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
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)
Instructions
- 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.
- Place chicken pieces directly into the slow cooker, ensuring they are arranged in a single layer without excessive overlapping.
- Pour the meticulously prepared marinade evenly over the chicken, guaranteeing each piece becomes thoroughly coated with the flavorful mixture.
- 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.
- Periodically check the chicken’s moisture and tenderness, using tongs to baste the pieces with accumulated cooking liquid to enhance flavor penetration.
- Once chicken reaches optimal tenderness and internal temperature indicates safe consumption, carefully transfer pieces to a serving platter.
- Optional: Reduce remaining sauce in the slow cooker by increasing heat and stirring continuously until it thickens into a glossy, concentrated glaze.
- 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