Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken

If Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken has ever popped into your head around 4:47 p.m. while you’re staring into the fridge like it personally owes you answers… hi, same. This is the kind of dinner that feels like you tried really hard (you did not), tastes like takeout’s cozier cousin, and basically cooks itself while you go live your life.

It’s sweet, savory, sticky in the best way, and friendly to busy weeknights, picky eaters, and “I cannot do one more pan” energy. Let’s make it.

Why You’ll Love This Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken

• Set-it-and-forget-it magic: You toss it in, walk away, and your slow cooker handles the drama.
• Big flavor, simple ingredients: Honey + soy sauce + garlic = instant comfort.
• Meal-prep hero: Leftovers reheat like a dream (and taste even better the next day).
• Customizable: Mild, spicy, extra saucy—choose your own adventure.
• That smell: Your kitchen will smell like a cozy hug with a side of “Who’s cooking something amazing?” vibes.

Ingredients You’ll Need

For the Chicken

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

For the Sauce

• 1/3 cup honey
• 1/3 cup soy sauce (low sodium preferred)
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon grated ginger (optional)
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)

For Thickening (optional)

• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons water

For Garnish

• Sesame seeds
• Chopped green onions

How to Make Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken

Step 1: Season the chicken

Lightly season your chicken thighs or breasts with salt and black pepper on both sides. Nothing fancy—just enough to wake up the flavor.

Step 2: Whisk up the sauce

In a small bowl, whisk together the honey, soy sauce, ketchup, garlic, ginger (if using), vinegar, and red pepper flakes (if you want a little kick).

Quick note: this sauce tastes bold before cooking. Don’t panic. It mellows into that glossy, sweet-savory goodness in the slow cooker.

Step 3: Add everything to the slow cooker

Place the chicken in the slow cooker. Pour the sauce over it and make sure everything is nicely coated. (I usually nudge the chicken around a bit like I’m tucking it into a sauce blanket.)

Step 4: Cook low and slow (or high and hope-for-the-best)

Cover and cook:

• Low: 4–5 hours
• High: 2–3 hours

Cook until the chicken is tender and fully cooked. Thighs get especially juicy here, but breasts work great too—just don’t overcook them.

Step 5: Thicken the sauce (optional, but highly recommended)

If you like a thicker, stickier sauce (and honestly… who doesn’t?), here’s how:

1. Remove the chicken and set it aside.
2. Pour the sauce into a saucepan.
3. Mix cornstarch + water to make a slurry.
4. Stir it into the sauce and simmer over medium heat 2–3 minutes until thickened.

If your sauce looks too thick, don’t worry—it’s just extra comfort waiting to happen. Add a tiny splash of water to loosen it up.

Step 6: Sauce it up + garnish

Return the chicken to the slow cooker or pour that thickened sauce right over it. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and chopped green onions. Then try not to “taste test” half of it before serving. (No promises.)

Serving Ideas That Make It a Full Meal

This chicken plays well with basically everything. Here are some easy pairings:

• Steamed rice (white, brown, jasmine—whatever you’ve got)
• Cauliflower rice if you’re keeping things lighter
• Broccoli (steamed, roasted, or thrown into the slow cooker for the last 30 minutes)
• Stir-fry veggies or a bag of frozen mixed veggies (busy-night lifesaver!)
• Noodles for a honey garlic chicken bowl situation

Pro move: shred the chicken with two forks and stir it into the sauce for an ultra-cozy “sticky chicken bowl” moment.

Cooking Tips (So Dinner Doesn’t Feel Like a Puzzle)

• Thighs = extra juicy. Chicken thighs stay tender longer in the slow cooker. If you’re using breasts, aim for the lower end of cook time.
• Low-sodium soy sauce helps. The sauce reduces slightly as it cooks, so lower sodium keeps it balanced.
• Want it spicier? Add more red pepper flakes or a tiny squirt of sriracha at the end.
• Don’t skip the vinegar. It’s the little tang that keeps the honey from feeling too sweet.
• Make it extra saucy: Double the sauce ingredients (especially if you love drizzling over rice).

A Little Kitchen Real Talk From Me

This Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken has rescued me on weeks when my to-do list was longer than my patience. You know those days where you’re running on iced coffee and sheer willpower? Same. I’ve thrown this in the slow cooker, answered a thousand “What’s for dinner?” questions, and then suddenly—bam—dinner smells like I’ve had my life together all day.

Spoiler: I did not. The slow cooker did.

FAQs About Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken

The Sweetest Kind of Easy Dinner

If you’re craving something cozy, flavorful, and low-effort, Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken is the kind of recipe that earns a permanent spot in your rotation. It’s warm, sticky-saucy comfort, and it doesn’t ask you to babysit a pan for 45 minutes (bless).

Make it once, and I’m betting it becomes your “I need dinner to be easy but still amazing” go-to—because that’s exactly what Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken is for.

Keep the Comfort Going (You’ll Love These Too)

If this Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken just made dinner feel easy again, don’t stop here—there are more cozy, crowd-pleasing favorites waiting for you. Here are a few reader-loved recipes that bring the same warm, “everyone’s happy at the table” vibes:

• Slow Cooker Hoisin Chicken Recipe — Sweet, savory, and saucy in that “better-than-takeout” kind of way.
• Easy Slow Cooker Orange Chicken — Bright, sticky, and perfect when you’re craving something fun but still easy.
• Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Meatballs — The party-friendly cousin of tonight’s dinner (and yes, everyone will sneak extras).
• Garlic Parmesan Roasted Brussels Sprouts — Crispy, cheesy, and the easiest side to round out your plate.

If you try this recipe (or any of these), I’d love to hear what you think! Scroll down and leave a ★★★★★ review—your stars and comments help other home cooks find their next favorite dinner, and they truly make my day. Happy cooking!

Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken

---

• Author: Mounia
• Total Time: 4 hours 40 minutes
• Yield: 4 servings 1x

Pin Recipe

Print Recipe

Description

This Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken is sweet, savory, sticky, and totally weeknight-friendly. Toss everything in, let it cook, and dinner basically handles itself.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

For the chicken

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs or chicken breasts

• 1/4 tsp salt

• 1/4 tsp black pepper

For the sauce

• 1/3 cup honey

• 1/3 cup low-sodium soy sauce

• 1/4 cup ketchup

• 3 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 tsp grated ginger (optional)

• 1 tbsp rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar

• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)

To thicken (optional)

• 1 tbsp cornstarch

• 2 tbsp water

Garnish (optional)

• Sesame seeds

• Chopped green onions

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Season chicken on both sides with salt and pepper.

2. In a bowl, whisk honey, soy sauce, ketchup, garlic, ginger (if using), vinegar, and red pepper flakes (if using).

3. Place chicken in the slow cooker and pour sauce over the top.

4. Cover and cook on LOW for 4–5 hours or on HIGH for 2–3 hours, until the chicken is cooked through and tender.

5. Optional thick sauce: Remove chicken. Pour sauce into a saucepan. Mix cornstarch + water, stir it in, and simmer 2–3 minutes until thick.

6. Pour thickened sauce over chicken (or return chicken to the slow cooker). Top with sesame seeds and green onions, then serve.

Notes

Chicken thighs stay extra juicy, but breasts work too—just don’t overcook.

Want it spicy? Add extra red pepper flakes.

No rice vinegar? Apple cider vinegar is perfect.

Leftovers keep well and taste even better the next day.

Great served over rice, noodles, or with broccoli.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 4 hours 30 minutes
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Slow Cooker
• Cuisine: Asian-Inspired

Nutrition

• Serving Size: : 1 piece chicken + sauce (1/4 recipe)
• Calories: 290 kcal
• Sugar: 26 g
• Sodium: 780 mg
• Fat: 7 g
• Saturated Fat: 2 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 28 g
• Fiber: 0 g
• Protein: 38 g
• Cholesterol: 140 mg