Slow cooker honey garlic chicken is just 5 ingredients and minutes to prep and smells amazing as it cooks! You’ll want to drizzle this delicious sauce over your whole plate!
Welcome to a new week, my friends!
We've got an extra busy one this week and I'm going to be happy about all the meal prepping I did over the weekend and all the easy dinners I have planned.
Including this one.
Today, I’m finally bringing you a slow cooker version of one of my most popular recipes!
This slow cooker honey garlic chicken has the same amazing sauce as the original 15-minute honey garlic chicken, which gets rave reviews. And as honey garlic chicken stir fry, which has a ton of veggies added in.
But this version is made in the slow cooker, so it’s waiting for you when you get home. 🙌
It takes just a few minutes to prep and it’s only 5 ingredients, so this delicious dinner is perfect for crazy days.
And oh, you are going to swoon and drool when you start to smell this cooking away in your crock pot and perfuming the whole house.
It smells amazing!
It’ll have everyone banging their forks on the table, demanding the meal to be served immediately!
(If you're looking for a pressure cooker version, check out this Instant Pot honey garlic chicken. Or try honey garlic pork chops for a different twist!)
So let’s get cooking!
Now, I’ve got some notes, tips and substitutions coming up below on how to make crock pot honey garlic chicken. Just tryin’ to be helpful.
If you want to jump on down to the recipe, simply scroll through the rest of the text. The recipe card is near the bottom of the page, above the comments section.
Notes on making slow cooker honey garlic chicken:
- Chicken: I use and recommend boneless, skinless chicken thighs, but you can substitute boneless, skinless chicken breasts as well. I’ve made it that way and while it’s a tad less flavorful, it’s still really good.
- Red pepper flakes: You can adjust the heat of this dish by adjusting how much red pepper flakes you use. As is, it’s a low-medium level of spicy. I use a bit less than what the recipe calls for when I’m making it for my kids and they’re fine with it.
- Want to make this gluten-free? Just sub some gluten-free tamari for the soy sauce.
- You know me, I’m all about the toppings. Read on below for my favorites!
We love having this with steamed brown rice with a veggie side - broccoli, peas and snow peas are all great here.
(Stay tuned; I have my favorite “bowl” option with this chicken coming up soon! Update: Check out these honey garlic chicken rice bowls. So yummy!)
You could also keep it low-carb and serve it with some of my easy cauliflower rice.
I bet it’d also be delicious over quinoa or some rice noodles or a long, thin noodle like angel hair. Anything to sop up more of that sauce!
And of course, there are toppings. You know I’m always going to give you topping options!
Toppings for slow cooker honey garlic chicken:
- Sliced green onions
- Chopped fresh parsley or cilantro
- Chopped peanuts
- An extra sprinkle of red pepper flakes
- Drizzle of sriracha for a spicy kick 🌶
Mix and match and choose your favorites.
Last thing... what to do with any leftovers.
The leftovers of this crock pot chicken keep really well! Once cooled, store the leftovers in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days.
You can also freeze the leftovers. Place in a freezer-safe ziptop bag or container, label it, and freeze for up to 5 months. Defrost overnight in the refrigerator and then reheat in the microwave or in a skillet. (All that sauce really helps prevent the chicken from drying out.)
Whatever you do, make sure you drizzle some extra of that scrumptious honey garlic sauce over everything on your plate! You won’t regret it.
I hope you give this recipe a try when you need a super easy, super yummy dinner!
Enjoy!
XO,
Kathryn
Slow cooker honey garlic chicken
Slow cooker honey garlic chicken is just 5 ingredients and minutes to prep and smells amazing as it cooks! You’ll want to drizzle this delicious sauce over your whole plate!
Ingredients
- 2.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- Salt and black pepper
- ⅓ cup honey
- ⅓ cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, adjust for heat)
Optional toppings:
- Sliced green onions, chopped peanuts, chopped parsley or cilantro, extra sprinkle of red pepper flakes or a drizzle of sriracha for a spicy kick
Instructions
- Season chicken thighs lightly with salt and black pepper and add to the insert of your slow cooker.
- Mix remaining ingredients together in a small bowl and pour the sauce over the chicken thighs in the slow cooker.
- Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours or on high for 2 ½-3 hours.
- Remove the chicken thighs and either cut it into chunks or shred it with two forks. Mix the chicken back into the sauce in the slow cooker and let sit for at least 5-10 minutes, to help absorb the juices.
- Serve hot with any desired toppings and enjoy!
Notes
I use and recommend boneless, skinless chicken thighs, but you can substitute boneless, skinless chicken breasts as well.
You can adjust the heat of this dish by adjusting how much red pepper flakes you use. As is, it’s a low-medium level of spicy. I use a bit less than what the recipe calls for when I’m making it for my kids and they’re fine with it.
Want to make this gluten-free? Just sub some gluten-free tamari for the soy sauce.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 385Total Fat: 15gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 231mgSodium: 962mgCarbohydrates: 18gFiber: 1gSugar: 16gProtein: 48g
Lauren
Will this be ok cooked on low for 8.5 hours or will it spoil? Also can I pre make the sauce about 8hours before and leave it in the fridge?
Kathryn Doherty
Hi Lauren! I think the chicken will be really overcooked if it cooks that long. In most slow cookers, it's done at about 5 hours, so that's a lot of extra cook time. Does yours have a warm setting? You could let it switch to that after 5 hours of cook time. It may still be a bit overcooked but hopefully not as dried out. Hope that helps!
Nick
Can one simply scale down amounts of ingredients proportionately to adjust for smaller amounts of chicken, e.g. 1lb?
Kathryn Doherty
Of course! If you're cooking a small amount, however, it might help to use a smaller slow cooker.
AKJESS
I’ve made this several times and it’s delicious. When a recipe calls to shred chicken I always cut it in quarters so I can just smash it with a spoon or potato masher to shred. Maybe it’s wrong but it works well for me. Anyway it’s delicious and easy; my favorite way to cook!
Kathryn Doherty
I'm so happy to hear you love it! And I love that trick for shredding chicken - thanks so much for sharing! 😊
Melissa Tooker
I don’t ever leave reviews of recipes… tonight I made this and doubled it. (6 males lol) Huge hit! Delicious! Every one wanted more! Thank you!!
Kathryn Doherty
Yay, I'm so glad to hear this was a hit! Thanks so much for sharing Melissa! 😊
Joy Townsend
Love this recipe! Had all the ingredients on hand.
So quick, easy and delicious. I doubled the quantities and my family wants this again.
Thank you.
Kathryn Doherty
I'm so happy to hear you loved it Joy! Thanks so much for taking the time to comment and share - I appreciate it! 😊
Kerryanne
Hi, I'm new to venturing out of standard stew recipes in the slow cooker, this looks yummy, do you have a grams or mls measurement for the ingredients? (From the UK and seems to be a shortage of measuring cups on the market at the minute for some strange reason!)
Kathryn Doherty
Hi there! I don't but I Googled it and this seems to be a conversion you could use: https://www.allrecipes.com/article/cup-to-gram-conversions/ Hope that helps!
delci
If I do chicken breasts instead, is the cook time still the same?
Kathryn Doherty
Yes, I keep to the same cook time when I sub in chicken breasts. Hope that helps and hope you enjoy it!
delci
great thanks! Making for meal prep this week with your roasted parm broccoli!
Hannah
This sounds so good! I have a 7qt slow cooker - how should I adjust to make this as it was meant? The sauce doesn’t even reach halfway up the chicken breasts so just want to make sure it actually works out 😊
Kathryn Doherty
Hi Hannah! This recipe should still work fine as is... the sauce doesn't have to cover the chicken. (You can see in the video that it doesn't in mine, either.) You'll cook the chicken then chop or shred it and mix it back in with the sauce at the end. Hope that helps!
Sophie
Hi I’ve made this recipe and it’s lovely! A new family favourite. I was wondering if you have tried freezing and re-heating this at all?
Kathryn Doherty
I'm so happy you enjoyed it Sophie! Yes, I have frozen extras of this chicken and it works great! The liquidy sauce helps keep the chicken flavorful and prevents it from drying out when reheating.
Terri
I found this recipe this morning and can not wait for payday so I can get the ingredients and make it. Even the comments sounds yummy. Glad I couldn't sleep. Have a blessed day.
Kathryn Doherty
I hope you enjoy it! 😊
R+W’s mom
Hi, is there a substitute for soy sauce? My son has a soy allergy. Thank you!
Kathryn Doherty
Hi there, coconut aminos is a soy-free substitute for soy sauce, but it's got a slightly sweeter, less salty flavor, so it might affect the taste of the dish a bit.