Description
A slow-cooker chicken recipe that delivers melt-in-your-mouth thighs in a sticky, sweet, and savory honey garlic glaze. This set-it-and-forget-it meal uses pantry staples for deep, nostalgic flavor without the hassle of stovetop monitoring.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 5 cloves fresh garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon cold water
- Sliced green onions and sesame seeds for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Pat chicken thighs dry with paper towels and place them in the bottom of a 6-quart slow cooker in a single layer.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar, minced garlic, and grated ginger until smooth.
- Pour the sauce mixture over the chicken in the slow cooker, scraping the bowl clean to ensure all sauce is added. Toss chicken gently to coat evenly.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 6 hours until chicken is fork-tender. (Alternatively, cook on HIGH for 3-4 hours, though texture will be less tender).
- Remove chicken from the slow cooker and set aside on a plate.
- In a small bowl, whisk cornstarch and cold water until completely smooth to create a slurry.
- Pour the slurry into the hot sauce in the slow cooker and stir well.
- Cover and cook on HIGH for the final 30 minutes until the sauce bubbles and thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon.
- Return chicken to the pot, turning pieces to coat in the thickened glaze.
- Let sit for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds if desired, and serve over steamed rice.
Notes
[‘Do not use chicken breasts as they will dry out; boneless skinless thighs are required for this method.’, ‘Always add the cornstarch slurry in the last 30 minutes to prevent the sauce from breaking down or becoming grainy.’, ‘For extra flavor, sear the chicken thighs in a skillet before adding to the slow cooker.’, ‘Adjust sweetness by adding more honey or acidity with extra rice vinegar or lime juice.’, ‘Leftovers taste better the next day as flavors meld.’]
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Asian-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 1
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 36
- Sodium: 950
- Fat: 16
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Carbohydrates: 38
- Protein: 35
Keywords: crockpot chicken, honey garlic chicken, slow cooker dinner, easy weeknight meals, chicken thighs recipe, gluten-free option