Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Garlic Chicken
This easy slow cooker brown sugar garlic chicken features juicy chicken simmered in a sweet, garlicky sauce for a comforting, family-friendly dinner. With minimal prep and pantry staples, it’s a foolproof crockpot meal perfect for busy weeknights.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5-6 hours (low) or 2.5-3 hours (high)
- Total Time: 5 hours 10 minutes (on low) or 2 hours 40 minutes (on high)
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts (thighs recommended)
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/3 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 1/4 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme or Italian seasoning (optional)
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, sliced
- Fresh parsley or green onions, chopped, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Pat chicken dry with paper towels and season both sides with salt and black pepper. If using breasts, cut in half for even cooking.
- In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together brown sugar, minced garlic, soy sauce, chicken broth, thyme or Italian seasoning (if using), and red pepper flakes (if using) until sugar is mostly dissolved.
- Arrange seasoned chicken in the bottom of the slow cooker in an even layer. Pour sauce evenly over the chicken.
- Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours or on high for 2.5-3 hours, until chicken is cooked through and shreds easily with a fork. For breasts, check for doneness earlier to avoid drying out.
- Remove chicken with tongs and set aside. Stir in unsalted butter until melted. (Optional: For a thicker sauce, mix 1 tablespoon cornstarch with 2 tablespoons water, stir into sauce, and cook on high for 10-15 minutes until thickened.)
- Return chicken to the slow cooker, spoon sauce over the top, and cook for another 5-10 minutes on low.
- Garnish with chopped parsley or green onions before serving.
Notes
For best results, use chicken thighs for juiciness. To make gluten-free, use tamari or coconut aminos instead of soy sauce. For dairy-free, omit the butter. Double the sauce if you like extra for rice or noodles. Check chicken for doneness early to avoid overcooking. Thicken sauce with a cornstarch slurry if desired.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1/6 of recipe (approx. 5-6 oz cooked chicken with sauce)
- Calories: 325
- Sugar: 21
- Sodium: 800
- Fat: 10
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Carbohydrates: 28
- Protein: 28
Keywords: slow cooker, crockpot, brown sugar garlic chicken, easy dinner, family meal, chicken thighs, comfort food, weeknight dinner, sweet garlic chicken, meal prep