Easy Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken Recipe for Cozy Dinners

Tucking into a homemade slow cooker honey garlic chicken feels like unwrapping a delicious culinary gift.

Sweet aromas will drift through your kitchen, promising comfort and satisfaction.

Tender meat practically melts with each perfectly seasoned bite.

Weeknight dinners just became dramatically simpler and more delectable.

This recipe combines minimal effort with maximum flavor, letting you enjoy a restaurant-quality meal without complex preparation.

Pantry staples merge into an incredible sauce that coats succulent chicken pieces.

Anyone can master this foolproof dish that looks impressive but requires zero professional cooking skills.

You’ll want to add this to your regular meal rotation and watch everyone ask for seconds.

Why Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken Recipe Is So Simple And Flavorful

• Effortless Meal Prep: Toss ingredients into the slow cooker and let it work its magic, creating a hands-off cooking experience that saves precious time and energy.
• Flavor Explosion: The combination of sweet honey, tangy soy sauce, and spicy red pepper flakes delivers a mouthwatering blend of tastes that will make your taste buds dance with joy.
• Kid and Family-Friendly: This versatile dish appeals to both adults and children, serving up a delicious meal that everyone at the table will love and devour without complaints.
• Quick Ingredient Mix: With just a simple whisking of common pantry staples, you can transform ordinary chicken into an extraordinary dinner that looks and tastes like a restaurant-quality meal.

What You’ll Need For Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken Recipe

• Honey: Provides natural sweetness and helps create a glossy coating for the chicken.
• Soy Sauce: Adds depth of flavor and umami, choose low-sodium for less salt.
• Ketchup: Offers tangy richness and helps thicken the sauce.

• Garlic: Fresh cloves bring intense, sharp flavor; jarred garlic works as a convenient alternative.
• Ginger: Adds warm, spicy notes; fresh ginger provides more vibrant taste compared to ground ginger.
• Red Pepper Flakes: Introduces a subtle heat and slight kick to the dish.

• Rice Vinegar: Brings a mild acidity to balance the sweetness.
• Sesame Oil: Provides a nutty, authentic Asian-inspired flavor; use sparingly as it's quite potent.

Easy Steps For Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken Recipe

Step 1: Mix Magical Sauce

• Honey
• Soy sauce
• Ketchup
• Minced garlic
• Freshly grated ginger
• Rice vinegar
• Sesame oil
• Red pepper flakes

Whisk these ingredients until they dance together into a smooth, glossy sauce that promises mouthwatering deliciousness.

Step 2: Prepare Chicken

Place chicken pieces into your slow cooker, creating a cozy single layer. This ensures each piece gets perfectly coated and infused with the incredible sauce you just created.

Step 3: Pour and Coat

Generously pour the honey garlic sauce over the chicken, making sure every single piece is lovingly covered. Use a spatula or spoon to gently turn the chicken, guaranteeing an even distribution of flavors.

Step 4: Slow Cook to Perfection

Cover the slow cooker and set it to low heat. Let the chicken simmer and soak up all those incredible flavors for several hours. The chicken will become incredibly tender, practically falling apart with each fork touch.

Step 5: Final Touch

Once cooking is complete, carefully remove the chicken and place it on a serving platter. If you want a thicker sauce, transfer the liquid to a saucepan and reduce it over medium heat until it reaches your desired consistency.

Step 6: Garnish and Serve

Sprinkle some chopped green onions or sesame seeds over the chicken for an extra pop of flavor and visual appeal. Serve alongside steamed rice or your favorite vegetables for a complete meal that will have everyone asking for seconds.

Top Tips For Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken Recipe

• Marinate for Maximum Flavor: Let the chicken soak in the sauce for 30 minutes before slow cooking to enhance the depth of taste and tenderness.
• Trim the Fat: Remove excess skin and fat from chicken thighs to prevent a greasy final dish and ensure a leaner meal.
• Adjust Spice Level: Control the heat by reducing or increasing red pepper flakes based on your personal spice tolerance.
• Gluten-Free Hack: Swap regular soy sauce with tamari or coconut aminos to make this recipe safe for gluten-sensitive individuals.
• Perfect Serving Suggestion: Serve over fluffy rice or cauliflower rice to soak up the delicious honey garlic sauce and create a complete meal.

How To Store Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken Recipe Properly

• Refrigerate leftover honey garlic chicken in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days.
• Keep the chicken separate from rice or sides to maintain its texture and prevent sogginess.
• Transfer cooled chicken to a sealed container, ensuring it's completely covered to preserve moisture and prevent contamination.
• Gently reheat in the microwave or skillet with a splash of extra sauce to restore its delicious flavors and keep the meat tender.
• Avoid freezing this dish, as the sauce's consistency may change and the chicken could become watery when thawed.

Best Side Dishes For Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken Recipe

• Pair with Jasmine Rice: Fluffy jasmine rice soaks up the rich, sweet-savory sauce perfectly, creating a delightful base that complements the tender chicken's flavors.
• Complement with Crisp Asian Slaw: A tangy, crunchy coleslaw with rice vinegar and sesame seeds provides a refreshing contrast to the rich, sweet honey garlic chicken.
• Serve Alongside Sake or Crisp Riesling: A chilled sake or slightly sweet Riesling balances the dish's bold garlic and honey notes, cutting through the richness with a light, bright touch.
• Match with Roasted Broccoli Spears: Lightly roasted broccoli with a touch of sesame oil echoes the Asian-inspired flavors and adds a nutritious green element to the plate.

Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken Recipe With A New Twist

• Spicy Sriracha Sensation: Replace red pepper flakes with sriracha sauce for an extra kick of heat, creating a bold and zesty flavor profile that transforms the classic honey garlic chicken.
• Mediterranean Herb Infusion: Swap soy sauce with balsamic vinegar and add dried oregano, thyme, and rosemary to give the dish a Mediterranean-inspired twist with earthy, aromatic undertones.
• Asian Citrus Spark: Incorporate fresh orange zest and a splash of orange juice into the sauce, enhancing the honey garlic chicken with bright, tangy notes that complement the sweet and savory base.
• Coconut Curry Remix: Mix in coconut milk and mild curry powder to create a creamy, exotic version that introduces subtle warmth and complexity to the original recipe.

FAQs On Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken Recipe

• What makes this honey garlic chicken recipe special?

This slow cooker version creates incredibly tender chicken with a perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors, letting you enjoy a restaurant-quality meal with minimal effort.

• Can I adjust the spice level of the dish?

Yes! Simply reduce or increase the red pepper flakes to match your personal heat preference. Start with a small amount and add more gradually if you want more kick.

• Is this recipe gluten-free friendly?

You’ll need to use gluten-free soy sauce to make this dish completely gluten-free. Most standard soy sauces contain wheat, so check the label carefully when shopping.

• How complicated is the preparation process?

This recipe is super simple! Just whisk the sauce ingredients together, pour over chicken in the slow cooker, and let it cook. No complicated techniques or professional cooking skills required.

Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.6 from 34 reviews

• Total Time: 6 hours 10 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Succulent chicken infused with honey garlic sauce promises comfort in one delightful dish. Home cooks discover a simple, flavor-packed meal that delivers maximum taste with minimal effort.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Protein:

• 4–6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs (or breasts)

Sauce Ingredients:

• ½ cup (120 ml) honey
• ⅓ cup (80 ml) low-sodium soy sauce
• ¼ cup (60 ml) ketchup
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated (optional)
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil (optional)
• ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)

Thickening Agent and Garnish:

• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons water
• Sesame seeds (for garnish)
• Chopped green onions (for garnish)

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Craft a robust marinade by thoroughly blending honey, soy sauce, ketchup, minced garlic, grated ginger, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and red pepper flakes in a mixing vessel until ingredients harmonize into a glossy, aromatic liquid.
2. Place chicken pieces directly into the slow cooker, ensuring they are arranged in a single layer without excessive overlapping.
3. Pour the meticulously prepared marinade evenly over the chicken, guaranteeing each piece becomes thoroughly coated with the flavorful mixture.
4. Cover the slow cooker and set to low temperature, allowing the chicken to gently simmer and absorb the complex flavor profile for approximately 4-5 hours.
5. Periodically check the chicken’s moisture and tenderness, using tongs to baste the pieces with accumulated cooking liquid to enhance flavor penetration.
6. Once chicken reaches optimal tenderness and internal temperature indicates safe consumption, carefully transfer pieces to a serving platter.
7. Optional: Reduce remaining sauce in the slow cooker by increasing heat and stirring continuously until it thickens into a glossy, concentrated glaze.
8. Garnish with freshly chopped green onions or sesame seeds for added texture and visual appeal before serving alongside steamed rice or roasted vegetables.

Notes

• Customize the heat level by adjusting red pepper flakes to suit your spice tolerance, adding more for a fiery kick or reducing for a milder flavor.
• Enhance the sauce’s depth by caramelizing minced garlic in a pan before adding to the slow cooker, which intensifies its rich, nutty undertones.
• Opt for low-sodium soy sauce to control salt content, ensuring a balanced and healthier dish that doesn’t compromise on taste.
• Swap honey with maple syrup or agave nectar for a vegan-friendly version that maintains the recipe’s signature sweet and tangy profile.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 6 hours
• Category: Dinner, Lunch
• Method: Mixing
• Cuisine: Asian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 240
• Sugar: 15 g
• Sodium: 300 mg
• Fat: 6 g
• Saturated Fat: 1 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 18 g
• Fiber: 0 g
• Protein: 30 g
• Cholesterol: 100 mg