Description
Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken is a flavorful and easy-to-make dish featuring tender shredded chicken cooked in a savory honey garlic sauce. This comforting Asian-inspired main course combines sweet honey, soy sauce, garlic, and ginger, slow-cooked to perfection and thickened to a rich glaze. Perfect for busy weeknights or meal prep, it pairs wonderfully with rice, quinoa, or noodles.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
Sauce
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Thickener
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water
Garnish
- Sliced green onions
- Sesame seeds
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Place the boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts at the bottom of the slow cooker, spreading them out evenly to form a single layer for even cooking.
- Make the Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together honey, low-sodium soy sauce, ketchup, rice vinegar, sesame oil, minced garlic, grated fresh ginger, and red pepper flakes if using, to create a balanced sweet and savory sauce with a hint of spice.
- Cook the Chicken: Pour the prepared sauce over the chicken, ensuring all pieces are well coated. 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 tender and fully cooked through.
- Shred the Chicken: Carefully remove the cooked chicken from the slow cooker and shred the meat using two forks, breaking it into bite-sized pieces for easy eating and coating with sauce.
- Thicken the Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together cornstarch and water to form a smooth slurry. Stir this slurry into the sauce remaining in the slow cooker and then return the shredded chicken to the pot.
- Final Cook: Cover and cook on high for an additional 15 to 20 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken and cling to the shredded chicken perfectly.
- Serve and Garnish: Serve the honey garlic chicken hot over your choice of rice, quinoa, or noodles. Garnish generously with sliced green onions and sesame seeds for added flavor and a pleasing presentation.
Notes
- For a veggie boost, add sliced bell peppers or broccoli during the last hour of cooking to incorporate extra nutrients and texture.
- This recipe works great for meal prep and can be frozen well in airtight containers for up to 3 months.
- Use gluten-free soy sauce to make this dish suitable for gluten-free diets.
