Description
This Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken features tender chicken simmered in a sweet, savory, and garlicky sauce until juicy and flavorful. It’s an easy set-it-and-forget-it dinner that pairs perfectly with rice and steamed vegetables, making it a convenient and delicious meal for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
Chicken
- 1½ lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
Sauce
- ½ cup honey
- ½ cup low-sodium soy sauce
- ¼ cup chicken broth
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 1 tsp fresh ginger, grated
- ½ tsp black pepper
Thickening Sauce
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 2 tbsp cold water
Garnish
- 2 green onions, sliced
- 1 tbsp sesame seeds
Instructions
- Prepare Chicken: Place the boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts into the slow cooker, ensuring an even layer for uniform cooking.
- Make Sauce: In a medium bowl, whisk together honey, low-sodium soy sauce, chicken broth, minced garlic, rice vinegar, sesame oil, grated fresh ginger, and black pepper until well combined.
- Add Sauce to Chicken: Pour the prepared sauce evenly over the chicken in the slow cooker. Turn the chicken pieces to coat thoroughly with the sauce.
- Slow Cook: Cover the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 4 to 5 hours, or on HIGH for 2 to 3 hours, until the chicken is fully cooked through, reaching an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C), and is tender.
- Rest and Slice: Remove the chicken from the slow cooker and let it rest briefly. If using chicken breasts, slice or shred the meat for serving.
- Thicken Sauce: In a small bowl, mix cornstarch and cold water to create a slurry. Pour the cooking liquid from the slow cooker into a saucepan, or stir the slurry directly into the slow cooker. Cook on HIGH heat for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens to a glossy consistency.
- Combine Chicken and Sauce: Return the cooked chicken to the thickened sauce and toss gently to coat all pieces evenly in the rich honey garlic sauce.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle sliced green onions and sesame seeds over the chicken. Serve hot over rice with steamed broccoli or your choice of vegetables for a complete meal.
Notes
- Chicken thighs tend to stay especially tender when slow-cooked, while chicken breasts provide a leaner option.
- For a spicy twist, add Sriracha or crushed red pepper flakes to the sauce before cooking.
- Pineapple chunks can be added during the final hour for a sweet, tropical flavor variation.
- Shredded chicken from this recipe works wonderfully in sandwiches, wraps, rice bowls, or for meal prepping.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Category: Main Course, Dinner, Slow Cooker, Asian-Inspired
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Asian-Inspired, Chinese-American
