Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken Recipe
This Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken recipe combines tender, juicy chicken thighs simmered in a flavorful, sweet and savory honey garlic sauce made with soy sauce, honey, tomato paste, and a touch of chili paste. Slow cooking allows the chicken to absorb the delicious flavors, and a cornstarch-thickened sauce completes the dish, perfect served over rice or your favorite grain, garnished with toasted sesame seeds and chopped green onions.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 to 5 hours depending on slow cooker setting
- Total Time: 2 hours 10 minutes to 5 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Asian
- Diet: Halal
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Sauce
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs (or chicken breasts)
- 1/3 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 1/3 cup honey
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 teaspoons chili paste (sambal oelek, sriracha, or hot sauce of choice)
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
Sauce Thickener
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
To Serve
- Prepared brown rice, quinoa, or cauliflower rice
- Toasted sesame seeds
- Chopped green onion
Instructions
- Prepare the slow cooker: Place the chicken in the bottom of a 6-quart or larger slow cooker. In a medium bowl or large measuring cup, whisk together the soy sauce, honey, tomato paste, chili paste, minced garlic, and rice vinegar until well combined. Pour the sauce mixture over the chicken, ensuring it is evenly coated. Cover and set the slow cooker to cook on LOW for 4 to 5 hours or on HIGH for 2 to 3 hours. If possible, flip the chicken halfway through cooking to coat both sides thoroughly.
- Thicken the sauce in the slow cooker: Once the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C), remove it from the slow cooker and place on a plate to cool slightly. Whisk the cornstarch into the remaining cooking liquid in the slow cooker thoroughly. Cover and cook on HIGH for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, allowing the sauce to thicken. For a thicker sauce, continue cooking for up to 30 minutes.
- Optional stovetop sauce thickening: For quicker thickening, transfer the cornstarch-mixed cooking liquid to a medium saucepan and heat over medium heat on the stove. Stir frequently until the sauce thickens, about 5 to 10 minutes. If your slow cooker insert is stovetop safe, you may carefully use it directly on the burner, but only if certain of its safety to prevent damage.
- Shred and combine chicken with sauce: Using two forks or your fingers if cooled enough, shred the chicken into bite-sized pieces. Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker. If you thickened the sauce on the stove, pour it back into the slow cooker now. Stir well to coat the chicken evenly with the thickened sauce.
- Serve: Spoon the honey garlic chicken over prepared brown rice, quinoa, or cauliflower rice. Garnish with toasted sesame seeds and chopped green onions for added flavor and texture. Serve warm and enjoy!
Notes
- You can use chicken breast if you prefer leaner meat, but thighs stay juicier in slow cooking.
- Adjust the amount of chili paste to control the heat intensity according to your taste.
- If you don’t have cornstarch, you can use arrowroot powder as a thickener.
- For a gluten-free version, ensure your soy sauce is tamari or another gluten-free variety.
- Flipping the chicken halfway through cooking is recommended but not essential.
- Leftover chicken and sauce can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or frozen for longer storage.
Keywords: slow cooker chicken, honey garlic chicken, easy slow cooker recipes, one-pot chicken, slow cooker dinner, sweet and spicy chicken
