Description
A foolproof slow cooker recipe for honey garlic chicken that delivers a restaurant-quality, sticky glaze without the watery sauce common in slow cooking. It’s tender, flavorful, and easier than takeout.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 1/2 cup soy sauce (low-sodium recommended)
- 1/2 cup honey
- 6–8 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
- 2 green onions, sliced
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Pat chicken thighs dry and place them in the slow cooker in a single layer.
- In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, honey, minced garlic, grated ginger, apple cider vinegar, and red pepper flakes.
- Pour the sauce mixture over the chicken, ensuring all pieces are coated.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 3-4 hours or HIGH for 2-3 hours, until chicken is tender and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Remove chicken from the slow cooker and set aside on a plate.
- Turn the slow cooker to HIGH. In a small bowl, whisk cornstarch and water until smooth to create a slurry.
- Pour the slurry into the hot liquid in the slow cooker and stir well.
- Let the sauce simmer in the slow cooker for 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it thickens into a glossy glaze.
- Return the chicken to the slow cooker, turning to coat in the glaze.
- Drizzle with toasted sesame oil, cover, and let sit for 5 minutes to absorb flavors.
- Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds and sliced green onions before serving.
Notes
Do not skip the cornstarch slurry; slow cookers trap steam, so the sauce will remain watery without thickening at the end. Use fresh garlic and ginger for the best flavor. If using chicken breasts, reduce cooking time by one hour. For a spicy version, add gochujang or sriracha.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Asian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: Served over steamed
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 28
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 12
- Saturated Fat: 2
- Carbohydrates: 32
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 35
Keywords: slow cooker, honey garlic chicken, sticky glaze, easy dinner, meal prep, chicken thighs, Asian-inspired, one-pot meal