Crockpot Honey Garlic Chicken Recipe
Sep 06, 2015, Updated Aug 31, 2022
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Crockpot Honey Garlic Chicken is an easy slow cooker dinner, featuring a sticky-sweet sauce and juicy, perfectly cooked chicken thighs. Everyone will be fighting for the last piece!
Want more chicken thigh recipes? Try this easy air fryer chicken thighs recipe!
So Good You Might Just Lick Your Plate (I Did!)
Crockpot honey garlic chicken always makes me think of this one time, at a reallllyyy nice restaurant, when I picked up my plate and slurped up all the sauce. No shame.
It just so happened that I had a hot date at one of Chicago’s best Asian restaurants, and because I knew the owner, I felt like, hey anything goes! I felt like a hot shot, if you will, until I completely made a fool of myself because I could not stop slurping up the honey garlic sauce. I didn’t completely pick up the plate – just kind of tilted it a little bit – enough to get every last drop of that sauce! This experience was akin to the first time I tasted bourbon chicken, with its equally irresistible sauce that leaves you wanting more.
As a result, I developed this recurring hangry hunger for honey garlic chicken because it is simply that good. Tender, moist, chicken thighs, coated in the most glorious homemade honey garlic sauce, and in my version, it all comes together in the slow cooker. This recipe will change your life!
What You’ll Need
We’re only dealing with 5 ingredients here plus a seasoning or two. Super easy, I’m telling you. Here’s what you will need to make the perfect crockpot honey garlic chicken:
- Chicken Thighs: Since this recipe is for the slow cooker, I recommend using boneless, skinless thighs. Skin-on chicken would not get crispy.
- Garlic: Mince up some fresh garlic for a pop of savory flavor.
- Honey: For sweetness and stickiness! Pure maple syrup makes a good substitute if needed.
- Ketchup: Low-sodium is my preference, but you can use any ketchup you like.
- Soy Sauce: Again, I like low-sodium soy sauce. However, you can use regular soy sauce, or substitute tamari or coconut aminos.
- Dried Herbs/Seasonings: Dried oregano, fresh parsley, and toasted sesame seeds… yum!
How to Make Crockpot Honey Garlic Chicken
Take out the ketchup, soy sauce, honey, garlic, and chicken thighs – things are about to get amazing!
- Mix the Sauce Ingredients. In a bowl, combine all the sauce ingredients: honey, ketchup, garlic, soy sauce, and dried herbs.
- Place the Sauce and Chicken in the Slow Cooker. Arrange the boneless, skinless chicken thighs inside the slow cooker, and pour the sauce over them.
- Cook. Cover the Crockpot and cook on HIGH for about three hours, or on LOW for 4 to 5 hours.
- Optional: Thicken the Sauce. If you would like to thicken the sauce, you can whisk a cornstarch slurry into the sauce about thirty minutes before the end of the cooking time.
How to Make a Cornstarch Slurry
To make the slurry for thickening, mix a tablespoon of cornstarch mixed with a tablespoon of cold water, to form a paste. Whisk this into your sauce inside the slow cooker, cover and continue to cook. The sauce will thicken up beautifully!
Helpful Tips
This easy recipe is perfect for any dinner, with its ultra-simple ingredients and scrumptious taste. Plus, these tips make it even easier to whip up!
- How Much Chicken Should I Use? Use enough chicken thighs to cover the bottom of your slow cooker. You can also use chicken breasts, or substitute bone-in, skin-on chicken, if you prefer. Keep in mind that different kinds of concern require different cooking times!
- How Long Should I Cook This? All crock pots cook at different times and temperatures. Some readers suggest to cook the chicken for only 3 hours, while others said it took 4 hours in their crock pot. You can use a meat thermometer to make sure your chicken is done.
- Checking for Doneness. Most importantly, 165 degrees Fahrenheit is the safe internal temperature for both the white meat of the chicken, and the dark meat. Always cook to this temperature for food safety!
Great Side Dish Ideas
To serve this chicken, I like to make jasmine rice or another white rice. Of course, you could also make salad, or serve some simple veggies cooked with salt and maybe a little butter. Still looking for inspiration? Well, some other good side dishes could include…
- Broccoli: Fresh, green, Garlicky Steamed Broccoli is a great contrast for sticky chicken. It adds nutrition, too, of course! I love the fragrant garlic flavor in this recipe.
- Noodles: Instead of rice, add even more yumminess to your meal with a serving of noodles.
- Snap Peas: Crispy, crunchy, and sweet, these Sesame Snap Peas are always a huge hit and a breeze to make. Sesame goes perfectly with the sweetness of the honey garlic chicken.
Storing and Reheating the Leftovers
- To store, place the chicken and sauce in airtight containers or bags, and refrigerate for up to four days.
- Reheat on the stove over medium heat until heated through.
Can I Freeze Crockpot Honey Garlic Chicken?
Yes, you can! Just place the cooked, cooled chicken and sauce in a freezer bag or container, leaving as little air inside as possible. Mark with the date, freeze, and use within 3 months for best results.
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Crockpot Honey Garlic Chicken
Ingredients
- 6 boneless, , skinless chicken thighs*
- 4 garlic cloves, , minced
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1/2 cup low sodium ketchup
- 1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley
- 1/2 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
Instructions
- Arrange chicken thighs on the bottom of your slow cooker; set aside. (please look at the notes section)
- In a mixing bowl, combine garlic, honey, ketchup, soy sauce, oregano and parsley; whisk until thoroughly combined.
- Pour the sauce over the chicken thighs. Close with a lid and cook for 4 to 5 hours on LOW, or 3 to 4 hours on HIGH.** (please look at the notes section)
- Remove lid and transfer chicken to a serving plate.
- Spoon the sauce over the chicken and sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds. Serve.
Video
Notes
- Use 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 1 tablespoon cold water; mix it together until mixture forms a paste.
- 30 minutes before the chicken is done cooking, whisk the cornstarch slurry into the sauce inside the slow cooker; cover and continue to cook for 30 minutes.
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
I had hope that this would taste good, but the sauce wasn’t.
How do I convert cups to uk amount
Hi!
For most liquids (water, juice, milk, cream), one cup is 250 mL. However, cup measurements vary slightly depending on the country.
In the USA, a cup is equivalent to 240 milliliters. This is slightly different from the metric system, where a cup is 250 milliliters.
A bit confusing, I know. 😬
Thank you for sharing. To me and family it had a strange taste to it, we did not care for it. Sorry.
I’m sorry to hear it didn’t quite hit the mark for you and your family. Everyone’s taste is different, and it’s totally okay if some recipes aren’t a fit. Thank you for sharing your honest feedback! 🙂
So easy and so delicious!! I added some frozen veggies too.
That sounds like a perfect addition! Frozen veggies make it even easier and more nutritious. Glad you enjoyed it! Thank YOU! 🙂
Yum!! Delicious! Used bone in chicken thighs (removed skin and trimmed some fat before putting in crockpot). Added a pinch of powdered ginger and a little bit of sesame oil for extra flavor.
Chicken was cooked after 3.5 hours (on low), so be sure to check it early. Others mentioned it taste burnt…checking it sooner may help.
I shredded the chicken and let it sit in juices (warm setting) for about 30 minutes while I made my fried rice and veggies.
So amazing! Will definitely make this again!
Great job adding ginger and sesame oil for extra flavor! Checking the chicken early is a smart move to avoid burning. Letting the shredded chicken soak in the juices while preparing the sides sounds delicious. Happy to hear you’ll make it again! Thank YOU! 🙂
I made the recipe as written and it was delicious. Made rice and steamed broccoli then topped with the chicken. The toasted sesame seeds really add to the flavor.
Sounds like you nailed it! Rice, broccoli, and the sesame seeds seem like perfect additions. Glad you enjoyed the flavors! Thank YOU! 🙂
I’ve made this recipe multiple times and it comes out delicious without fail. One of the few recipes I keep actively coming back to make
It’s wonderful to hear that the recipe is a reliable favorite for you! Thank YOU! 🙂
Great recipe! I have some very picky boys 🙄 but they get excited when this is on the menu! They even request it!
Thanks!
That’s fantastic to hear! It’s a real win when you find a recipe that excites picky eaters and even gets them to request it. So glad it’s a hit with your boys! Thank YOU! 🙂
Made this meal this evening. Came out fantastic! Highly recommend. Was easy to make and had most of the ingredients at home. I didn’t use the low sodium ingredients.
This meal has a bit of tangy taste to it like you would get from ketchup but this meal doesn’t taste like ketchup at all.
Great to hear the meal was a success and easy to make with what you had! The unique tangy flavor sounds delicious. Glad you enjoyed it and recommend it! Thank you! 🙂
This looks delicious. Can I use boneless, skinless chicken breasts instead of thighs? It’s what I have already. If so, do you suggest I cut them in halves or thirds? Also should the I cook for less time? I would double the recipe as I have a 8L slow cooker. Thank you!
Sure, you can use chicken breasts instead of thighs. Cutting them in halves might be a good idea for even cooking. Check them a bit earlier as they cook faster than thighs. Doubling the recipe for your slow cooker works well, just adjust cooking time as needed. Happy cooking!