Why You’ll Love This Recipe
I Love This Recipe Because It’s Easy, Versatile, And Perfect For Busy Days. The chicken cooks slowly in a flavorful mixture of honey, soy sauce, garlic, and ginger, soaking up every bit of that sweet-and-savory goodness. It’s naturally dairy-free, and with a few tweaks, I Can Make It Gluten-Free Too. I Serve It Over Rice, Noodles, Or Even In Lettuce Wraps—there Are So Many Ways To Enjoy It.
Ingredients
(Here’s A Tip: Check Out The Full List Of Ingredients And Measurements In The Recipe Card Below.)
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3½ Lbs Chicken (A Combination Of Thighs And/Or Breasts)
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Salt And Pepper, To Taste
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2 Tbsp Sesame Oil (Or Olive Oil)
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½ Cup Soy Sauce (Or Coconut Aminos/Gluten-Free Soy Sauce)
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3 Tbsp Honey
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2 Cloves Garlic, Minced
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1-Inch Piece Fresh Ginger, Grated
Directions
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I Pat The Chicken Dry With Paper Towels And Season It Lightly On All Sides With Salt And Pepper.
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In A Large Skillet Over Medium-High Heat, I Heat The Oil And Brown The Chicken On Both Sides. I Don’t Cook It Through—just Sear It To Lock In The Juices. I Work In Batches If Needed.
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At The Bottom Of My Slow Cooker, I Combine The Soy Sauce, Honey, Minced Garlic, And Grated Ginger. I Stir Until The Honey Is Incorporated.
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I Add The Seared Chicken To The Slow Cooker And Gently Stir To Coat The Chicken In The Sauce.
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I Cover And Cook On LOW For 6–8 Hours Or On HIGH For 3–4 Hours, Until The Chicken Is Tender.
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Once It’s Done, I Shred, Cut, Or Leave The Chicken Whole And Serve It Over Steamed Rice With A Generous Spoonful Of Sauce On Top.
Servings And Timing
This Recipe Serves 6 People. It Takes Only 10 Minutes Of Active Prep Time, And The Chicken Cooks For 6–8 Hours On LOW Or 3–4 Hours On HIGH. It’s Perfect For A Day When I Want To Come Home To A Fully Cooked, Delicious Meal.
Variations
Sometimes I Add A Splash Of Rice Vinegar Or A Dash Of Red Pepper Flakes For A Bit Of Tang Or Heat. I’ve Also Tossed In Broccoli Or Snap Peas During The Last Hour For A Complete One-Pot Meal. If I’m In The Mood For Extra Sweetness, I Add A Bit More Honey—totally customizable.
Storage/Reheating
I Store Leftovers In An Airtight Container In The Fridge For Up To 4 Days. To Reheat, I Use The Microwave Or Warm It On The Stovetop Over Medium Heat With A Splash Of Water Or Sauce To Keep It Moist. This Chicken Also Freezes Well—I Just Portion It Into Containers And Freeze For Up To 2 Months.
FAQs
Can I Skip Searing The Chicken?
Yes, But I Like Searing Because It Adds Flavor And Helps Seal In Juices. If I’m Short On Time, I Skip It And Let The Slow Cooker Handle It All.
What Type Of Chicken Works Best?
I Like Using A Mix Of Thighs And Breasts For A Balance Of Flavor And Texture. Thighs Stay Especially Tender In The Slow Cooker.
Is This Recipe Gluten-Free?
It Can Be! I Just Use Gluten-Free Soy Sauce Or Coconut Aminos Instead Of Regular Soy Sauce.
Can I Double The Recipe?
Yes, As Long As It Fits In The Slow Cooker Without Overflowing. I’ve Doubled It For Parties And It Works Perfectly.
What Should I Serve With It?
I Usually Serve It Over White Or Brown Rice, But It’s Also Great With Quinoa, Noodles, Or In A Wrap With Shredded Veggies.
Conclusion
This Slow Cooker Honey Chicken Has Become A Regular In My Weekly Meal Rotation. It’s Effortless, Flavorful, And So Versatile—I Can Serve It In Different Ways Every Time. With Its Sweet And Savory Sauce And Melt-In-Your-Mouth Texture, It’s A Comforting Dish That Always Delivers Big Flavor With Little Work.
PrintSlow Cooker Honey Chicken
This easy crock pot honey chicken is sweet, savory, and perfectly tender—just 10 minutes of prep for a family-friendly dinner everyone will love.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours (on LOW)
- Total Time: 6 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings
- Category: Dinner, Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: Asian-Inspired, American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
3½ lbs chicken (use a combination of thighs and breasts, or your preference)
Salt and pepper, to taste
2 tbsp sesame oil (or olive oil)
½ cup soy sauce (or coconut aminos or gluten-free soy sauce)
3 tbsp honey
2 cloves garlic, minced
1-inch piece of fresh ginger, grated
Instructions
Prep Chicken: Pat the chicken dry and lightly season all sides with salt and pepper.
Sear: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add oil, then sear the chicken on both sides until browned (you don’t need to fully cook it). Work in batches if needed.
Make Sauce: In the bottom of the slow cooker, stir together soy sauce, honey, garlic, and ginger until honey is dissolved.
Combine & Cook: Add seared chicken to the slow cooker and stir to coat in the sauce.
Slow Cook:
Cook on LOW for 6–8 hours
Or HIGH for 3–4 hours
Serve: Shred, slice, or leave the chicken whole. Serve over rice, spooning sauce over the top.
Notes
Make it gluten-free by using coconut aminos or a certified GF soy sauce.
This dish pairs well with jasmine rice, stir-fried veggies, or noodles.
Great for meal prep — leftovers store well in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Optional garnish: sesame seeds and chopped green onions.
