Once you taste this easy and flavorful Crock Pot Honey Garlic Chicken, you'll want to put it on your meal plan every week! The combination of soy sauce, sweet honey, garlic, and spicy chili paste is perfect and makes a thick, delicious sauce to coat your chicken.
I have so many Healthy Slow Cooker Chicken Recipes when you need a flavorful and wholesome meal.
Cooking chicken in the Crock-Pot is one of my absolute favorite ways to make dinner. I'm all in when the recipe is as easy as adding the ingredients to the slow cooker, setting it, and forgetting it! This simple dump-and-go Crock-Pot Honey Garlic Chicken is one of those easy crockpot meals.
All I need is a few simple pantry staples, and I have a delicious dinner prepped in less than 10 minutes! So great on busy weeks like this one!
Other slow-cooked recipes worth making are Slow-Cooker Chicken and Potatoes with Garlic and Parmesan and Slow-Cooker Chicken Soup that tastes just like my grandma's.
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Why We Love This Recipe
- This honey garlic chicken in the crock pot is super simple to make. It's a dump-and-go recipe that works any night of the week!
- It's so versatile. You can enjoy it as a main dish with a side of veggies or place it on top of a bed of rice for a complete meal everyone in the family will enjoy.
- Clean-up is a breeze since it's cooked in one pot.
Ingredient Notes
This simple crockpot chicken recipe is made with a few delicious ingredients that combine to create a savory dish.
The slow cooking time gives all those flavors a chance to develop, resulting in a rich sauce and flavorful chicken that pairs well with various sides.
You'll need the following:
- Boneless, skinless chicken thighs - I like to use thighs because they remain moist and delicious while slow cooking.
- Low-sodium Soy sauce - Soy sauce is packed with umami flavor (a savory/salty flavor), which works well in this dish.
- Honey - compliments the soy sauce and gives the chicken a hint of sweetness, so a great recipe for kids.
- Tomato paste - for a little acid to balance the sweet honey.
- Chili paste - don't be nervous about this dish being too spicy. When diluted with the other ingredients, the chili paste is not spicy at all.
- Garlic - since it simmers all day, the garlic infuses a nice nutty flavor into the sauce.
- Rice vinegar - gives the recipe a little acid and brings all the flavors together.
- Cornstarch - we use cornstarch to thicken the sauce after it simmers all day.
Please see the printable recipe card below for measurements and complete instructions.
Substitutions
We love this recipe just as it is, but it's so versatile that it's simple to make substitutions to these crock pot chicken thighs. Here are some easy alterations you can make to our recipe:
- Swap boneless, skinless chicken breasts for chicken thighs. If you prefer white-meat chicken, use chicken breasts instead of chicken thighs in this recipe.
- Use crushed red pepper or hot sauce instead of chili paste. If you don't have chili paste on hand, consider substituting the same amount of crushed red pepper or hot sauce.
- Substitute apple cider vinegar for rice vinegar. If you don't have rice vinegar in your pantry, try using apple cider vinegar instead. The mild flavor of apple cider vinegar makes it a great alternative to rice vinegar in this recipe.
Step-By-Step Instructions
These honey garlic chicken thighs in the slow cooker are perfect for any occasion. They're great for a quick weeknight meal with the family or a main dish for a big Sunday supper.
Either way, it's as simple as grabbing the ingredients, mixing up your sauce, and tossing everything in the crockpot to cook all day while you move on to more important tasks.
Step 1—Add Chicken to Crock: Place the chicken in the bottom of a 6-quart or larger slow cooker.
Step 2—Mix Sauce Ingredients: Before adding the remaining ingredients to the slow cooker, mixing up the sauce ingredients in a separate bowl is a good idea. Whisk together the soy sauce, honey, tomato paste, chili paste, garlic, and rice vinegar in a medium bowl until well combined.
Step 3—Add Sauce to Crock: Pour the mixture over the chicken until all the thighs are evenly coated. Make sure to cover all the chicken with the sauce.
Step 4—Cover & Cook: Cover and cook on LOW for four to five hours or HIGH for two to three hours. The chicken is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit on an instant-read thermometer.
Asterisk
Pro Tip: I prefer cooking chicken on LOW in the crockpot because it doesn't overcook.
Step 4—Flip Chicken: Halfway through the cooking time, flip the chicken thighs to coat both sides with the delicious sauce.
Step 5—Shred Chicken and Add Cornstarch: Transfer your honey-garlic chicken to a plate and let it cool slightly.
While the chicken is cooling, whisk the cornstarch into the liquid remaining in the slow cooker.
Turn the crockpot to HIGH, shred the chicken, and add it back into the crock.
Place the lid back on the crockpot and cook on high for around 15 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly. Serve over rice or vegetables.
Serving Suggestions
If you're wondering what to serve with this delicious chicken dish, don't worry! Various yummy side dishes, including vegetables, rice, or noodles, pair perfectly with our honey garlic chicken thighs.
- Perfectly cooked quinoa
- Brown Rice
- One-pot veggie mac and cheese
- Roasted asparagus with lemon
- Roasted brussels sprouts
How to Store
This recipe can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4-5 days. It can also be reheated in the microwave.
Honey Garlic Chicken Freezer Meal
There are two ways to make this recipe and keep it in the freezer for later use.
Option 1 for the Freezer
Place all your ingredients in an airtight container, and then freeze before cooking. Take the container out of the freezer the night before cooking it to defrost it. The next day, place the ingredients in the slow cooker and cook as instructed.
Option 2 for the Freezer
Make and cook the recipe as instructed, then place it in the freezer in an airtight container for up to three months. Following our tips for preventing freezer burn, you should be good to go.
Make sure to label and date your container!
More Easy Crock Pot Chicken Recipes
Readers also love my Sheet Pan Honey Garlic Chicken and Veggies, which is ready in 30 minutes!!
Expert Tips
- Chicken Selection: I prefer chicken thighs in this recipe because they stay tender and juicy. However, you can also use chicken breasts.
- Additional Flavor Enhancers: For added depth and a hint of spice, consider adding grated ginger or a pinch of red pepper flakes.
- Gluten-Free: To make this recipe gluten-free, substitute a gluten-free Tamari sauce for the soy sauce.
- Vegetables: Include vegetables such as carrots, bell peppers, or broccoli to make it a complete one-pot meal. Add them halfway through the cooking time to prevent overcooking.
- Equipment: This recipe is made for a 6-quart crockpot.
Recipe FAQs
Absolutely! Chicken usually cooks in 4-6 hours, depending on how much liquid is in the recipe. The beauty of a slow cooker is that you can place all your ingredients in the crockpot, set your time, and then return to a delicious meal.
The crockpot comes to a safe cooking temperature right away, so there is no need to worry about placing the raw chicken in with the other ingredients.
You bet! Place all your ingredients in an airtight container or zip-lock bag, and then freeze before cooking. Don't forget to label and date it. Take the container out of the freezer the night before cooking it to defrost it. The next day, place the ingredients in the slow cooker and cook as instructed.
Store any leftovers, once cooled, in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat individual servings in the microwave until hot or in a skillet over medium-low heat.
★ Did you make this crockpot honey garlic chicken recipe? Don't forget to give it a star rating below!
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Printable Recipe
Easy Crock Pot Honey Garlic Chicken Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds boneless (skinless chicken thighs (or chicken breasts))
- ⅓ cup low-sodium soy sauce
- ⅓ cup honey
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 teaspoons chili paste
- 4 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
Instructions
- Place the chicken in the bottom of a 6-quart or larger slow cooker.
- Whisk together the soy sauce, honey, tomato paste, chili paste, garlic, and rice vinegar in a medium bowl until well combined.
- Pour the mixture over the chicken until all the thighs are evenly coated. Make sure to coat all the chicken with the sauce—cover and cook on low for four to five hours or high for two to three hours. The chicken is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit on an instant-read thermometer.
- To coat both sides of the chicken thighs with the delicious sauce, take a minute to quickly flip the chicken halfway through the cooking time, if possible.
- Remove the chicken to a plate and let it cool slightly. While the chicken is cooling, whisk the cornstarch into the liquid remaining in the slow cooker. Turn the crock pot to high, then shred the chicken and add it back into the crock. Place the lid back on the crock pot and cook on high for around 15 minutes, until the sauce thickens slightly. Serve over rice or vegetables.
Video
Notes
- CHICKEN: We prefer chicken thighs in this recipe because they stay tender and juicy. However, chicken breasts can be used as well.
- GF: If you’d like to make this recipe gluten-free, substitute a gluten-free Tamari sauce for the soy sauce.
- This recipe is made for a 6-quart crock pot.
Nutrition
This recipe was originally published on April 1, 2020, and revised and updated on May 14, 2024.
Christine says
If using red pepper flakes instead of the chili paste, what amount do you add?
I don’t want it to come out too spicy though….
Ritika Gann says
just a half teaspoon of chili flakes should be good!
mitch says
Please add the quantity of ingredients, thank you .
Erin Henry says
The quantity of ingredients is found in the printable recipe card at the end of the post.
Daytoodays says
This Crock Pot Honey Garlic Chicken looks and sounds delicious! Just wondering if you used bone-in skin-on Thighs? It looks like it, from the pictures. Looking forward to fixing it…thanks for the recipe
Erin Henry says
Hi - you could definitely use bone-in, skin-on thighs in the recipe. You'd just pull it off the bone when shredding it. Enjoy!
Gemma says
This sounds so so tasty! I love honey, and I love garlic so put them together with chicken and I'm instantly sold!
Erin Henry says
Yes, the combination of flavors in this recipe is absolutely delicious. A go-to recipe worth making again and again.
Kara says
I've made this with both thighs and breasts, and it is super tasty! We like it over rice with cooked carrots and broccoli on the side. I like sprinkling sesame seeds on my serving. 🙂
Erin Henry says
Good add with the sesame seeds! We like it with both chicken breasts and thighs as well.
Toni says
It was a huge hit at my house!! Amazingly delicious!
Erin Henry says
It's a winner for sure, Toni! It's so easy and flavorful!
Heather says
Super flavorful and one of my kids favorites! We like having it with rice or yellow rice.
Erin Henry says
A delicious family recipe for sure. We love it over rice and veggies.