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Best Easy Slow Cooker Sticky Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs

slow cooker honey garlic chicken thighs - featured image
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This slow cooker recipe delivers tender, juicy chicken thighs coated in a thick, glossy, sweet and savory honey garlic glaze. With minimal prep and a secret stovetop step for the perfect sticky finish, it’s an effortless weeknight dinner that tastes like takeout.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 to 2.5 pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
  • 1/3 cup low-sodium soy sauce
  • 1/3 cup honey
  • 3 tablespoons ketchup
  • 4–5 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
  • 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 2 tablespoons cold water
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable or avocado oil (for searing)
  • Green onions, sliced (for garnish)
  • Sesame seeds (for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels and season generously with salt and black pepper.
  2. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken skin-side down for 4-5 minutes until deep golden brown, then flip and cook for another 2-3 minutes. Transfer to the slow cooker.
  3. In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, honey, ketchup, minced garlic, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and grated ginger (if using).
  4. Pour the sauce mixture over the chicken in the slow cooker, ensuring all pieces are coated. Cover and cook on LOW for 5-6 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours, until the chicken is fall-apart tender.
  5. Carefully remove the chicken from the slow cooker. Let rest for a few minutes, then shred the meat, discarding bones and skin.
  6. Pour the cooking liquid from the slow cooker into a small saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat.
  7. In a small bowl, whisk together cornstarch and cold water to make a slurry. Slowly pour the slurry into the simmering sauce, whisking constantly. Cook for 2-3 minutes until the sauce thickens to a glossy, syrupy glaze.
  8. Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker (or a large bowl) and pour the thickened sauce over it. Toss to coat evenly.
  9. Serve immediately over steamed rice, garnished with sliced green onions and sesame seeds.

Notes

Don’t skip searing the chicken—it builds deep flavor. For a gluten-free version, use tamari or coconut aminos instead of soy sauce. To make it less sweet, reduce honey to 1/4 cup and add extra rice vinegar or lime juice. Leftovers keep in the fridge for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker, sticky chicken, honey garlic, chicken thighs, easy dinner, crockpot, Asian-inspired

Find it online: https://lucastable.com/best-easy-slow-cooker-sticky-honey-garlic-chicken-thighs/