Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken

There is nothing better than coming home after a long, exhausting day to a house that smells amazing and a dinner that is already done. This Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken is the ultimate “dump-and-go” meal. With just 10 minutes of prep in the morning, you get incredibly tender, flavorful chicken coated in a sticky, savory-sweet glaze by dinner time.

Love this? You should also try our Creamy Tuscan White Bean Soup!

Why You Will Love This Crockpot Recipe

• No Pre-Cooking Required: You don’t need to sear the chicken or sauté any vegetables first. Just whisk the sauce, pour it over the raw chicken, and press start!
• Budget-Friendly: Chicken thighs are much cheaper than chicken breasts, and they are far more forgiving in the slow cooker.
• Takeout Fakeout: The combination of honey, soy, garlic, and fresh ginger creates an authentic, sticky Asian-inspired glaze that tastes better than delivery.

Why Chicken Thighs are Better for Slow Cooking

While you can use chicken breasts for this recipe, boneless, skinless chicken thighs are highly recommended. Chicken breasts are very lean and have a tendency to dry out and become chalky when cooked for long periods, even submerged in liquid. Chicken thighs, on the other hand, contain slightly more fat and connective tissue, which breaks down slowly over time. This results in meat that is unbelievably juicy, tender, and practically falls apart with a fork.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I make the sauce thicker?

Slow cookers trap moisture, so the sauce will naturally be thin when the chicken finishes cooking. Do not skip the cornstarch slurry step! Mixing cornstarch with cold water and adding it back into the hot liquid on the HIGH setting will transform the watery broth into a thick, glossy glaze in just 10 minutes.

Can I freeze this recipe as a meal prep kit?

Yes! You can place the raw chicken and all the sauce ingredients (except the cornstarch and water) into a large Ziploc bag and freeze it for up to 3 months. When you are ready to cook, let the bag thaw in the fridge overnight, then dump the contents into the slow cooker and cook as directed.

Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 4 hours hrs

Course: Main Course, Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Ingredients Method

Ingredients

  

Main

• 2 lbs Boneless, skinless chicken thighs
• 1/2 cup Honey
• 1/2 cup Soy sauce (low sodium preferred)
• 1/4 cup Hoisin sauce
• 1 tbsp Sesame oil
• 4 cloves Garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp Fresh ginger, grated
• 1/2 tsp Red pepper flakes (optional)
• 2 tbsp Cornstarch
• 2 tbsp Cold water
• 1 tbsp Sesame seeds (for garnish)
• 2 stalks Green onions, sliced (for garnish)

Method

 

Main

1. Place the raw chicken thighs in the bottom of your slow cooker.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the honey, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, sesame oil, minced garlic, grated ginger, and red pepper flakes.
3. Pour the sauce mixture evenly over the chicken in the slow cooker.
4. Cover and cook on LOW for 4-5 hours, or on HIGH for 2-3 hours, until the chicken is incredibly tender and easily shreds with a fork.
5. Remove the cooked chicken from the slow cooker and place it on a cutting board. Use two forks to shred the meat.
6. To thicken the sauce: Whisk the cornstarch and cold water together in a small bowl until smooth (a slurry). Pour the slurry into the hot liquid remaining in the slow cooker. Turn the slow cooker to HIGH and let it bubble and thicken for 10-15 minutes.
7. Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker and toss it well to coat it in the thickened, sticky glaze.
8. Serve hot over rice and garnish with sesame seeds and sliced green onions.