Honey garlic slow cooker chicken needs only five ingredients and a few minutes of prep, then cooks low and slow until the meat is tender and glazed.
Honey, soy sauce, and garlic melt into a sticky, savory sauce that you can spoon over rice or noodles. Use boneless thighs or swap in breasts, and let the slow cooker do the work while you get on with your day. It is a simple way to get dinner started in the morning.
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Why This Honey Garlic Slow Cooker Chicken Recipe Works
Chicken thighs stay juicy through a long cook, so the meat turns fork tender instead of dry. Dark meat has more fat, which protects it during hours in the pot.
Honey, soy sauce, and garlic make a balanced sweet and salty sauce with no extra steps.
A quick cornstarch slurry at the end thickens the sauce into a glossy glaze that clings to every piece. Without it the sauce stays thin, which is fine over rice.
Ingredients for Honey Garlic Slow Cooker Chicken
- For the chicken: two pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs, thawed, or breasts if you prefer.
- For the sauce: one half cup honey, one quarter cup low sodium soy sauce, four cloves garlic, minced, one tablespoon cornstarch, and two tablespoons cold water.
Chicken thighs. They hold up to hours of cooking and stay moist, and breasts work too if you watch the time closely.
Honey. It sweetens the sauce and caramelizes into a glaze, so adjust the amount to your taste.
Soy sauce. Low sodium soy sauce keeps the salt in check and adds savory depth to the sweet honey.
Garlic. Fresh minced garlic gives the strongest flavor, and garlic powder works in a pinch. Add it near the start so it has time to mellow in the sauce.
Cornstarch. Mixed with cold water first, it thickens the sauce without lumps.
How to Make Honey Garlic Slow Cooker Chicken
1. Load the cooker Place the thawed chicken in the slow cooker in a single layer as much as possible.
2. Mix the sauce Whisk the honey, soy sauce, and garlic together in a bowl until smooth.
3. Pour Pour the sauce over the chicken and turn the pieces so each one is coated.
4. Cook Cover and cook on low for six hours, until the chicken reaches 165 degrees F and is tender.
5. Thicken If the sauce looks thin, stir the cornstarch into the cold water, whisk it into the sauce, and cook on high for twenty more minutes.
6. Serve Shred or slice the chicken and spoon the glossy sauce over the top. Spoon extra sauce into the serving bowl so everyone can add more.
How to Serve Honey Garlic Slow Cooker Chicken
Spoon the chicken and sauce over egg fried rice with vegetables and add air fryer broccoli with parmesan for color. Creamy Asian cucumber salad cools the sweet heat, and a glass of strawberry pineapple mojito suits the adults at the table.
How to Store and Reheat Honey Garlic Slow Cooker Chicken
Cool the chicken within two hours and refrigerate it with the sauce in an airtight container for up to four days. Freeze it for up to three months and thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Reheat gently until it reaches 165 degrees F, adding a splash of water if the sauce thickens.
Tips and Variations for Honey Garlic Slow Cooker Chicken
Thaw first. Never cook frozen chicken in a slow cooker, since it spends too long in the unsafe temperature range.
Do not rinse the chicken. Rinsing spreads raw juices, so pat it dry and wash your hands and tools after handling it.
Adjust sweetness. Use a little less honey for a more savory sauce, or a bit more for a stickier glaze.
Add flavor. Stir in fresh ginger or a squirt of sriracha near the end of cooking.
Add vegetables. Carrots or bell peppers can go in during the last hour of cooking.
Get a crispy finish. Broil the cooked chicken for a few minutes to caramelize the glaze.
Flag the allergens. Soy sauce contains soy and wheat, and honey is not safe for children under one year.
Check trusted guidance. Read the Clemson slow cooker food safety fact sheet before you start.
Frequently Asked Questions About Honey Garlic Slow Cooker Chicken
Can I make honey garlic slow cooker chicken ahead of time?
Yes. Cook it a day early, refrigerate it, and reheat gently before serving.
How long does honey garlic slow cooker chicken keep?
It keeps four days in the refrigerator and three months in the freezer.
Can I turn honey garlic slow cooker chicken into sandwiches?
Yes. Shred the chicken, toss it in the sauce, and pile it onto rolls.
Can I cook it on high?
Yes. Cook it on high for about half the time until the chicken reaches 165 degrees F.
Why is my sauce thin?
Slow cookers trap moisture, so thicken the sauce with a cornstarch slurry at the end.
Honey Garlic Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs
Equipment
- Slow cooker
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 2 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs thawed, or use breasts
- ½ cup honey adjust to your sweetness
- ¼ cup low sodium soy sauce
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 2 tbsp cold water for the cornstarch slurry
Instructions
Cooking
- Combine. Place the chicken in the slow cooker and pour over the honey, soy sauce, and garlic.
- Cook. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours until the chicken reaches 165 degrees F.
- Thicken. Whisk the cornstarch into the cold water, stir it in, and cook on high 20 minutes.
- Serve. Shred or slice the chicken and spoon the sauce over.
