By: Julia Pacheco

Sweet, garlicky, and fall-apart tender—this slow cooker honey garlic chicken is a flavor-packed, fuss-free dinner that will quickly become a staple in your household. Perfect for busy weeknights, it offers maximum flavor with minimal effort.

Why You’ll Love This Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken

This Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken recipe is a true game-changer for anyone seeking a delicious, wholesome, and incredibly easy meal. The magic of the slow cooker transforms simple ingredients into a dish bursting with sweet, savory, and tangy flavors, complemented by melt-in-your-mouth tender chicken. It’s the perfect solution for busy individuals or families who want a homemade meal without spending hours in the kitchen. Just a few minutes of prep in the morning, and you come home to a wonderfully fragrant and fully cooked dinner ready to enjoy.

The beauty of using a slow cooker for this dish lies in its ability to slowly infuse the chicken with the rich honey garlic sauce, resulting in unparalleled tenderness and depth of flavor. Chicken breasts, often prone to drying out, become incredibly juicy and shreddable in this low-and-slow cooking environment. Plus, the minimal cleanup is an added bonus!

Ingredients

Gathering the right ingredients is key to achieving the perfect balance of flavors in this Honey Garlic Chicken. You’ll find most of these staples readily available in your pantry.

• 2 large chicken breasts: Boneless, skinless chicken breasts work best here, as they soak up the sauce beautifully and shred easily. You can also use chicken thighs for an even richer flavor.
• 1 large white onion, diced: Adds a foundational sweetness and aromatic depth to the sauce as it slowly cooks down.

Sauce

The sauce is where all the magic happens! This combination creates a sticky, irresistible glaze.

• 1 tbs minced garlic and ginger: The dynamic duo! Freshly minced garlic and ginger provide a pungent, warm, and aromatic base that is essential for authentic honey garlic flavor. You can use pre-minced for convenience.
• ¾ cup chicken broth: Forms the liquid base of the sauce, helping to keep the chicken moist and tender throughout the long cooking process.
• ¼ cup low sodium soy sauce: Adds salty, umami depth without making the dish overly salty. Opting for low sodium gives you more control over the seasoning.
• 3 tbs honey: The star of the “honey” in honey garlic! It provides natural sweetness and helps create that wonderful glaze-like consistency.
• ¼ cup hoisin sauce: A thick, fragrant, sweet, and savory sauce commonly used in Chinese cuisine. It brings a fantastic richness and complexity to the flavor profile.
• 1 dash crushed red pepper: Just a dash adds a subtle kick to balance the sweetness, enhancing the overall flavor without making it overtly spicy. Adjust to your heat preference.
• 1 tsp rice vinegar: A touch of acidity brightens the sauce and cuts through the richness, creating a more balanced and vibrant taste.

Cornstarch Slurry

This simple mixture is crucial for thickening the sauce at the end, turning it into a glossy, clingy glaze.

• 1 tbs cornstarch and 1 tbs water, mixed: Combine these two thoroughly to create a smooth slurry. This will be added at the end to thicken your sauce to perfection.

Instructions

Follow these easy steps to prepare your delicious Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken. The process is designed to be straightforward, allowing for minimal hands-on time.

• Prepare the Sauce: In a medium bowl, whisk together all the ingredients for the sauce: minced garlic and ginger, chicken broth, low sodium soy sauce, honey, hoisin sauce, crushed red pepper, and rice vinegar. Whisk until thoroughly combined and smooth.

• Combine in Slow Cooker: Place the chicken breasts at the bottom of your slow cooker. Evenly sprinkle the diced white onion over the chicken. Pour the whisked honey garlic sauce over the chicken and onions, ensuring the chicken is mostly covered.

• Slow Cook to Perfection: Cover the slow cooker with its lid. Cook on the LOW setting for approximately 6 hours, or until the chicken is completely cooked through and incredibly tender. The chicken should be easy to shred with a fork.

• Shred Chicken and Thicken Sauce: Carefully remove the cooked chicken breasts from the slow cooker and place them on a cutting board. Using two forks, shred the chicken into bite-sized pieces. While the chicken is resting, pour the liquid from the slow cooker into a saucepan and place it over medium heat. Add the prepared cornstarch slurry (1 tbs cornstarch mixed with 1 tbs water) to the saucepan, whisking constantly until the sauce begins to thicken to your desired consistency. Once thickened, return the shredded chicken to the saucepan with the sauce and mix well to coat all the chicken evenly.

• Serve and Enjoy: Your Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken is now ready to be served! I love to serve it over fluffy Jasmine rice to soak up all that delicious sauce. Garnish with sesame seeds or chopped green onions for extra flavor and presentation.

Tips for Success & Variations

Achieving culinary perfection with this honey garlic chicken is simple, and there are many ways to adapt it to your preferences:

Pro Tips:

• Don’t Overfill Your Slow Cooker: For even cooking, ensure your slow cooker isn’t more than two-thirds full.
• Shredding Made Easy: If you find shredding by hand tedious, a hand mixer can quickly shred cooked chicken right in the slow cooker pot (after removing some liquid if necessary).
• Adjust Sweetness/Spice: Feel free to add more honey for extra sweetness or an additional dash of crushed red pepper for a spicier kick.
• Fresh is Best: While pre-minced garlic and ginger are convenient, fresh always delivers the best flavor.

Delicious Variations:

• Add Vegetables: For a complete meal, consider adding chopped broccoli, bell peppers, carrots, or snap peas to the slow cooker during the last 30-60 minutes of cooking, or steam them separately and add to the final dish.
• Chicken Thighs: For even juicier results and a richer flavor, substitute boneless, skinless chicken thighs for breasts. Cooking time might remain similar.
• Sesame Oil Boost: A teaspoon of sesame oil added to the sauce can deepen its aromatic profile.
• Pineapple Chunks: For a Hawaiian-inspired twist, add canned pineapple chunks (drained) along with the chicken for a sweet and tangy explosion.
• Spice It Up: If you love heat, increase the amount of crushed red pepper or add a splash of sriracha to the sauce.

Serving Suggestions

This versatile Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken pairs wonderfully with a variety of sides. Here are some of our favorites:

• Jasmine Rice: The classic choice! Its fragrant aroma and fluffy texture are perfect for soaking up the rich honey garlic sauce.
• Brown Rice or Quinoa: For a healthier alternative, serve over brown rice or quinoa.
• Steamed or Roasted Vegetables: Broccoli, green beans, asparagus, or a medley of stir-fried vegetables complement the chicken beautifully.
• Noodles: Serve over egg noodles or ramen noodles for a hearty, comforting meal.
• Lettuce Wraps: For a lighter, low-carb option, use the shredded chicken as a filling for fresh lettuce cups.
• Garnish: Don’t forget a sprinkle of sesame seeds and freshly chopped green onions (scallions) for an extra pop of flavor and color!

Storage and Reheating

This Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken is fantastic for meal prep! Here’s how to store and reheat it:

• Refrigerator: Store any leftover chicken and sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
• Freezer: For longer storage, transfer the cooled chicken and sauce to a freezer-safe container or freezer bags. It can be frozen for up to 2-3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
• Reheating: Gently reheat leftovers in a saucepan over medium-low heat on the stovetop, adding a splash of chicken broth or water if the sauce is too thick. You can also microwave individual portions until heated through.

Video

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

Below is an approximation of the nutritional content for one serving of this Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken. Please note that these values are automatically calculated and can vary based on specific ingredient brands and preparations.

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Tried this recipe?

We’d love to hear from you! Share your experience and let us know how your Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken turned out. Your feedback helps us and other home cooks!

Leave a comment below!