Savory Crockpot Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs
A warm, comforting slow cooker recipe featuring tender chicken thighs in a sticky-sweet honey garlic sauce, perfect for easy weeknight dinners.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 to 6 hours (low) or 3 to 4 hours (high)
- Total Time: 5 hours 10 minutes to 6 hours 10 minutes (low) or 3 hours 10 minutes to 4 hours 10 minutes (high)
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American with Asian influence
Ingredients
Scale
- 6 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) honey
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) low sodium soy sauce
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) apple cider vinegar
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) grated fresh ginger
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml) sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon (8 g) cornstarch (optional, for thickening)
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) cold water (for cornstarch slurry)
- Green onions, thinly sliced (for garnish)
- Toasted sesame seeds (for garnish)
Instructions
- Pat 6 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs dry with paper towels.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together honey, low sodium soy sauce, chicken broth, apple cider vinegar, minced garlic, grated fresh ginger, and sesame oil until combined.
- Place the chicken thighs skin-side down at the bottom of the crockpot.
- Pour the honey garlic sauce evenly over the chicken.
- Cover and cook on low for 5 to 6 hours, or on high for 3 to 4 hours, until the chicken is tender and easily pulls apart with a fork.
- About 30 minutes before serving, remove the chicken and transfer the sauce to a saucepan.
- Make a slurry by mixing cornstarch with cold water, then bring the sauce to a simmer and whisk in the slurry.
- Cook until thickened, about 3-5 minutes, then pour the thickened sauce back over the chicken.
- Sprinkle sliced green onions and toasted sesame seeds over the chicken.
- Serve hot with rice or steamed vegetables.
Notes
Drying the chicken thighs before cooking helps the sauce stick better and keeps the meat juicy. Thickening the sauce with cornstarch slurry is optional but recommended for a glossy, sticky finish. Adjust sweetness or acidity with extra honey or lemon juice if needed. For a spicy kick, add crushed red pepper flakes or Sriracha. Browning chicken skin before slow cooking adds extra flavor but is not necessary.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: Approximately one ch
- Calories: 320
- Fat: 18
- Carbohydrates: 14
- Protein: 28
Keywords: honey garlic chicken, crockpot chicken thighs, slow cooker chicken, easy weeknight dinner, savory chicken recipe, honey garlic sauce