Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken Recipe tastes sweet, savory, garlicky, and a little sticky in the best way, with tender chicken that falls apart into the sauce. It works for busy families, meal preppers, and anyone who wants a set-it-and-forget-it dinner in about 4 to 6 hours total time. I make this on my laziest Mondays, then feel like a weeknight hero when dinner basically cooks itself.
Why Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken Recipe Is Worth It
This Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken Recipe gives you juicy chicken in a glossy, garlicky sauce that clings to every bite. The slow cooker handles the work while you live your life, and you still get a dinner that tastes like you hovered over the stove all afternoon.
You toss everything in, stir once or twice, and walk away. The sauce thickens into a perfect glaze that works over rice, noodles, or veggies, so you can keep the sides simple and still feel like you cooked a full meal.
My whole family licked their plates clean, and the slow cooker honey garlic chicken tasted like takeout but fresher and cheaper ★★★★★
Ingredients You Need
Chicken
- 2 to 2.5 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
- Thighs stay juicy and soak up flavor better than breasts.
- Use boneless skinless chicken breasts if you prefer leaner meat, but check for doneness a bit earlier so they do not dry out.
Sauce base
- 1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce
- Use tamari or coconut aminos for a gluten free version.
- I like Kikkoman low sodium or a similar store brand.
- 1/3 cup honey
- Use a mild honey so it does not overpower the garlic.
- If you run low on honey, mix half honey and half brown sugar.
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- This adds tang and body to the sauce.
- Use a no sugar added ketchup if you watch sugar.
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar
- Rice vinegar tastes a bit softer; apple cider vinegar tastes a bit sharper.
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
- A little goes a long way and gives that takeout-style flavor.
Garlic and aromatics
- 6 to 8 cloves garlic, minced
- Use the jarred minced garlic from the fridge on busy days; just add a little extra for stronger flavor.
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
- Use 1 teaspoon ground ginger if you do not have fresh.
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- Adjust to taste or skip for kids.
Thickener and finishing
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons cold water
- 2 to 3 green onions, thinly sliced
- 1 to 2 teaspoons toasted sesame seeds, for garnish
Optional add-ins
You can toss the veggies in during the last hour of cooking so they stay crisp tender. Frozen veggies also work; just add them straight from the freezer and cook until heated through.
Equipment list
- 4 to 6 quart slow cooker
- Cutting board and sharp knife
- Small bowl and whisk for the sauce
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Tongs or a fork to shred or slice the chicken
Quick Tips & substitutions
- Use chicken thighs for the juiciest Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken Recipe; use breasts if you want leaner protein and shorten the cook time slightly.
- Stir the sauce ingredients in a bowl before you pour them over the chicken so the honey mixes in evenly.
- Line the slow cooker with a slow cooker liner if you want easier cleanup.
- Add veggies like bell peppers or broccoli during the last 45 to 60 minutes so they stay bright and not mushy.
- Swap soy sauce with tamari or coconut aminos for a gluten free version.
- Replace honey with maple syrup if you prefer that flavor, but use a little less since maple tastes stronger.
- Use chili garlic sauce instead of red pepper flakes if you want more heat and extra garlic.
- Thicken the sauce at the end with cornstarch and water so it coats the chicken instead of running all over the plate.
- Taste the sauce before you thicken it and adjust salt, honey, or vinegar so it hits your sweet, salty, tangy balance.
- Double the sauce if you love extra over rice or noodles; the slow cooker still handles it just fine.
How to Make Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken
1: Sauté veggies and aromatics
Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add sliced onions and any firm veggies you plan to use, like carrots or bell peppers, and cook until they soften slightly, about 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in minced garlic and grated ginger, then cook 1 to 2 minutes until they smell fragrant. Season lightly with salt and remove from heat.
2: Mix the honey garlic sauce
In a small bowl, whisk soy sauce, honey, ketchup, rice vinegar, and sesame oil until the honey dissolves. Add crushed red pepper flakes and stir again. Taste a tiny spoonful and adjust with a bit more honey for sweetness or vinegar for tang.
3: Load the slow cooker
Place the chicken thighs in the slow cooker in a single layer as much as possible. Spoon the sautéed onions, veggies, garlic, and ginger over the chicken. Pour the honey garlic sauce evenly over everything and turn the chicken pieces so the sauce coats them on all sides.
4: Cook low and slow
Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 4 to 5 hours, or on high for about 2.5 to 3 hours, until the chicken turns tender and reaches 165°F in the thickest part. Stir once halfway through if you can, so every piece bathes in the sauce. During the last hour, add quick cooking veggies like broccoli or snap peas if you use them.
5: Thicken the sauce
Transfer the cooked chicken to a plate and tent it loosely with foil so it stays warm. In a small bowl, whisk cornstarch and cold water until smooth. Pour the cornstarch slurry into the liquid in the slow cooker and whisk until it blends in with no lumps. Cover and cook on high for 10 to 15 minutes, until the sauce thickens and turns glossy.
6: Finish
Return the chicken to the slow cooker and toss it in the thickened honey garlic sauce. Shred the chicken with two forks or slice it into chunks, then stir again so every piece gets coated. Top with sliced green onions and sesame seeds. Serve the Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken Recipe over rice, quinoa, noodles, or steamed veggies.
Recipe Variations
- Gluten free: Use tamari or coconut aminos instead of soy sauce, and check your ketchup label.
- Lower sugar: Cut the honey to 1/4 cup and add a splash more vinegar for balance.
- Vegan version: Use firm tofu or tempeh instead of chicken, and use maple syrup or agave instead of honey.
- Low carb: Serve the honey garlic chicken over cauliflower rice or zucchini noodles and reduce the honey slightly.
- Extra spicy: Add a spoonful of chili garlic sauce or sriracha along with the red pepper flakes.
- Extra veggies: Toss in mushrooms, snow peas, or baby corn during the last hour of cooking.
- Crispy finish: Broil the cooked chicken on a sheet pan for a few minutes with a little extra sauce, then return it to the slow cooker.
Ways to Serve Honey Garlic Chicken
- Spoon the honey garlic chicken over steamed jasmine rice or brown rice.
- Serve it with quinoa and roasted veggies for a meal prep style bowl.
- Pile it into lettuce cups with shredded carrots and cucumber for a lighter dinner.
- Stuff it into tortillas with cabbage slaw for quick honey garlic chicken tacos.
- Serve it over noodles with extra sauce and steamed broccoli.
- Add it to a grain bowl with edamame, avocado, and sesame seeds.
Storage Success
Store leftover Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken Recipe in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. The flavors deepen as it sits, so it tastes even better for lunch the next day. Reheat gently on the stove over low heat or in the microwave, and add a splash of water if the sauce thickens too much. Freeze portions in freezer safe containers for up to 3 months, then thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
Instructions
- Place the chicken thighs in the bottom of the slow cooker in an even layer.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the honey, soy sauce, ketchup, minced garlic, rice vinegar, ginger, and red pepper flakes until well combined.
- Pour the honey garlic sauce over the chicken, turning pieces to coat evenly.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 4 to 5 hours, or on HIGH for 2 to 3 hours, until the chicken is tender and cooked through.
- Transfer the cooked chicken to a plate. In a small bowl, whisk together the water and cornstarch until smooth, then stir this mixture into the sauce in the slow cooker.
- Cover and cook the sauce on HIGH for about 10 to 15 minutes, or until slightly thickened, stirring once or twice.
- Return the chicken to the slow cooker and toss in the thickened honey garlic sauce to coat well.
- Garnish with chopped green onions and sesame seeds if desired, and serve hot over rice, noodles, or with steamed vegetables.
Notes
Approximate per serving (1/6 of recipe, without rice): 320 calories; fat 9 g; saturated fat 2 g; carbohydrates 28 g; fiber 0 g; sugars 25 g; protein 32 g; sodium 780 mg. Values will vary based on specific ingredients, brands used, and portion size.