Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs

Name: Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 300 min
Total time: 308 min
Ingredients: 8 chicken thighs (boneless and skinless or skin-on); ½ cup soy sauce; ½ cup ketchup (or tomato sauce); ⅓ cup liquid honey; 2-3 tablespoons garlic, minced; 2 tablespoons cornstarch; cooking spray

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These Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs are so easy to make! They're the perfect addition to weeknight dinners with the a tasty blend of sweet and savory flavors, especially when served on a bed of rice!

A plate with honey garlic chicken thighs on a plate with rice and mixed vegetables.

This chicken dish is easily prepared in a slow cooker making the most flavorful, moist and tender chicken thighs. It's a favorite around my house and I feel certain it will be at yours too. This dish satisfies both adults and children and I can't wait for you to try it.

This chicken recipe was inspired by my honey garlic lemon pepper chicken thigh recipe and pairs well with any of the side dishes from this collection of what to serve with chicken cutlets. Or If you'd like to use your air fryer, Check out our Air Fryer Chicken Tenders (No Breading).

Why You Will Love This Honey Garlic Chicken Recipe

Slow Cooker Recipe. It's the easiest way to prepare a flavorful dinner with minimal preparation for busy weeknights but also when entertaining.
Family-Friendly Meal. This kid-friendly recipe is perfect for satisfying comfort food cravings and creates the most wonderful leftovers.
Versatile Recipe. This dish can be served over rice, with noodles, or stuffed in buns and wraps. It's also easily frozen, repurposed, and reheated so none of it goes to waste.

Ingredients

Here's a look at the simple ingredients need to make honey garlic chicken in the slow cooker for dinner.

Chicken Thighs: We're using boneless and skinless chicken thighs to cook juicy and flavorful chicken.
Soy Sauce: Adds savory flavor. You can also use tamari sauce or even coconut aminos for a gluten-free option.
Ketchup or Tomato Sauce: Adds necessary tang to the sauce.
Liquid Honey: Provides sweetness and stickiness but you can use maple syrup or brown sugar instead for similar results.
Cornstarch: A great sauce thickener.

See the recipe card below for the full ingredient list and the exact quantities of each ingredient.

Substitutions and Variations

Different Type of Chicken: You can use bone-in chicken thighs or even chicken breasts if you prefer. Note that you may need to extend the cooking time in order for these types of chicken to cook all the way through.
Add Heat: Add a bit of chili pepper flakes, paprika, smoked paprika, sriracha, jalapeno powder, smoked jalapeno powder, or chipotle powder to the sauce mixture.
Garnish: Add a sprinkling of sesame seeds or thinly sliced scallions or green onions over the top.
Add Fruit: Add A drained canned pineapple chunks or mandarin oranges towards the end of cooking.
Add Vegetables: Feel free to add some vegetables like carrots, sugar snap peas, baby corn, zucchini, or broccoli during the last hour of cooking to create a more balanced meal.

How to Make Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs

Chicken thighs in the bottom of a slow cooker.

Step 1: Place the chicken thighs on the bottom of the slow cooker.

Ingredients to make the sauce mixed in a bowl.

Step 2: Combine the soy sauce, ketchup, garlic and honey in a small bowl and mix together.

Sauce poured over the top of the chicken.

Step 3: Pour the mixture over the chicken and cook on low for 5-6 hours.

Chicken in the slow cooker after cooking in the sauce.

Step 4: Add the cornstarch and water mixture and stir it in. Allow the chicken to sit and thicken for 5-10 minutes.

Step 5: Serve the chicken thighs hot with extra sauce drizzled on top and enjoy!

Honey garlic chicken thighs cooked in a slow cooker with a gold spoon holding a piece of chicken up over the pot.

Hint: If the sauce is too sweet add a little lemon juice or vinegar or if it's too tangy, add a little more honey.

If you love recipes like this one, you may also enjoy slow cooker honey garlic meatballs, Baked Teriyaki Chicken Thighs Recipe or our Easy Crock Pot Salsa Chicken.

A fork held up over the plate with a piece of chicken on it.

Storage

Storing: Store fully cooled leftovers in an airtight container for up to three days or in the freezer for up to three months.
Reheat: Heat in the microwave with the chicken in a microwave-safe dish and covered with a lid or paper towel. Heat on high for two minutes and then check the temperature. If necessary, heat in additional 30-second intervals until the chicken is heated through. You can also heat it in the oven at 350° F in a baking dish covered with foil for 20-30 minutes or until warmed through.

What to Serve with Chicken Thighs

This chicken recipe is perfect for weeknight dinners or to serve up when company is coming for dinner. Make sure to serve up any extra honey garlic sauce on the table so everyone can add more if they want.

Leftovers: Store the chicken whole or shred the chicken in the sauce. Use it later to make wraps, serve on buns, or add to a salad.
Rice: My family loves this chicken dish served over long grain white, brown rice, basmati rice, or quinoa as they absorb the sauce beautifully.
Potatoes: Mashed potatoes are wonderful underneath or beside this chicken dish.
Vegetables: You can't go wrong with steamed or roasted vegetables like green beans, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower or instant pot brussels sprouts.
Salad: A fresh green salad with a tangy dressing, this strawberry spinach salad or cold asparagus salad all work great!
Bread: Air fryer dinner rolls or air fryer frozen biscuits are great for sopping up the remaining sauce.

A plate of honey garlic chicken thighs with rice and mixed vegetables on the side.

Tips

Cook Slowly. It's best to cook the chicken thighs in your slow cooker on low heat. This allows the chicken thighs to cook slowly and absorb the flavors over several hours for best results.
Broiling After. You may want to broil skin-on chicken for a couple minutes after it's cooked in the slow cooler to crisp the skin. You can also broil the skinless chicken if you want the sauce to caramelize a bit more.
Make Enough for Leftovers. Cook some extra chicken and shred it in some of the sauce so use in a wrap, bun or on a salad later in the week. A great time-saver!
Avoid Overcooking. Be sure to check the chicken for doneness at the earliest suggested time. Chicken thighs are done when they register an internal temperature of 165°F (75°C). In general this should take 2-3 hours on high or 4-6 hours on low.
Adjusting the Sauce. Add more lemon juice or vinegar if you prefer a less sweet sauce. If you want it sweeter, add more honey.

FAQ

How can I prevent my chicken thighs from getting too dry in the slow cooker?

To prevent chicken thighs from drying out, it's crucial to cook them on a lower heat setting, as high temperatures can cause them to lose moisture more quickly. Check the chicken about halfway through the cooking time and continue checking it every 20 minutes with a thermometer until 165°F (75°C).

Can I use frozen chicken thighs?

Yes, you can. However, using frozen chicken thighs in a slow cooker requires additional cooking time. The USDA recommends adding at least 50% more cooking time for frozen meat to ensure it cooks thoroughly.

Can I make this recipe on the stove?

Yes, you can. Place the chicken thighs in a skillet, add the sauce, and simmer over medium heat until the chicken is thoroughly cooked. Add the cornstarch mixture and cook to thicken the sauce. This usually takes about thirty minutes. If you're using skin-on chicken, start by searing the chicken thighs in a well oiled skillet over medium-high heat before adding the sauce.

Can I make honey garlic chicken in the Instant Pot?

Sure thing! The Instant Pot offers a speedy version of this dish by using the pressure cooking feature. Add the chicken to the pot, top with the sauce and cook on high pressure for 15 minutes. Carefully release the heat and stir in the cornstarch and water mixture and let it sit to thicken.

Slow cooker chicken thighs on a plate with some bites cut and a fork resting upside down on the plate.

This recipe is a definite keeper! Have a peek below so you can see for yourself!

More Chicken Crockpot Recipes

Do you like using your slow cooker to make chicken? Here are some recipes you may also like to try.

Ready to get cooking? Remember that you can print this recipe if you would like.