Crockpot Honey Garlic Chicken
This Crockpot Honey Garlic Chicken is a sticky, sweet, and garlicky dinner that’s easy to prepare and healthy. Just toss everything in the slow cooker for a protein-rich, flavorful meal perfect for busy weeknights or meal prep.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Total Time: 4 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Asian-Inspired
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1/3 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 4–5 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1–2 tablespoons cornstarch (mixed with 2 tablespoons water, optional, for thickening)
- Green onions, chopped (for garnish, optional)
- Sesame seeds (for garnish, optional)
Instructions
- Pat chicken dry with paper towels and trim excess fat. Halve thick pieces for even cooking.
- In a small mixing bowl, whisk together honey, soy sauce, minced garlic, rice vinegar, ketchup, sesame oil (if using), black pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using).
- Place chicken in a single layer in a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker. Pour sauce evenly over the chicken.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 4-5 hours or HIGH for 2-3 hours, until chicken is fork-tender and cooked through (internal temp 165°F).
- Transfer chicken to a plate or bowl and shred with two forks. Return shredded chicken to the slow cooker and stir to coat with sauce.
- If a thicker sauce is desired, mix cornstarch with water and stir into the sauce. Cover and cook on HIGH for 10-15 minutes until thickened.
- Garnish with chopped green onions and sesame seeds. Serve hot over rice, quinoa, or steamed veggies.
Notes
For a gluten-free version, use tamari or coconut aminos instead of soy sauce. Add hearty vegetables at the start or quick-cooking veggies in the last hour. For a vegan version, substitute tofu or chickpeas for chicken and maple syrup for honey. Leftovers keep well and can be frozen for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1/4 of recipe (1 serving)
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 16
- Sodium: 600
- Fat: 7
- Saturated Fat: 1.5
- Carbohydrates: 22
- Protein: 32
Keywords: crockpot honey garlic chicken, slow cooker chicken, healthy dinner, easy chicken recipe, meal prep, Asian chicken, gluten-free option, dairy-free, family dinner