Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken in the Slow Cooker
Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken in the slow cooker is the ultimate weeknight meal. After making this many times, I discovered the trick to keeping it crispy: a quick sear before adding it to the slow cooker. The honey garlic sauce is so addictive, you’ll want to drizzle it over everything. Keep reading for my best tips, or jump to the recipe card. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Try these 10 High Protein Slow Cooker Dinners next and Pair this with Sweet Potato and Black Bean Tacos for a complete meal.
Why This Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken in the Slow Cooker Is Pure Comfort
- Crispy chicken skin with a tender, juicy interior
- A rich, tangy honey garlic sauce that's better than takeout
- Easy prep and cleanup with the slow cooker
- Perfect for meal prepping and feeding a crowd
What You'll Need for Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken in the Slow Cooker
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- honey
- soy sauce
- garlic
- ginger
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- salt
- black pepper
- red pepper flakes
- Optional: green onions
- Optional: sesame seeds
đź“ť Ingredient Notes
- boneless, skinless chicken thighs: You can also use chicken breasts, but thighs stay moister.
đź›’ Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Instant Pot — Sear the chicken and cook the sauce all in one pot for even easier cleanup. → See on Amazon
- Meat thermometer — Ensure your chicken is cooked to a safe temperature every time. → See on Amazon
How to Make Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken in the Slow Cooker
- Step 1: Season chicken with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Sear in a hot skillet until crispy, then transfer to the slow cooker.
- Step 2: In the same skillet, sauté garlic and ginger. Add honey, soy sauce, and red pepper flakes. Pour over chicken in the slow cooker.
- Step 3: Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours. Remove chicken, shred, and return to the slow cooker. Stir in cornstarch slurry to thicken the sauce.
- Step 4: Serve over rice or noodles, garnished with green onions and sesame seeds.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken in the Slow Cooker
- Common mistake and fix: Don't overcook the chicken. It can become tough and dry. Use a meat thermometer to ensure it reaches 165°F.
- Time-saving tip: Prepare the sauce ingredients the night before and store in the fridge. In the morning, just season the chicken and sear it before adding to the slow cooker.
- Make-ahead tip: This recipe freezes well. Prepare it up to 3 months ahead and thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
Storing & Reheating Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken in the Slow Cooker
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Make-ahead tip: Prepare the sauce and season the chicken up to 1 day ahead.
Freezing Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken in the Slow Cooker
Freeze cooked and cooled chicken for up to 3 months.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F for 15-20 minutes. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a spicier version, add more red pepper flakes or a pinch of cayenne pepper.
- Make-ahead: Prepare the sauce and season the chicken up to 1 day ahead. In the morning, just sear the chicken and add it to the slow cooker.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled to feed a crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If your sauce isn't thickening, try cooking it on the stovetop for a few minutes after removing the chicken.
Want to level up this recipe?
Slow cooker — Hands-off cooking means you can spend more time with your family and less time in the kitchen. → Check price on Amazon
Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken in the Slow Cooker
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- honey
- soy sauce
- garlic
- ginger
Seasonings
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- salt
- black pepper
- red pepper flakes
Optional Toppings
- green onions
- sesame seeds
Instructions
- Step 1: Season chicken with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Sear in a hot skillet until crispy, then transfer to the slow cooker.
- Step 2: In the same skillet, sauté garlic and ginger. Add honey, soy sauce, and red pepper flakes. Pour over chicken in the slow cooker.
- Step 3: Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours. Remove chicken, shred, and return to the slow cooker. Stir in cornstarch slurry to thicken the sauce.
- Step 4: Serve over rice or noodles, garnished with green onions and sesame seeds.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a spicier version, add more red pepper flakes or a pinch of cayenne pepper.
- Make-ahead: Prepare the sauce and season the chicken up to 1 day ahead. In the morning, just sear the chicken and add it to the slow cooker.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled to feed a crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If your sauce isn't thickening, try cooking it on the stovetop for a few minutes after removing the chicken.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: Freeze cooked and cooled chicken for up to 3 months.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F for 15-20 minutes.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes.
- Make ahead: Prepare the sauce and season the chicken up to 1 day ahead.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 350
- Protein: 35g
- Fat: 12g
- Carbs: 20g
- Fiber: 0g
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 1200mg
- Cholesterol: 120mg
- Sat. Fat: 2.5g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken in the Slow Cooker FAQs
Yes, prepare the sauce and season the chicken up to 1 day ahead. In the morning, just sear the chicken and add it to the slow cooker.
Overcooking is the most common reason for dry chicken. Use a meat thermometer to ensure it reaches 165°F but doesn't go over.
Yes, freeze cooked and cooled chicken for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
Yes, follow the same steps but cook on high pressure for 10 minutes with a 10-minute natural release.
If you're out of honey, you can use an equal amount of brown sugar or maple syrup. The flavor will be slightly different but still delicious.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken in the Slow Cooker and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
