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Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken is tender, juicy, and coated in a sweet and savory sauce jam-packed with flavor. With just a few simple ingredients and the slow cooker doing most of the work, it’s an easy dinner the whole family will enjoy!
My family (all 4 kids included!) love the combination of honey and garlic. Years ago I created my Honey Garlic Pork Chops and Honey Garlic Chicken (in the skillet) and they’ve been popular for good reason!
Well as the kids get older and we’ve got busy evenings with sports and activities, a good slow cooker meal is my best friend!
This recipe will be a hit with kids of all ages and I think you’ll especially love all of the ways you can utilize the leftovers….if you’re lucky enough to have any! 😉
Ingredients Needed
The full list of ingredients and amounts are in the recipe card below, but I wanted to draw attention to a few of them along with some substitutions:
- Chicken – Thighs are my preference as they stay juicier, but chicken breasts work great, too.
- Ketchup – This gives the sauce more body and adds a bit of tang to balance out the sauce.
- Soy Sauce – Use regular or a low sodium version.
- Honey & Brown Sugar – I like using a combination of the two as the honey helps to create a glossy sauce and the brown sugar adds a more robust, rich flavor.
- Vinegar – You can use apple cider vinegar or rice vinegar; it’ll add a nice tanginess and the acidity helps tenderize the chicken so it falls apart easily!
- Garlic – You can mince your own garlic or use jarred garlic in a pinch!
- Cornstarch – This is totally optional, but helps thicken the sauce for a more glossy glaze once the meat is fully cooked. More on that below!
How to Make Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken
This is the ideal slow cooker dish….a true set-it-and-forget-it type entree!
Mix Together the Sauce
Add all of the sauce ingredients into the slow cooker and whisk them together. I like to mix it right in the slow cooker to save a dirty dish, but you can mix it in a bowl if you prefer and dump it in.
Add the Chicken
Simply place the chicken into the sauce and flip them to ensure the chicken thigh (or chicken breast) is coated.
Cook the Chicken and Shred
Cover the slow cooker and turn it on. Though all slow cookers vary in terms of how hot “high” and “low” get, these will take about 2 1/2 – 4 hours on high or 4-5 hours on low. If you’re using chicken breasts in place of the thighs, you can expect it to take a bit longer.
How Do I Know When the Chicken is Done?
The chicken should be easily shreddable when poked with a fork. If it isn’t, you likely need to cook it longer. If you don’t know if the chicken is done yet, you can also use an instant read thermometer to make sure it’s reached 165F.
Tip for Shredding Chicken
Transfer the chicken to the bowl of a stand mixer and use the paddle to stir it just for a little bit (you don’t want to over-shred the meat!). You can also use a handheld mixer so you can do it right in the slow cooker! Just be sure to use the lid as a “shield” so you don’t get splattered with hot liquid!
Thicken the Sauce
The chicken is great as-is, but I like to thicken the sauce a bit so it really coats the noodles, rice, or whatever I plan to enjoy it with! To thicken, you’ll combine the cornstarch and water and stir it into the chicken/sauce.
Cover the slow cooker and turn it on high for 15-20 minutes or until bubbling around the edges and slightly thickened.
How Should I Serve Shredded Honey Garlic Chicken?
Ohhhh the possibilities are endless! One of the many reasons this recipe is a favorite!!
- Over Noodles. Try rice noodles, ramen noodles, or egg noodles.
- Over Rice. Use to top white rice or brown rice.
- Make it a Taco. Use soft flour tortillas, add the honey garlic chicken, some crunchy slaw, pickled red onions, and cilantro – yum!
- Make it a sandwich. Use a hearty bun, pile on the chicken, then add some crunchy Asian-style slaw and pickles!
- Use it as a Lettuce Wrap Filling. Butter lettuce is the best option as it cups really nicely! Fill it with chicken and top with sliced green onions and sesame seeds.
Customize to Your Liking!
- Love ginger? Add 1 teaspoon of ginger paste into the sauce.
- Want it spicy? Use just 1/4 cup ketchup and add 1/4 cup gochujang! Or add additional red pepper flakes!
- Keeping it mild? Skip the red pepper flakes altogether.
- Got chicken breasts? Use ’em! Swap the thighs out for breasts (just note that they may take a bit longer to cook)
Other Crockpot Favorites
- Slow Cooker Carnitas
- Slow Cooker Country Style Ribs
- Pork Chops with Cream of Mushroom Soup
- Slow Cooker Dr Pepper Pulled Pork
- Easy Slow Cooker Pot Roast
- Slow Cooker Meatloaf
Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup honey
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar or white vinegar
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons minced garlic
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs can also use chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
Instructions
- Add all of the sauce ingredients to a slow cooker and stir well.1/3 cup ketchup, 1/4 cup soy sauce, 1/4 cup honey, 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, 2 tablespoons minced garlic, 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Add the chicken to the sauce and flip to coat in the sauce.2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
- Cover and cook on high for 2 1/2-4 hours or on low for 4-5 hours.
- Shred the chicken.
- Optional: Combine the water and cornstarch in a small bowl to create a slurry. Add to the chicken and continue to cook for 15-20 minutes or until thickened a bit.1 tablespoon water, 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- Serve over noodles or rice, in a sandwich, in a wrap, etc.!
