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Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken

A cozy, hands-off dinner that delivers sticky-sweet flavor with minimal effort – perfect for busy weeknights or meal-prep nights.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Asian, Comfort Food
Calories: 410
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 4 pieces boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts Use thighs for more flavor or breasts for a leaner option.
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 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 ingredient for more flavor.
  • 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

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Lightly season the chicken thighs or breasts with salt and black pepper on both sides.
  2. In a small bowl, whisk together honey, soy sauce, ketchup, garlic, ginger, vinegar, and red pepper flakes.
  3. Place the chicken in the slow cooker. Pour the sauce over the chicken, ensuring it's well coated.
Cooking
  1. Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours or high for 2-3 hours, until the chicken is tender and fully cooked.
  2. (Optional) For a thicker sauce, remove the chicken and transfer the sauce to a saucepan. Mix cornstarch with water to create a slurry, then stir it into the sauce.
  3. Simmer over medium heat until it thickens, about 2-3 minutes.
  4. Return the chicken to the slow cooker or pour the thickened sauce over the chicken. Garnish with sesame seeds and green onions.

Notes

Brown the chicken briefly in a hot skillet before adding to the slow cooker for extra flavor and color. Taste and adjust seasoning before serving; add more honey for sweetness, vinegar for brightness, or soy sauce for saltiness. If using low-sodium soy sauce, you may want to add a pinch more salt to taste. For an even silkier sauce, blend the sauce before thickening.