Easy Tender Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken
A simple and flavorful slow cooker recipe combining sweet honey, savory garlic, and tender chicken thighs for perfect weeknight meals.
- Prep Time: 9 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 to 5 hours (low) or 2 to 3 hours (high)
- Total Time: 4 hours 9 minutes to 5 hours 9 minutes (low) or 2 hours 9 minutes to 3 hours 9 minutes (high)
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 1/4 cup honey (85 g)
- 1/4 cup soy sauce (60 ml) – low sodium recommended
- 4–5 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar (30 ml)
- 1/4 cup water (60 ml)
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch (8 g)
- 2 tablespoons water (30 ml) for cornstarch slurry
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- Sesame seeds for garnish
- 2 green onions, thinly sliced
Instructions
- Trim any excess fat from the chicken thighs and pat them dry with paper towels.
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together honey, soy sauce, minced garlic, rice vinegar, water, and optional crushed red pepper flakes until smooth and well combined.
- Place the chicken thighs evenly in the bottom of the slow cooker and pour the sauce over the chicken.
- Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours or on high for 2-3 hours until the chicken is fork-tender and juicy. Avoid lifting the lid during cooking.
- Carefully remove the chicken and set aside. Mix cornstarch with water to create a slurry and stir it into the sauce in the slow cooker.
- Turn the slow cooker to high and cook uncovered for 10-15 minutes until the sauce thickens, adding more slurry if needed.
- Return the chicken to the thickened sauce and spoon sauce over the pieces to coat well.
- Garnish with sesame seeds and sliced green onions. Serve hot with steamed rice or vegetables.
Notes
For extra flavor, sear chicken in a hot skillet for 2-3 minutes per side before slow cooking. Avoid lifting the slow cooker lid during cooking to maintain heat. If sauce doesn’t thicken, add more cornstarch slurry. Taste sauce before thickening and adjust vinegar or honey as needed. Use tamari or coconut aminos for gluten-free version. Can be made in Instant Pot using sauté and pressure cook functions.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 1/4
- Calories: 350
- Fat: 15
- Carbohydrates: 15
- Protein: 30
Keywords: slow cooker chicken, honey garlic chicken, easy dinner, weeknight meal, crockpot recipe, tender chicken, honey sauce