Description
This Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken recipe offers a deliciously sweet and savory dish with tender chicken cooked to perfection in a flavorful honey garlic sauce. Easy to prepare and perfect for a busy weeknight, this recipe uses simple ingredients and slow cooking to develop rich, comforting flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Honey Garlic Sauce
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1/3 cup soy sauce (low sodium preferred)
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon grated ginger (optional)
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
For Thickening (optional)
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water
Garnish
- Sesame seeds
- Chopped green onions
Instructions
- Season the chicken: Lightly season both sides of the chicken thighs or breasts with salt and black pepper to enhance flavor before cooking.
- Prepare the honey garlic sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together honey, soy sauce, ketchup, minced garlic, grated ginger (if using), vinegar, and red pepper flakes (if desired) until well combined.
- Combine chicken and sauce in slow cooker: Place the seasoned chicken in the slow cooker and pour the prepared sauce over it, ensuring the chicken is fully coated with the mixture.
- Cook the chicken: Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 4-5 hours or on high for 2-3 hours, until the chicken is tender and thoroughly cooked through.
- Optional sauce thickening: For a thicker sauce, remove the cooked chicken from the slow cooker and transfer the sauce to a saucepan. Mix the cornstarch with water to make a slurry, then stir it into the sauce. Simmer over medium heat for 2-3 minutes until the sauce thickens.
- Finish and serve: Return the chicken to the slow cooker or pour the thickened sauce over the chicken. Garnish with sesame seeds and chopped green onions before serving for added texture and flavor.
Notes
- Use low sodium soy sauce to better control the sodium level in the dish.
- Ginger and red pepper flakes are optional but add a nice depth and mild heat to the sauce.
- You can use either chicken thighs for more moisture or breasts for a leaner option.
- For a gluten-free version, ensure the soy sauce is gluten-free.
- Thickening the sauce is optional but recommended for a more glaze-like consistency.
- Serve over steamed rice or with vegetables for a complete meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 4-5 hours (low) or 2-3 hours (high)
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American Asian Fusion
Keywords: slow cooker chicken, honey garlic chicken, crockpot chicken, easy chicken dinner, honey soy chicken
