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
Marisa Franca
I’ve never had Pho but looking at the ingredients I’m sure we would love it. We like Asian flavors and soup with any kind of noodle is always welcome. I’m so glad this recipe does not require an Instant Pot! I don’t foresee us getting one in the near future — it’s another piece of equipment that needs a place to store. We do like our crockpot because it can be making dinner while I’m doing something else. Cooler weather is coming up so this recipe will be on our menu.
Homemade & Yummy
I totally agree, I am not going to get an Instant Pot either….I have more than enough things to cook with. Hope you give this soup a try….and that reminds me I need to make it again soon too.
Veena Azmanov
I have not had Pho for a long time because I didn’t know how ! Now I do. Can’t wait to try your recipe. Looks so delish
Homemade & Yummy
OMG this is SOOOOO easy….you have to give it a try.
Chef G
Thanks so much for including me in your roundup!!
Sarah @ Champagne Tastes
Ooo I wish I’d seen this during the winter.. Actually it’s cold now here so maybe I’ll make it tomorrow. I love pho but hate getting takeout constantly- this sounds fantastic!
Chef G
Hope you do give it a try…it’s wonderful.
pooja@poojascookery.com
Nice recipe and healthy too.
Chef G
Thanks so much.
pooja@poojascookery.com
Beautifully explained. Though I am allergic to prawns, I make sure to prepare them for my family and will definitely try out this one.
Chef G
You can certainly leave them out and it will still be delicious.
Claudia Krusch
It sounds so good and healthy! I can’t wait to try your recipe! Yummy!
Chef G
Hope you enjoy it as much as we do.
Rosey
The slow cooker is an instant favorite from the very first time you use it, isn’t it? I love mine too and that sounds great.
Chef G
They are awesome for sure.
Laura Funk
Oh wow, this looks really good. Never thought to use a crockpot to make Pho. Going to share this with my sister as she LOVES Pho
Chef G
It turns out so well.
Karissa Mackin
I really love pho! We go to a great place in town! I have never made it at home!
Chef G
YES for sure…it is really easy and tasty.
Carol Bryant
I am totally sharing this with my wife who does the cooking. I know she would love to try this, especially since we recently purchased a crock pot.
Chef G
Perfect to give it a try in the new pot!!
Dawn
This recipe looks and sounds so delicious. I love anything cooked in a slow cooker.
Chef G
It is easy and delicious.
Kerri
I must say that I have never made Asian in the crock pot. This looks like a great recipe to start with.
Chef G
Oh it is so good and so easy.
Lois Alter Mark
I love Pho and would be happy to have it every day! I definitely have to try this!
Chef G
Hope you do…ENJOY!!
Lory
We also love our slow cooker. It is such a time saver. I wonder how the soup would taste without the shrimp? I’m not a shrimp eater. Thanks for sharing!
Lory
Chef G
It would still be delicious for sure. Hope you give it a try.