Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken Recipe
This Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken is a delicious and easy-to-make dish featuring tender chicken thighs cooked in a savory honey garlic sauce. Perfect for busy days, this recipe combines sweet honey, tangy soy sauce, and aromatic garlic and ginger for a mouthwatering meal that requires minimal effort. Serve with steamed rice or vegetables for a complete and comforting dinner.
- Author: Windy
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 4-5 hours (low) or 2-3 hours (high)
- Total Time: 4 hours 10 minutes (low) or 2 hours 10 minutes (high)
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Asian
- Diet: Low Fat
Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
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)
Thickening (optional)
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water
Garnish
- Sesame seeds
- Chopped green onions
- Season the Chicken: Lightly season the chicken thighs or breasts with salt and black pepper on both sides to enhance the flavor.
- Prepare the Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together honey, soy sauce, ketchup, minced garlic, grated ginger (if using), rice or apple cider vinegar, and red pepper flakes for a sweet and savory sauce with a hint of spice.
- Combine Chicken and Sauce in Slow Cooker: Place the seasoned chicken in the slow cooker. Pour the prepared sauce over the chicken, ensuring each piece is well coated for even flavor distribution.
- Cook the Chicken: Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours or on high for 2-3 hours until the chicken is tender and fully cooked through.
- Thicken the Sauce (Optional): For a thicker sauce, remove the chicken from the slow cooker and transfer the sauce to a saucepan. Mix cornstarch with water to create a slurry and stir into the sauce. Simmer over medium heat for 2-3 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
- 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 for a delicious presentation before serving.
Notes
- Use boneless, skinless chicken thighs for juicier, more flavorful meat compared to chicken breasts.
- Low sodium soy sauce helps control the salt content without compromising flavor.
- The ginger and red pepper flakes are optional but add depth and mild heat to the dish.
- If you prefer a thicker sauce, do not skip the cornstarch slurry step.
- Serve with steamed rice, noodles, or sautéed vegetables for a balanced meal.
Keywords: slow cooker chicken, honey garlic chicken, easy chicken recipe, slow cooker dinner, slow cooker honey garlic, Asian chicken recipe, healthy chicken recipe