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Honey-Garlic Slow-cooker Chicken

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No pre-searing needed for this slow-cooked chicken in a delicious sticky sauce.

I’m pretty picky with what I make in the slow-cooker. The ingredients need to be perfectly balanced to create an intense depth of flavour that you would normally get from searing and caramelising on the stovetop or in the oven. Anytime I’ve read a recipe that claims there is “no need to sear the meat first”, I’ve been sceptical. However, you can trust that in this recipe, although there is no searing in sight, you will be left with the perfectly cooked tender chicken in the most incredible honey-garlic sauce.

Slow cooker honey garlic chicken served in a pan, topped with fresh spring onions
There is no searing required in this delicious Honey-Garlic Slow-cooker Chicken. You just put everything into the slow-cooker to work its magic and create a restaurant-worthy dish that is bound to be a huge
hit with the family.

What’s amazing about this recipe is that there aren’t many ingredients needed, and yet, once you taste the chicken, you’ll think a ton of exotic ingredients went into the pot to create this restaurant-quality flavour. Even better, what is required are simple items that you’re very likely to have on hand, like honey, ketchup, soy sauce and vinegar.

Being able to “set and forget” by putting the ingredients in the slow-cooker in the morning, then coming home to the aroma of a home-cooked dinner in the afternoon is wonderful. I steam whatever greens I have in the fridge and pull out some steamed rice from my freezer to serve along with the chicken. The leftovers are absolutely delicious the next day and the dish is also freezer-friendly. This is a recipe that features in my new cookbook The Simple Dinner Edit.

What can I serve with Honey-Garlic Slow-cooker Chicken?

Plain rice, fried rice, cauliflower rice, steamed Asian greens, broccoli, broccolini (tenderstem broccoli), or green beans. Asian coleslaw (try my Homemade Coleslaw with 1 tablespoon each of all-purpose soy sauce and sesame oil added to the dressing).

Can I spice it up?

You could add 1–2 teaspoons of hot chilli sauce, sambal oelek or sriracha. Or you could drizzle some chilli oil (see my Homemade Chilli Oil recipe if you’d like to make your own) over your portion at the end.

If you enjoyed Honey-Garlic Slow-cooker Chicken, I think you’ll love:

Slow Cooker Chicken Satay Recipe
Mexican Slow-cooked Beef Recipe
Slow Cooker Chicken Sour Recipe
Slow-cooked Sticky Pork Belly Recipe
Slow Cooker Beef Stew Recipe

Slow cooker honey garlic chicken served in a pan, topped with fresh spring onions

Honey-Garlic Slow-cooker Chicken

Author: Nicole
4.7 from 3 votes
“This was so easy and super tasty! Will definitely be making on the regular.”
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This amazing, restaurant-quality Honey-Garlic Slow-cooker Chicken recipe is made with just a few simple, low-cost ingredients. After just 10 minutes of prep, it all goes in the slow-cooker to “set and forget”. After a few hours, you are left with the most satisfying family meal that is great for leftovers and also freezer-friendly.
Prep 10 minutes
Cook 6 hours
Total 6 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients

  • 800 g (1¾ lb) boneless, skinless chicken thighs
  • 2 tbsp cornflour (cornstarch) mixed with 3 tbsp water
  • 2 spring onions (scallions), finely sliced
  • 1 tbsp sesame seeds
SAUCE
  • 80 ml (⅓ cup) tamari or all-purpose soy sauce
  • 115 g (⅓ cup) runny honey
  • 2 tbsp ketchup
  • 2 tbsp rice wine vinegar
  • 1 tbsp freshly grated garlic
  • 1 tbsp freshly grated ginger
  • 1 tbsp sesame oil
TO SERVE
  • Steamed jasmine rice
  • Steamed greens

Instructions

  • Prep the chicken – Add the chicken thighs to a slow-cooker. (See note 1 if you'd like to cook this in a pressure cooker.)
  • Add the sauce – Combine the sauce ingredients in a bowl, then pour the sauce over the chicken.
  • Cook – Cook on high for 3–4 hours or on low for 6 hours.
  • Thicken the sauce – Add the cornflour and water mixture to the sauce for the last 30 minutes of cooking time, basting the chicken with the sauce.
  • Serve – Sprinkle the chicken with the spring onion and sesame seeds and serve with steamed jasmine rice and steamed greens.

Nutrition information

Nutrition Facts
Honey-Garlic Slow-cooker Chicken
Amount per Serving
Calories
435
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
14
g
22
%
Saturated Fat
 
3
g
19
%
Trans Fat
 
0.04
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
4
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
5
g
Cholesterol
 
190
mg
63
%
Sodium
 
1369
mg
60
%
Potassium
 
625
mg
18
%
Carbohydrates
 
35
g
12
%
Fiber
 
1
g
4
%
Sugar
 
26
g
29
%
Protein
 
42
g
84
%
Vitamin A
 
160
IU
3
%
Vitamin C
 
3
mg
4
%
Calcium
 
62
mg
6
%
Iron
 
3
mg
17
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Disclaimer re gluten-free and dairy-free recipes

Recipe notes

Note 1 – Add the chicken and sauce ingredients to the pressure cooker and stir to coat. Cook on High Pressure for 10 minutes, then allow the pressure to release naturally for 5 minutes before quick-releasing any remaining pressure. Switch to Sauté, stir in the cornflour slurry and simmer for 2–3 minutes until the sauce thickens. Serve as above.

Make Ahead

The sauce can be prepared a day ahead and stored in the refrigerator. When ready to cook, simply add it to the slow-cooker with the chicken.

Leftovers

Refrigerate leftovers for up to 2 days. Freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw completely overnight in the fridge before reheating. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave.

Equipment

Tried this recipe?

Let us know how it was!
Course chicken
Cuisine Asian-inspired

  1. Could I bake this recipe on low instead of slow cook?

  2. I love that you have the calorie count at the bottom of the recipe, but could you let me know if it includes the sides (rice and veg)? I guess your answer will be relevant across the whole site.

    And just to say that you have saved my life. My ten year old didn’t like any of my cooking but now she eats everything. Plus going to ask her to cook this recipe herself as it’s so easy. We ALL love your recipes!!! And I’ve only done the 20 min recipes so far. You’re truly talented

    • Hi Jessica, this is such brilliant feedback. It’s really made my day! Let me know how your daughter goes if she makes the recipe! And, yes, the calorie count includes the sides. Nic x

  3. What can i substitute the sesame oil with Nic? My son is allergic to Sesame

    • Hi Rachel, you could just leave the sesame oil out and you don’t need a sub. Nic x

  4. This looks great. Has anyone done this in a pressure cooker? Would love to whip it up as a midweek meal.

    • Hi Ellie, this was such a great question that I have added the pressure cooker instructions in a note. Nic x

  5. Hi just wondering if I can do this with chicken legs instead of the thighs?

    • Hi Nicole,
      What can I use to substitute the rice wine vinegar please?
      Thanks, Georgia

      • Hi Georgia, white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar are fine, and even regular white vinegar would do! Hope this helps! Nic x

    • Hi Taylah, although I haven’t tested the recipe with drumsticks, I’m sure they will work. Keep the same times: 3–4 hours on high or 6 hours on low. I hope this helps! Nic x

  6. Doing 6 hours on low made it so overcooked we couldn’t eat it :/

    • Hi Erin, hmmm, slow-cookers do vary in their power. However, I find that 5–6 hours on low is a pretty standard time for cooking chicken thigh fillets. Maybe you could try 4–5 hours next time if you would like to try the recipe again. Let me know how you go! Nic x

  7. 4 stars
    Yummy recipe, however my chicken thighs fell apart after 3 hours of cooking and my sauce was not as brightly coloured as your photos! Mine was more gravy brown colour 🤣
    Family still loved it

  8. How can I make this if I do not have a slow cooker?

    • Hi Elena, I haven’t tested this recipe outside of the slow-cooker, but I have another amazing honey-soy sauce recipe that I’m working on. Stay tuned! In the meantime, you might want to try my Chicken Teriyaki Bowl recipe, which has an equally delicious, sweet, sticky sauce and is made in a pan (it cooks really quickly too). xx

  9. Delicious!! I made 1.5x the sauce for extra sauciness and added crushed red pepper flakes for some heat. I think next time I will cut the chicken into bite size pieces and throw broccoli in for the last half hour instead of serving on side. Will go into my dinner rotation, thank you!!

  10. 5 stars
    This was so easy and super tasty! Will definitely be making on the regular.

  11. 5 stars
    This recipe is so easy and tastes delicious! Perfect with rice and some veggies

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Disclaimer re gluten-free and dairy-free recipes 

For recipes labelled ‘gluten-free’ or ‘dairy-free’, the ingredients included in the recipe are typically gluten- or dairy-free. However, it is the user’s responsibility to carefully check the ingredient panels on the specific brands of products purchased and used. Simple Home Edit cannot be held responsible for any adverse reactions.