Crock Pot Honey Sesame Chicken
User Reviews
4.6
Crock Pot Honey Sesame Chicken
Description
This slow cooker recipe uses chicken thighs or breasts seasoned with black pepper and cooked in a mixture of soy sauce, honey, tomato paste, rice wine vinegar, garlic, ginger, sesame oil, and sriracha for a balance of sweet, savory, and spicy flavors. The low and slow cooking tenderizes the chicken, allowing it to absorb the sauce deeply. After cooking, the chicken is shredded and the sauce thickened with cornstarch dissolved in water before combining again to coat the meat evenly.
The final dish features tender, juicy chicken strands enveloped in a sticky, flavorful glaze with hints of garlic and ginger complemented by the heat from sriracha and nuttiness of sesame oil. Garnishing with sesame seeds and chopped scallions adds texture and freshness. This recipe typically serves over plain steamed rice to absorb the rich sauce and balance the flavor profile.
Practical tips include using a slow cooker with a warm setting after cooking to keep the dish safe if left unattended longer. Alternatively, there is a skillet version for stovetop preparation if a slow cooker is unavailable. This dish works well for meal prep or casual dinners offering bold, balanced flavors with minimal hands-on time.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs chicken thigh or chicken breasts, boneless, skinless
- black pepper (to taste)
- 1/2 cup soy sauce tamari for gluten-free, low-sodium
- 5 tablespoons honey
- 1 1/2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
- 6 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ginger grated
- 2 teaspoons sesame oil
- 5 tablespoons water (divided)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons sriracha (or more to taste)
- 5 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
- 4 medium scallions (chopped for garnish)
Instructions
- Place the chicken in the slow cooker and season with black pepper. In a medium bowl, combine soy sauce, honey, tomato paste, vinegar, garlic, ginger, sesame oil, 1 tablespoon water and sriracha. Pour over the chicken and cook on LOW 3 to 4 hours.
- Remove chicken, leaving the sauce in the slow cooker. Shred chicken with two forks; set aside.
- In a small bowl, dissolve cornstarch in remaining 1/4 cup water; add to the slow cooker and stir to combine. Cover and cook on HIGH until slightly thickened, about 15 to 20 minutes; return chicken to the slow cooker and mix well.
- Serve chicken and sauce over rice and top with sesame seeds and chopped scallions for garnish.
Notes
- Chicken breast version has 3 Weight Watchers points per serving.
- If slow cooker lacks warm setting, 6-hour low slow cook is acceptable if you won't be home all day.
- For no slow cooker, use the skillet recipe alternative for similar flavor.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 8Servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 2325 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 2/3 cup | |
| Calories | 232.5kcal | 12% |
| Carbohydrates | 19g | 6% |
| Protein | 24.5g | 49% |
| Fat | 6.5g | 10% |
| Saturated Fat | 1.5g | 8% |
| Cholesterol | 106.5mg | 36% |
| Sodium | 808.5mg | 34% |
| Fiber | 0.5g | 2% |
| Sugar | 11.5g | 23% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.6
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