Description
A low-effort, high-reward weeknight dinner featuring tender chicken thighs in a sticky, sweet, and savory honey garlic glaze. This slow cooker recipe is forgiving, pantry-friendly, and perfect for meal prep.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 6–8 cloves garlic, minced (about 3 tablespoons)
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated (about 10g)
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons cold water (slurry)
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds (for garnish)
- 2 green onions, sliced (for garnish)
- Cooked jasmine rice (for serving)
Instructions
- Rinse chicken thighs and pat dry with paper towels. Trim excess fat if necessary.
- Place chicken thighs in a single layer at the bottom of a 6-quart slow cooker.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, minced garlic, and grated ginger until smooth.
- Pour the sauce mixture evenly over the chicken in the slow cooker, ensuring all pieces are coated.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 4-6 hours (or HIGH for 2-3 hours).
- About 30 minutes before serving, stir the cornstarch slurry into the slow cooker.
- Replace the lid and cook on HIGH for the final 30 minutes to thicken the sauce, stirring occasionally to prevent clumping.
- Check that chicken internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Serve hot over steamed jasmine rice, garnished with toasted sesame seeds and sliced green onions.
Notes
For the best results, use boneless, skinless chicken thighs as they stay moist in the slow cooker. Fresh ginger is preferred over ground for better flavor. If the sauce is too thin, cook longer on HIGH. If too thick, add a splash of water or broth. You can prep the sauce the night before and store it in the fridge.
- Prep Time: 8 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Asian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of the recipe wi
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 28
- Sodium: 680
- Fat: 12
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Carbohydrates: 42
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 35
Keywords: slow cooker, honey garlic chicken, chicken thighs, weeknight dinner, easy recipe, meal prep, gluten-free option, sticky chicken