Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken
User Reviews
5
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Prep Time
10 mins
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Cook Time
4 hrs
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Total Time
4 hrs 10 mins
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Servings
6 servings
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Calories
216 kcal
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Course
Main Course
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Cuisine
Asian
Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken
Description
This recipe starts by layering chicken thighs in a slow cooker and covering them in a sauce made from honey, reduced-sodium soy sauce, orange marmalade (optional), hoisin sauce, sriracha, garlic, ginger, diced onion, toasted sesame oil, and red pepper flakes. Cooking on low heat for several hours tenderizes the meat and infuses it with these mixed sweet, tangy, and umami flavors.
After shredding the cooked chicken, the remaining cooking liquids are thickened with a cornstarch slurry either on the stove or directly in the slow cooker, resulting in a glossy sauce that clings well to the chicken. The texture is tender and juicy, while the flavor balances sweetness and garlic with a subtle heat from sriracha and red pepper flakes.
This dish pairs well with steamed rice or vegetables, making it a versatile main entrée. Garnishing with scallions, sesame seeds, and fresh cilantro adds freshness and texture contrast. The recipe notes suggest alternatives for adjusting sweetness and oil content or swapping chicken cuts to suit preferences.
Ingredients
- 6-8 chicken thigh boneless, skinless
- 2/3 cup honey
- 2/3 cup soy sauce (reduced sodium)
- 1/4 cup orange marmalade (optional)
- 1/4 cup hoisin sauce
- 1 tsp Sriracha sauce
- 2 tsp sesame oil toasted
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 Tbsp fresh ginger grated
- 1/2 medium yellow onion diced
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1 Tbsp cornstarch + 2 Tbsp water
- scallions for garnish, sliced
- sesame seeds for garnish
- cilantro for garnish, fresh
Instructions
- Place the chicken thighs in the bottom of your slow cooker.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the honey, soy sauce, orange marmalade, hoisin sauce, garlic, ginger, sriracha, onion, sesame oil and red pepper flakes.
- Pour sauce over chicken breasts, and turn them so they're coated in the sauce.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 4-6 hours until the chicken is cooked through.
- Remove chicken, keeping liquids in the slow cooker, and place chicken in a bowl. Shred chicken using two forks, hand mixer, or whichever method you prefer.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch with water. This is called a slurry, and it will thicken the sauce.
- Transfer the liquids from the slow cooker to a small saucepan over medium high heat and whisk in the cornstarch mixture. Bring sauce to a boil, then simmer until it reduces and thickens slightly. This took me about 3-4 minutes.
- Alternatively, you can add the cornstarch mixture directly to the liquids IN the slow cooker. Whisk and turn slow cooker on HIGH. Whisk occasionally until sauce thickens.
- Pour half the sauce over shredded chicken and toss to combine. Top chicken with scallions and sesame seeds.
- Reserve the second half of the sauce for drizzling over the chicken as desired.
Notes
- To make a less sweet version, reduce honey and soy sauce to 1/2 cup each.
- Omit sesame oil and replace it with 2 tablespoons olive oil if preferred.
- Use bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts for a variation in texture and flavor.
- Adjust ingredient amounts and cooking time accordingly when changing chicken cuts.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 6servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 216 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 216kcal | 11% |
| Carbohydrates | 49g | 16% |
| Protein | 4g | 8% |
| Fat | 2g | 3% |
| Saturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Cholesterol | 3mg | 1% |
| Sodium | 1658mg | 69% |
| Potassium | 115mg | 2% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 43g | 86% |
| Vitamin A | 49IU | 1% |
| Vitamin C | 3mg | 3% |
| Calcium | 22mg | 2% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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