Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs
In short: Boneless chicken thighs slow cooked in a sweet and savory sauce of honey, garlic, soy and ginger, then thickened into a glossy glaze. It takes about 4 h 40 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 4 h 30 min
- Total
- 4 h 40 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 410 kcal
Honey garlic chicken is a family favorite because the sauce is sweet, salty and sticky in the right proportions. In the slow cooker, boneless thighs turn tender without any attention, and the cooking liquid is easy to thicken into a glaze at the end. Serve the chicken over steamed rice with broccoli or a cucumber salad. Thighs are more forgiving than breasts and hold up well if dinner is delayed.
Instructions
- Whisk the honey, soy sauce, garlic, ketchup, rice vinegar, ginger and pepper in a bowl until smooth.
- Lay the chicken thighs in the slow cooker in a single layer, overlapping them slightly if needed. Pour the sauce over the top.
- Cover and cook on low for 4 to 5 hours or on high for 2 to 3 hours, until the chicken is very tender and reads at least 74°C (165°F).
- Move the chicken to a plate and cover it loosely. Pour the cooking liquid into a small saucepan.
- Bring the liquid to a boil, stir in the cornstarch mixture and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes until glossy and thick enough to coat a spoon.
- Return the chicken to the sauce, turn it to coat, and serve over rice, sprinkled with sesame seeds and spring onions.
Tips
- Chicken breasts work but are easy to overcook. Cook them on low for only 3 to 4 hours and check early.
- For gluten-free, use tamari in place of soy sauce. For more heat, add chili flakes or a spoonful of chili sauce.
Questions and answers
Can I use bone-in chicken thighs?
Yes. Add about an hour on low and remove the skin first, as it turns soft in the slow cooker. Check that the meat reaches at least 74°C (165°F).
My sauce is too thin. How do I fix it?
Simmer the cooking liquid in a saucepan with a cornstarch and water mixture for a few minutes. It thickens as soon as it boils.
Can I freeze honey garlic chicken?
Yes. Cool the chicken in its sauce and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat gently.
How long does it take to make Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs?
About 4 h 40 min in total: 10 min of preparation and 4 h 30 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs?
About 410 kcal per serving, with 50 g of protein, 28 g of carbohydrates and 10 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 410 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 50 g |
| Carbohydrates | 28 g |
| Fat | 10 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Sugar | 25 g |
| Sodium | 1000 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
