Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken Recipe

This year has been all about the slow cooker and Instant Pot for me. With every child involved in one or two activities, weeknights are hectic and dinner needs to be fast, simple, and satisfying. This Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken checks all those boxes. It’s full of flavor, requires less than five minutes of hands-on prep, and makes a great make-ahead dinner that families love.

The method is intentionally simple: place the chicken in the slow cooker, whisk together the sauce ingredients, pour them over the meat, dot with a few pats of butter, and let it cook. Set the slow cooker on high for 4 hours or low for 6 hours. The chicken becomes tender and shreddable and the sauce develops a lovely balance of sweet and savory. I like to serve this over jasmine rice with roasted or steamed broccoli for an easy, well-rounded weeknight meal.

Recipes for Busy Weeknights

• Ketchup Sloppy Joes
• Instant Pot Chicken Taco and Rice Skillet
• Slow Cooker Mississippi Pot Roast
• Instant Pot Chicken Tetrazzini
• Slow Cooker Pork Roast and Gravy
• Instant Pot Lentils with Chicken and Sweet Potato

Step-by-Step Photos for How to Make Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken

Tips for How to Make Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken

• Use a slow cooker liner or nonstick spray for easier cleanup.
• Both boneless skinless chicken breasts and thighs work well; thighs give a slightly richer flavor.
• If you use frozen chicken, add about an extra hour to the cook time to ensure it reaches a safe temperature and becomes tender.
• To add heat, stir in a pinch of cayenne or a few red pepper flakes to the sauce before cooking.
• Rice wine vinegar can be swapped for apple cider vinegar if that’s what you have on hand.
• Serve over jasmine rice, coconut rice, or your favorite grain, and pair with steamed or roasted vegetables.

Chef’s Tools:

• Slow cooker
• Slow cooker liners (optional)
• Mixing bowls
• Measuring spoons
• Measuring cups
• Whisk

More Recipes for Busy Schedules

Slow Cooker Pineapple Salsa Chicken aka Mexican Delight

Slow Cooker Hobo Dinner

Workman’s Roast {Crock Pot Recipe}

Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken

Recipe Type: Chicken / Slow Cooker

Cuisine: Asian-inspired

Author: Slightly adapted from Cafe Delites

Prep time: 5 mins

Cook time: 4 hours (high) / 6 hours (low)

Total time: Approximately 4 hours 5 mins

Serves: About 6–8 servings

Tender, flavorful chicken with a slightly sweet, garlicky sauce—an easy weeknight favorite that pairs beautifully with rice and vegetables.

Ingredients

• 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs
• 3 tbsp soy sauce
• 2 tbsp seasoned rice wine vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
• 1/2 cup honey
• 6 garlic cloves, crushed or minced
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
• 5–6 tbsp butter, divided into small pats

Instructions

1. Place the chicken in the slow cooker in a single layer if possible.
2. In a bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, vinegar, honey, crushed garlic, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper until smooth.
3. Pour the sauce mixture evenly over the chicken.
4. Distribute pats of butter across the top of the chicken.
5. Cover and cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6 hours. If the chicken is frozen, add approximately 1 extra hour to the cooking time.
6. When finished, the chicken should shred easily with two forks. Mix the shredded chicken with the sauce in the slow cooker so the flavors meld.
7. Serve the chicken over rice with your favorite vegetable on the side. Leftovers are excellent for sandwiches, bowls, or meal prep.
8. Enjoy this easy, flavorful slow cooker honey garlic chicken!

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