Slow Cooker Honey Chicken: My Go-To Easy Weeknight Meal (Print Version)

Slow Cooker Honey Chicken: Make tender, sticky, and flavorful chicken with this super easy recipe. Your perfect weeknight family meal is just a click away!

# Recipe Info:

Prep Time: 15 Minutes minutes
Cook Time: 3-4 Hours minutes
Total Time: 18 minutes
Servings: 6 Servings
Difficulty: Beginner
Cuisine: Asian-Inspired
Dietary: Dairy-Free (check soy sauce)

# Ingredients:

→ Main Players

01 - 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs
02 - 2 tbsp cornstarch
03 - 2 tbsp cold water

→ Sticky-Sweet Sauce Crew

04 - 1/2 cup honey
05 - 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
06 - 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

→ Flavor Boosters

07 - 4-5 cloves garlic, minced (or more, I won't tell!)
08 - 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional, for a little kick)

→ Finishing Touches

09 - 2 tbsp sesame seeds, for garnish
10 - 2 green onions, sliced, for garnish

# Instructions:

01 - First things first, let's get that chicken ready. Pat your boneless, skinless chicken thighs dry with paper towels. This helps them get a nice sear later if you choose to do that, but honestly, for the slow cooker, it's mostly about getting rid of excess moisture. Trim any visible excess fat – I'm not a fan of chewy bits, you know? Place those beautiful thighs right into your slow cooker. It’s the easiest start to a delicious meal, I promise!
02 - Now for the magic! In a medium bowl, whisk together the honey, soy sauce, minced garlic (and yes, I said *minced*, not that powdered stuff!), apple cider vinegar, and red pepper flakes if you're feeling spicy. Give it a good, vigorous whisk until everything is happily combined. This is where all the incredible flavor comes from, and honestly, the smell is already making my mouth water. Don't worry if it looks a bit thin; we'll fix that later!
03 - Carefully pour that glorious sauce mixture all over the chicken thighs in your slow cooker. Make sure each piece gets a good coating; we want maximum flavor penetration! Pop the lid on nice and tight. Now, set your slow cooker to low for 3-4 hours or high for 2-3 hours. Honestly, I find low and slow gives the most tender, fall-apart chicken, but high works too if you're in a pinch. Go do your thing!
04 - Once the cooking time is up, your kitchen will smell incredible, I guarantee it. Carefully remove the chicken from the slow cooker and shred it using two forks. It should be super tender and just fall apart! While you're doing that, make a cornstarch slurry: mix 2 tablespoons of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of cold water in a small bowl until smooth. Pour this into the sauce remaining in the slow cooker and whisk well. This is where the sauce gets its lovely thickness.
05 - Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker and stir it into that now-thickened, sticky sauce. Let it cook on high for another 15-20 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened to your liking. I like mine nice and glossy, clinging to every piece of chicken. This step is crucial for that signature Slow Cooker Honey Chicken texture we're after, so don't rush it! It's worth the wait, I promise.
06 - And there you have it! Your incredible Slow Cooker Honey Chicken is ready to be devoured. Ladle that tender, saucy chicken over some fluffy rice, throw on a sprinkle of sesame seeds and those fresh green onions for a pop of color and freshness. Honestly, seeing it all plated up makes all the (minimal) effort worth it. Take a moment to enjoy that amazing aroma – you cooked that, you rockstar!

# Notes:

01 - Don't be shy with the garlic, hon! I always add an extra clove or two for that deep flavor.
02 - This sauce thickens up beautifully overnight, so it's even better as leftovers. Just don't microwave it too high, or it can get a bit oily.
03 - Ran out of soy sauce once and used tamari; it worked great! Just adjust salt if needed, as tamari can be a bit less salty sometimes.
04 - Serve this with a sprinkle of sesame seeds and fresh green onions for that restaurant-style flair. Makes all the difference!

# Equipment Needed:

01 - Slow cooker
02 - whisk
03 - mixing bowls
04 - forks for shredding

# Nutrition (Per Serving):

Calories: 350 kcal
Total Fat: 15g
Total Carbohydrate: 25g
Protein: 30g

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