Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken Recipe

Discover the Ultimate Comfort Food with This Slow Cooker Favorite

A No-Fuss, Flavor-Packed Dinner the Whole Family Will Love

If you’re craving a meal that feels like a warm hug at the end of a long day, this Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken Recipe is exactly what you need. With just a handful of pantry staples and minimal hands-on time, you can create a dish that’s bursting with sweet, savory, and slightly spicy flavors. Whether you’re cooking for your family, meal prepping for the week, or simply want a break from your stovetop, this recipe will quickly become a staple in your kitchen.

There’s something incredibly satisfying about coming home to the aroma of tender, juicy chicken simmering in a rich honey garlic sauce. This dish isn’t just delicious—it’s also flexible. You can make it with either chicken thighs or breasts, depending on your preference or what you have on hand. Many home cooks love using slow cooker honey garlic chicken thighs for extra tenderness and flavor.

Why You’ll Love This Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken

What makes this recipe a standout? For starters, it’s as easy as it gets. You simply place your chicken in the slow cooker, whisk together a few ingredients for the sauce, and let your cooker do all the magic. The combination of low-sodium soy sauce, natural honey, tomato paste, garlic, and a splash of rice vinegar creates a mouthwatering glaze that clings perfectly to every bite of chicken. Add a touch of chili paste for a subtle kick, and you’ve got a meal that hits all the right notes.

This recipe is also a healthy alternative to takeout. It’s naturally lower in fat and sugar, with no need for deep frying or excessive oil. For those watching their carbs or gluten, it can be served over cauliflower rice or made gluten-free by simply swapping in tamari.

Make It a Full Meal with Veggies

Want to turn this into a complete one-pot dinner? Try adding vegetables like bell peppers, broccoli, or snap peas right into the slow cooker during the last hour of cooking. You’ll love how it transforms into a comforting and wholesome slow cooker honey garlic chicken and veggies meal that’s both hearty and nourishing.

Pro Tips for the Best Results

Use a meat thermometer

For perfectly cooked chicken, check that it reaches 165°F internally.

Thicken the sauce to your liking

Whisk cornstarch into the cooking liquid and either finish it in the slow cooker or reduce it on the stovetop for a faster method.

Meal prep ready

This dish freezes beautifully, making it a fantastic option for make-ahead lunches or busy weeknights.

So What Are You Waiting For?

Whether you’re new to slow cooking or a seasoned pro, this Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken Recipe is guaranteed to become one of your go-to meals. It’s flavorful, forgiving, and endlessly versatile—exactly the kind of recipe you’ll find yourself turning to again and again. Pair it with rice, quinoa, or even your favorite roasted vegetables for a dinner that checks all the boxes: easy, delicious, and satisfying.

Ready to dig in? Let’s get cooking.

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One-Pot Meal

5 from 1 vote

Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken Recipe

Author: Cook Rella Cooking Method: Simmering, Slow Cooking Cuisine: American, Asian

Difficulty: Intermediate Prep Time 10 mins Cook Time 4 hrs Rest Time 15 mins Total Time 4 hrs 25 mins

Servings: 4 Estimated Cost: $ 15 Calories: 350

Best Season: Fall, Winter

Dietary:

C Contains Garlic C Contains Soy G Gluten-Free Option (with tamari or gluten-free soy sauce) H High Protein L Low Fat R Refined Sugar-Free

Description

Looking for an easy and delicious dinner? Try this Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken recipe! Tender chicken in a sweet and savory honey garlic sauce, cooked to perfection in your slow cooker. Perfect for busy weeknights, this dish is simple to prepare and packed with flavor. Serve it with rice or veggies for a complete meal. Don't miss out on this crowd-pleasing recipe your family will love it!

Ingredients

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Scale

1/2x 1x 2x 3x

For the Chicken

• 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs (or chicken breasts)
• ⅓ cup low-sodium soy sauce
• ⅓ cup honey
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 teaspoons chili paste (sambal oelek, sriracha, or hot sauce of choice)
• 4 cloves garlic (minced)
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch

For Serving

• Prepared brown rice, quinoa, or cauliflower rice
• Toasted sesame seeds

• Chopped green onion

Instructions

1. Put the chicken in the bottom of a large slow cooker (at least 6 quarts in size).
   In a bowl or big measuring cup, mix together the soy sauce, honey, tomato paste, chili paste, garlic, and rice vinegar.
   Pour this mixture over the chicken.

   Put the lid on and cook:

   • On LOW for 4 to 5 hours
     or

   • On HIGH for 2 to 3 hours

   The chicken is ready when the inside reaches 165°F (you can check with a food thermometer).

   If you're around, flip the chicken over once while it’s cooking so both sides get coated.
   If not, no worries—it will still taste great!

   Mark as complete

1. Take the chicken out of the slow cooker and place it on a plate. Let it cool for a few minutes.

   Add the cornstarch to the liquid left in the slow cooker and stir it in well.
   Put the lid back on and cook on HIGH for about 15 minutes, stirring now and then, until the sauce starts to thicken.

   If you want the sauce to be even thicker, you can cook it for up to 30 minutes.
   Or, if you prefer, you can use the stovetop method instead (instructions are below).

   Mark as complete

1. To make the sauce thicken faster, you can use the stove:

   After mixing in the cornstarch, pour the liquid from the slow cooker into a pot.
   Heat it on the stove over medium heat, stirring often, until the sauce gets thicker—this takes about 5 to 10 minutes.

   Important: If your slow cooker insert is safe to use on the stove, you can place it right on the burner instead of using a separate pot.
   But only do this if you're completely sure it's stovetop safe—otherwise, it could crack.

   Mark as complete

1. Use two forks (or your hands if the chicken has cooled down) to shred the chicken into small pieces.

   Put the shredded chicken back into the slow cooker.
   If you thickened the sauce on the stove, pour it back into the slow cooker now.

   Stir everything together so the chicken gets covered in the sauce.

   Serve the chicken over rice, and top with chopped green onions and sesame seeds if you like.

   Mark as complete

Nutrition Facts

Servings 4

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Amount Per Serving

% Daily Value *

Total Fat 16.7g26%

Saturated Fat 1.5g8%

Cholesterol 75mg25%

Sodium 680mg29%

Potassium 300mg9%

Total Carbohydrate 27g9%

Dietary Fiber 1g4%

Sugars 18g

Protein 27g54%

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Vitamin A 302 IU

Iron 1.44 mg

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Note

To store:
Keep any leftover chicken in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

To reheat:
Warm it gently in a pot on the stove over medium-low heat. Add a little water or broth if it seems dry.
You can also heat it up in the microwave until it’s hot all the way through.

To freeze:
Put the cooled chicken in a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months.
When you're ready to eat it, let it thaw in the fridge overnight, then reheat.

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