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Crock Pot Garlic Sesame Brown Sugar Chicken
4.9 from 16 votes

Crock Pot Garlic Sesame Brown Sugar Chicken

This Crock Pot (or Instant Pot) garlic, sesame, and brown sugar chicken is an easy dinner that the whole family will love!

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
2 hrs
Total Time
2 hrs 10 mins
Servings: 6 people
Calories: 336 kcal
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Asian, Chinese

Ingredients

  • 2 ½ - 3 lbs. chicken thighs or substitute with an equal amount of chicken breasts, boneless, skinless
  • 1 - 2 tablespoons sesame oil
  • kosher salt to taste
  • ground black pepper to taste
  • 1 onion small, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic peeled and smashed
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • ½ cup soy sauce less sodium
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • green onions optional garnish, sliced green onions
  • sesame seeds
  • red pepper flakes
  • rice or cauliflower rice, optional for serving

Instructions

CROCK POT METHOD:
    Cup of Yum
  1. Season chicken with kosher salt and ground black pepper to taste. Set aside.
  2. Whisk together brown sugar, soy sauce, and water. Set aside.
  3. Spread sesame oil in the bottom of a large slow cooker to coat the bottom.
  4. Place onion and garlic in the slow cooker and season with additional salt and pepper.
  5. Place chicken on top of onions and pour sauce over everything.
  6. Cover and cook on LOW for 4-6 hours or on HIGH for 2-3 hours, or until chicken is tender but not dry.
  7. Slice chicken or shred with forks; return to the pot and stir into the sauce. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper, if necessary. Serve chicken and sauce over rice or cauliflower rice. Garnish with sliced green onion, sesame seeds, and red pepper flakes, if desired.
INSTANT POT (PRESSURE COOKER) METHOD:
  1. Season chicken with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.
  2. Whisk together brown sugar, soy sauce, and water. Set aside.
  3. Press the “sauté” button and add sesame oil to coat the bottom of the pot. When the oil is shimmering, add the onions and additional salt and pepper. Cook, stirring, until soft (about 3-5 minutes).
  4. Stir in the garlic and cook for 30 more seconds.
  5. Add the chicken to the pot and pour the soy sauce mixture over top. Turn off the sauté function and close the Instant Pot (locking the lid).
  6. Press the “Manual” or “Pressure Cook” button and set the cooking time to 10 minutes for chicken thighs or 7 minutes for chicken breasts (if your chicken pieces are bigger than 8 ounces each, you can cut them in half or increase the cooking time to 9 minutes).
  7. When the chicken is finished cooking, release the steam and open the lid right away to prevent over-cooking.
  8. Slice the chicken or shred with forks; return to the pot and stir into the sauce. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper, if necessary. Serve over rice or cauliflower rice. Garnish with sliced green onion, sesame seeds, and red pepper flakes, if desired.

Notes

  • Be careful not to overcook your chicken. I find that the chicken breast or thighs have the best texture when cooked in my slow cooker on HIGH for about 2-3 hours (at the most -- sometimes they're done in just 90 minutes). That keeps them moist and juicy, and prevents them from drying out. The meat is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
  • Also remember — every slow cooker runs at a slightly different temperature (which is why the recipe gives you general time ranges, rather than exact times). Since my slow cooker tends to cook at a relatively high temperature, I find that the meal is best when cooked on HIGH for about 2 hours or on LOW for about 4 hours. Just get familiar with your pot and adjust accordingly.
  • Garnish each serving with sliced green onion, herbs (such as fresh parsley or thyme), toasted sesame seeds, or crushed red pepper flakes for added flavor.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1/6 of the chicken and sauce Calories 336kcal (17%) Carbohydrates 22g (7%) Protein 37g (74%) Fat 10g (15%) Saturated Fat 2g (10%) Cholesterol 179mg (60%) Sodium 882mg (37%) Potassium 558mg (12%) Sugar 18g (36%) Vitamin A 45IU (1%) Vitamin C 1.8mg (2%) Calcium 43mg (4%) Iron 2.1mg (12%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 6 people

Amount Per Serving

Calories 336

% Daily Value*

Serving 1/6 of the chicken and sauce
Calories 336kcal 17%
Carbohydrates 22g 7%
Protein 37g 74%
Fat 10g 15%
Saturated Fat 2g 10%
Cholesterol 179mg 60%
Sodium 882mg 37%
Potassium 558mg 12%
Sugar 18g 36%
Vitamin A 45IU 1%
Vitamin C 1.8mg 2%
Calcium 43mg 4%
Iron 2.1mg 12%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.