If there’s one meal that never fails to bring pure joy to the dinner table, it’s Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken. Imagine juicy, tender chicken coated in a glossy, sweet-savory sauce—with just a hint of heat—that practically cooks itself while you go about your day. This is weeknight comfort food made effortlessly gourmet, and I can’t wait for you to fall in love with it.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Fuss-Free Comfort: The slow cooker does all the work, so you can set it, forget it, and come back to a kitchen that smells absolutely amazing.
- Irresistible Sauce: The magic is in the sticky honey-garlic glaze—sweet, garlicky, a little tangy, and just enough spicy kick to keep you coming back for seconds.
- Customize It Your Way: This recipe adapts to your mood, whether you’re craving fiery spice, need it mild for kids, or want to swap in your favorite veggies.
- Meal Prep Friendly: Leftovers reheat like a dream and freeze beautifully, making it a lifesaver for busy weeks.
Ingredients You’ll Need
One of the best things about Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken is how it transforms simple, everyday ingredients into something truly special. Each component plays its own unique role—bringing flavor, texture, and gorgeous caramel color to every bite.
- Boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts: Thighs create that extra juicy, melt-in-your-mouth texture, but breasts work well if that’s your preference or what you have on hand.
- Low-sodium soy sauce: The salty backbone of the sauce—using low-sodium keeps the flavor balanced and lets the honey shine.
- Honey: Adds signature sweetness and helps the sauce get that lovely sticky finish.
- Tomato paste: Gives subtle richness and deepens the color for a restaurant-worthy glaze.
- Chili paste (sambal oelek, sriracha, or hot sauce of your choice): This is your secret weapon for a touch of heat—adjust to make it mild or spicy!
- Minced garlic: There’s no such thing as too much garlic here. It infuses the chicken and sauce with aromatic flavor.
- Rice vinegar: Lifts the sauce with a gentle tang that keeps every bite bright and addictive.
- Cornstarch: For thickening that glossy sauce just before serving—so it coats every shred of chicken beautifully.
- Prepared brown rice, quinoa, or cauliflower rice: For serving—a blank canvas to soak up all that delicious sauce.
- Toasted sesame seeds and chopped green onion: These finish off your dish with color, crunch, and an extra pop of flavor.
Variations
One of my favorite things about Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken is how easy it is to make it truly your own. Whether you want to amp up the veggies, adjust the heat, or try a new protein, there are plenty of ways to get creative and make this recipe perfect for your family.
- Veggie Booster: Add bite-sized pieces of bell pepper, broccoli, snow peas, or carrots for extra crunch and a pop of color—just stir them in during the last hour of cooking to keep them vibrant.
- Different Protein: Try swapping in boneless pork chops or even tofu for a delicious twist if you’re looking for something new or vegetarian-friendly.
- Gluten-Free Option: Use tamari or your favorite gluten-free soy sauce to keep this dish totally gluten-free, without sacrificing flavor.
- Make it Extra Spicy: If you love heat, double the chili paste or add crushed red pepper flakes for a bolder kick!
How to Make Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken
Step 1: Arrange the Chicken and Mix the Sauce
Start by laying your chicken thighs or breasts in an even layer at the bottom of your slow cooker (a 6-quart size works perfectly). In a mixing bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, honey, tomato paste, chili paste, garlic, and rice vinegar. Pour this beautiful, aromatic sauce all over the chicken—don’t worry if it looks a little thin, the magic happens as it cooks!
Step 2: Slow Cook Until Tender
Cover the slow cooker and set it on LOW for 4 to 5 hours or HIGH for 2 to 3 hours. The chicken is ready when it’s cooked through and absolutely fork-tender (an internal temperature of 165°F is perfect). If you’re around, give the chicken a flip halfway through for extra coating—but if not, no worries, the sauce will still find its way into every bite.
Step 3: Thicken the Sauce
Take the chicken out and let it cool a smidge on a plate. Whisk the cornstarch into the simmering cooking liquid in the slow cooker. Cover and cook on HIGH for about 15 minutes—this gives you a lightly thickened, glossy sauce that clings to the chicken. If you prefer a super-thick glaze, go up to 30 minutes, or, for speed, pour the liquid into a saucepan and thicken it on the stove in just 5 to 10 minutes.
Step 4: Shred and Serve
Shred the chicken with two forks (or use your hands if it’s cool enough), then return it to the slow cooker and toss with the thickened sauce. Spoon generously over rice or quinoa, sprinkle on plenty of green onions and sesame seeds, and dive in!
Pro Tips for Making Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken
- Choose Thighs for Extra Juiciness: Chicken thighs remain ultra-moist during long slow-cooking, making each bite mouthwateringly tender.
- Adjust the Heat: Taste your chili paste before adding—sriracha brings big flavor while sambal oelek adds pure heat, so use less or more depending on your crowd.
- Make It Even Quicker: For a fast weeknight dinner, thicken your sauce on the stove instead of in the slow cooker to save up to 15 minutes.
- Double and Freeze: This recipe doubles easily—batch cook and freeze in portions for instant homemade dinners on busy nights!
How to Serve Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken
Garnishes
A generous sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds and plenty of chopped green onion is a must for Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken. They add extra crunch, a hint of nuttiness, and a burst of color—making your dish look as vibrant as it tastes. If you love heat, try some thin-sliced fresh chili or a dusting of red pepper flakes too!
Side Dishes
This saucy chicken is made for soaking up with rice. Fluffy brown rice, ultra-light quinoa, or even cauliflower rice are all stellar bases. If you want more veggies, serve alongside steamed broccoli, stir-fried snap peas, or a crisp cucumber salad for a refreshing contrast.
Creative Ways to Present
Beyond a humble rice bowl, try piling Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken into lettuce wraps with shredded carrots and radish, or load up a baked sweet potato for a fun, nutritious twist. Pack leftovers cold into a mason jar salad with veggies and grains for tomorrow’s lunch—you’ll have everyone at work asking for the recipe.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Let your Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken cool completely, then transfer it (with the sauce!) to an airtight container. It’ll keep happily in the fridge for up to 4 days. The flavors deepen, so leftovers are often even more irresistible the next day!
Freezing
This chicken is a freezer meal superstar. Place cooled portions in a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to three months. Defrost overnight in the fridge for dinnertime magic at a moment’s notice.
Reheating
Warm leftovers in a saucepan over medium-low heat, adding a splash of water or broth to loosen the sauce if needed. The microwave works too—use short intervals and stir midway to keep the chicken juicy and perfectly saucy.
FAQs
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Can I use frozen chicken in the slow cooker?
It’s best to use thawed chicken for food safety and even cooking. If using frozen, thaw completely in the refrigerator overnight before starting the recipe.
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Is this recipe suitable for meal prep?
Absolutely! Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken stores beautifully in the fridge or freezer and tastes just as wonderful reheated. Prep extra for lunches or fast dinners all week.
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Can I make this recipe without a slow cooker?
Yes! You can simmer everything gently on the stovetop in a Dutch oven or heavy pot with a tight lid, keeping the heat low and checking for doneness after about 25–30 minutes.
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How can I make this even healthier?
Use chicken breast, serve with cauliflower rice, and increase the veggie content by stirring in bell peppers, snap peas, or broccoli towards the end of cook time.
Final Thoughts
If you’re craving a meal that’s big on flavor yet simple enough for any night of the week, you truly can’t go wrong with Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken. I hope this recipe becomes a dinnertime favorite in your home—the kind you look forward to, one delicious bite after another. Happy cooking and enjoy every saucy, garlicky forkful!
Print
Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken Recipe
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Total Time: 4 hours 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: Asian
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
This Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken recipe is a flavorful and easy dish that is perfect for a busy day. Tender chicken cooked in a sweet and savory sauce, served over rice and garnished with sesame seeds and green onions.
Ingredients
For the Chicken:
- 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
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
For Serving:
- Prepared brown rice, quinoa, or cauliflower rice
- Toasted sesame seeds
- Chopped green onion
Instructions
- Place the chicken: Put the chicken in the slow cooker.
- Mix the sauce: Combine soy sauce, honey, tomato paste, chili paste, garlic, and rice vinegar. Pour over the chicken.
- Cook: Cook on LOW for 4-5 hours or HIGH for 2-3 hours.
- Thicken the sauce: Remove chicken, whisk cornstarch into the liquid, cook on HIGH for 15 minutes or thicken on the stove.
- Shred the chicken: Shred chicken, return to the slow cooker, and mix with sauce.
- Serve: Serve over rice, topped with green onions and sesame seeds.
Notes
- Store cooked leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave.
- Freeze in airtight containers for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 329 kcal
- Sugar: 25g
- Sodium: Not specified
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: Not specified
- Trans Fat: Not specified
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 162mg
