the list of recipes to try!!
Chef G
You will LOVE your crockpot…they are the best!!
Angie @ My So-Called Chaos
Pho is one of my favorite dishes, I totally need to try this!
Chef G
We love it!!
kristen
yum! I love pho, but never thought it could be done in a crock pot! this is awesome! I know what I’m making this week!
Chef G
Thanks….and ENJOY!!
Lee Anne
Pho is my absolute favorite and I never thought about cooking it in a slow cooker! Awesome idea! Thanks for sharing!
xo
Lee Anne
Chef G
YES it can….ENJOY!!