Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken – Tender, Sweet and Savory Chicken Made Effortlessly

🎉 Introduction

Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken is a weeknight hero—set it, forget it, and come back to perfectly tender chicken coated in a glossy honey-garlic sauce. Sweet, savory, and gently sticky, this dish delivers big flavor with minimal prep, making it ideal for busy days, family dinners, or meal prep.

The slow cooker does all the work, melding honey, garlic, and soy-style seasoning into a balanced sauce that clings to the chicken. Serve it over rice, alongside veggies, or enjoy it on its own for a comforting, crowd-pleasing meal.

Perfect for:

• Busy weeknights
• Hands-off cooking
• Family-friendly dinners
• Meal prep staples

🧰 Equipment Needed

• Slow cooker (4–6 quart)
• Mixing bowl
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Knife and cutting board
• Tongs or fork

🛒 Ingredients

• 2 lbs chicken breasts or thighs, boneless and skinless
• ½ cup honey
• ⅓ cup soy sauce or coconut aminos
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated (optional)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons water
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• Optional garnish: sliced green onions or sesame seeds

These ingredients create a sauce that’s sweet, savory, garlicky, and perfectly balanced.

👩‍🍳 Directions

Step 1:
Lightly grease the slow cooker with olive oil.

Step 2:
Place the chicken in the slow cooker in a single layer.

Step 3:
In a bowl, whisk together honey, soy sauce (or coconut aminos), garlic, ginger (if using), and black pepper.

Step 4:
Pour the sauce evenly over the chicken.

Step 5:
Cover and cook:

• Low: 6–7 hours
• High: 3–4 hours
  until the chicken is very tender.

Step 6:
Remove the chicken from the slow cooker and set aside.

Step 7:
In a small bowl, mix cornstarch with water until smooth.

Step 8:
Stir the cornstarch slurry into the sauce in the slow cooker.

Step 9:
Cover and cook on High for 10–15 minutes until the sauce thickens.

Step 10:
Return the chicken to the slow cooker and spoon the sauce over the top to coat.

Step 11:
Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Step 12:
Garnish if desired and serve warm.

🍽️ Servings & Timing

• Servings: 4–6
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 3–7 hours (slow cooker)
• Total Time: Mostly hands-off

Perfect for easy dinners and leftovers.

🧊 Storage & Reheating

Storage:

• Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 4 days

Freezing:

• Freeze cooked chicken and sauce for up to 2 months

Reheating:

• Reheat gently on the stovetop or microwave
• Add a splash of water if the sauce thickens

🥄 Variations

• Spicy: Add chili flakes or a dash of hot sauce
• Extra garlic: Add 1–2 more cloves
• Thicker sauce: Increase cornstarch slightly
• Veggie add-in: Add carrots or green beans in the last hour
• Low-sodium: Use reduced-sodium soy sauce

Each variation keeps the dish simple, flexible, and delicious.

❓ 10 FAQs

1. Can I use frozen chicken?
   Thaw first for best texture and safety.
2. Is this dish sweet?
   Balanced sweet and savory.
3. Can kids eat this?
   Yes, it’s very family-friendly.
4. Do thighs or breasts work better?
   Both—thighs stay juicier.
5. Will the sauce thicken enough?
   Yes, after adding cornstarch.
6. Can I make it ahead?
   Absolutely—great for meal prep.
7. Does it freeze well?
   Yes, very well.
8. Can I double the recipe?
   Yes, use a larger slow cooker.
9. What pairs best with it?
   Rice, vegetables, or noodles.
10. Is browning the chicken required?
    No, slow cooking handles everything.

🏁 Conclusion

Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken delivers maximum flavor with minimal effort. Tender chicken, a glossy sweet-garlic sauce, and hands-off cooking make this recipe a reliable favorite you’ll come back to again and again.

Adam

Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken – Tender, Sweet and Savory Chicken Made Effortlessly

Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken is a weeknight hero—set it, forget it, and come back to perfectly tender chicken coated in a glossy honey-garlic sauce. Sweet, savory, and gently sticky, this dish delivers big flavor with minimal prep, making it ideal for busy days, family dinners, or meal prep. The slow cooker does all the work, melding honey, garlic, and soy-style seasoning into a balanced sauce that clings to the chicken. Serve it over rice, alongside veggies, or enjoy it on its own for a comforting, crowd-pleasing meal. Perfect for: Busy weeknights Hands-off cooking Family-friendly dinners Meal prep staples

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 7 hours hrs

Total Time 7 hours hrs 10 minutes mins

Servings: 6 servings

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• 2 lbs chicken breasts or thighs boneless and skinless
• ½ cup honey
• ⅓ cup soy sauce or coconut aminos
• 4 garlic cloves minced
• 1 tablespoon fresh ginger grated (optional)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons water
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• Optional garnish: sliced green onions or sesame seeds
• These ingredients create a sauce that’s sweet savory, garlicky, and perfectly balanced.

Equipment

• Slow cooker (4–6 quart)
• Mixing bowl
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Knife and cutting board
• Tongs or fork

Method

 

Step 1:

1. Lightly grease the slow cooker with olive oil.

Step 2:

1. Place the chicken in the slow cooker in a single layer.

Step 3:

1. In a bowl, whisk together honey, soy sauce (or coconut aminos), garlic, ginger (if using), and black pepper.

Step 4:

1. Pour the sauce evenly over the chicken.

Step 5:

1. Cover and cook:
2. Low: 6–7 hours
3. High: 3–4 hours
4. until the chicken is very tender.

Step 6:

1. Remove the chicken from the slow cooker and set aside.

Step 7:

1. In a small bowl, mix cornstarch with water until smooth.

Step 8:

1. Stir the cornstarch slurry into the sauce in the slow cooker.

Step 9:

1. Cover and cook on High for 10–15 minutes until the sauce thickens.

Step 10:

1. Return the chicken to the slow cooker and spoon the sauce over the top to coat.

Step 11:

1. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Step 12:

1. Garnish if desired and serve warm.

Notes

🧊 Storage & Reheating

Storage:

Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 4 days

Freezing:

Freeze cooked chicken and sauce for up to 2 months

Reheating:

Reheat gently on the stovetop or microwave

Add a splash of water if the sauce thickens

🥄 Variations

Spicy: Add chili flakes or a dash of hot sauce

Extra garlic: Add 1–2 more cloves

Thicker sauce: Increase cornstarch slightly

Veggie add-in: Add carrots or green beans in the last hour

Low-sodium: Use reduced-sodium soy sauce

Each variation keeps the dish simple, flexible, and delicious.

❓ 10 FAQs

Can I use frozen chicken?
Thaw first for best texture and safety.

Is this dish sweet?
Balanced sweet and savory.

Can kids eat this?
Yes, it’s very family-friendly.

Do thighs or breasts work better?
Both—thighs stay juicier.

Will the sauce thicken enough?
Yes, after adding cornstarch.

Can I make it ahead?
Absolutely—great for meal prep.

Does it freeze well?
Yes, very well.

Can I double the recipe?
Yes, use a larger slow cooker.

What pairs best with it?
Rice, vegetables, or noodles.

Is browning the chicken required?
No, slow cooking handles everything.

🏁 Conclusion

Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken delivers maximum flavor with minimal effort. Tender chicken, a glossy sweet-garlic sauce, and hands-off cooking make this recipe a reliable favorite you’ll come back to again and again.