Description
A slow-cooker chicken dish featuring boneless thighs in a sweet, salty, and tangy honey garlic glaze. The key to success is reducing the sauce on the stove at the end to create a sticky, restaurant-quality coating.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs (900g) boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 1/2 cup (170g) honey
- 1/2 cup (120ml) soy sauce
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons cold water (for slurry)
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
- Sliced green onions and toasted sesame seeds for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Pat chicken thighs dry and place them in the bottom of a 6-quart slow cooker.
- In a small bowl, whisk together honey, soy sauce, minced garlic, grated ginger, and rice vinegar until the honey is dissolved.
- Pour the sauce mixture over the chicken in the slow cooker, ensuring pieces are coated.
- Cover and cook on Low for 6-8 hours or on High for 3-4 hours until chicken is tender.
- Remove chicken from the slow cooker using a slotted spoon and set aside on a serving platter.
- Pour the liquid from the slow cooker into a small saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat.
- Reduce the sauce for 5-7 minutes until it thickens slightly and coats the back of a spoon.
- Whisk cornstarch with cold water to create a smooth slurry.
- Lower heat on the saucepan to medium-low and slowly whisk in the slurry. Cook for 1-2 minutes until the sauce thickens rapidly.
- Remove from heat and stir in sesame oil.
- Pour the thickened glaze over the chicken and garnish with green onions and sesame seeds if desired. Serve over steamed rice.
Notes
Do not skip the sauce reduction step; it is crucial for achieving a sticky glaze rather than a watery sauce. Use fresh ginger and garlic for best flavor. If using chicken breasts, cook on High for only 3-4 hours to prevent drying out. For a spicy version, add sriracha to the sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 6-8 hours
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Asian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving with rice
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 35
- Sodium: 900
- Fat: 12
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 35
Keywords: crockpot chicken, honey garlic chicken, slow cooker recipes, easy weeknight dinner, sticky chicken, sesame ginger glaze, meal prep