Description
This Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken recipe is a flavorful and easy-to-make dish featuring tender chicken breasts or thighs simmered in a delicious honey garlic sauce. Perfect for a comforting weeknight dinner, this dish combines sweet and savory flavors enhanced with garlic, soy sauce, and a hint of ginger, cooked low and slow for maximum tenderness.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
Sauce
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/4 cup soy sauce (low-sodium preferred)
- 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce (optional for extra flavor)
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger (or fresh ginger, minced)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Garnish (optional)
- Chopped green onions
- Sesame seeds
Instructions
- Prepare the sauce: In a medium bowl, thoroughly mix together honey, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, minced garlic, vinegar, ground ginger, salt, and pepper until well combined, creating a balanced sweet and savory sauce.
- Add the chicken to the slow cooker: Place the boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs evenly at the bottom of the slow cooker, ensuring they lay flat for even cooking.
- Pour the sauce: Pour the prepared honey garlic sauce evenly over the chicken, making sure each piece is well-coated with the flavorful mixture.
- Cook: Cover the slow cooker and cook on low heat for 4 to 6 hours or on high heat for 2 to 3 hours. Cook until the chicken is tender, fully cooked through, and easily shredded with a fork.
- Serve: Once cooked, carefully remove the chicken from the slow cooker and place it on a serving platter. Use two forks to shred the chicken if desired. Stir the remaining sauce in the slow cooker and drizzle it over the shredded chicken for extra flavor.
- Optional garnish: Sprinkle the finished dish with chopped green onions and sesame seeds to add a fresh, crunchy texture and enhanced presentation before serving.
Notes
- Use low-sodium soy sauce if you want to control saltiness.
- Thighs can be used instead of breasts for juicier meat.
- Hoisin sauce is optional but adds a deeper flavor profile.
- You can add vegetables like broccoli or bell peppers in the last hour of cooking for a complete meal.
- Leftovers store well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and can be reheated gently on the stovetop or microwave.
