Cozy Crockpot Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs: Easy Dinner Recipe
This cozy crockpot honey garlic chicken thighs recipe is a comforting, easy dinner that requires just 10 minutes of prep. The sticky, savory-sweet glaze is made with simple pantry ingredients, and the slow cooker does all the work, delivering fall-apart tender chicken perfect for busy weeknights.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours (on LOW) or 2.5 hours (on HIGH)
- Total Time: 4 hours 10 minutes (on LOW) or 2 hours 40 minutes (on HIGH)
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Asian-inspired
Ingredients
- 2 lbs (about 900g) boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 1/3 cup (115g) honey
- 1/2 cup (120ml) low-sodium soy sauce
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons (30g) ketchup
- 1 tablespoon (15ml) rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon (5ml) sesame oil (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (or to taste)
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons cold water (optional, for thickening)
- Sliced green onions and sesame seeds for garnish
Instructions
- In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the honey, low-sodium soy sauce, ketchup, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and red pepper flakes.
- Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels and place them in a single layer at the bottom of the crockpot.
- Sprinkle the minced garlic evenly over the chicken.
- Pour the prepared sauce mixture over the chicken, using tongs to coat each piece. The sauce should come about halfway up the sides of the chicken.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 4 to 5 hours or on HIGH for 2.5 to 3 hours, until the chicken is fork-tender.
- Optional: About 30 minutes before serving, remove the chicken to a plate. Whisk together the cornstarch and cold water to make a slurry, then pour it into the crockpot. Stir and cook uncovered for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens.
- Return the chicken to the pot to coat in the thickened sauce, or serve the chicken over rice and spoon the sauce on top. Garnish with sliced green onions and sesame seeds.
Notes
For a thicker sauce, use the cornstarch slurry. If using chicken breasts, cook on LOW for only 2.5 to 3 hours to avoid drying out. To make it spicier, add 1 tablespoon sriracha or gochujang. For a citrus twist, add the juice and zest of one orange. Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 1/6
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 24
- Sodium: 780
- Fat: 15
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Carbohydrates: 28
- Protein: 32
Keywords: crockpot honey garlic chicken, slow cooker chicken thighs, easy chicken dinner, honey garlic chicken, comfort food, weeknight dinner