Description
Succulent honey garlic chicken simmers effortlessly in your crockpot, creating a mouthwatering meal that balances sweet and savory notes. Home cooks can savor this simple yet impressive dinner that promises tender, flavor-packed chicken with minimal kitchen effort.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
Sauce Ingredients:
- ⅓ cup (79 milliliters) honey
- ¼ cup (60 milliliters) soy sauce (low-sodium preferred)
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) ketchup
- 1 teaspoon (5 grams) dried thyme or ½ teaspoon (2.5 grams) fresh thyme leaves
- ½ teaspoon (1 gram) red pepper flakes (optional, for spice)
Seasoning and Thickening:
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon (8 grams) cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) water
Serving Suggestions:
- Cooked white or brown rice
- Steamed broccoli or mixed vegetables
- Sesame seeds (for garnish)
- Green onions (for garnish)
Instructions
- Gently massage chicken pieces with salt and pepper, ensuring even seasoning on all surfaces. Carefully arrange in the slow cooker, creating a single layer for consistent cooking.
- Craft a vibrant sauce by whisking honey, soy sauce, ketchup, minced garlic, fragrant thyme, and optional red pepper flakes in a mixing bowl. Thoroughly drench the chicken with this aromatic liquid.
- Secure the crockpot lid and allow the chicken to simmer on low temperature for 4-5 hours or on high for 2-3 hours. Verify doneness by checking that internal temperature reaches 165°F/74°C.
- Once cooked, delicately transfer chicken to a serving platter. Transform the remaining liquid into a rich glaze by stirring cornstarch mixture until sauce reaches desired consistency, approximately 10-15 minutes.
- Reunite chicken with thickened sauce, gently coating each piece to maximize flavor absorption. Present over fluffy rice, accompanied by steamed seasonal vegetables.
- Elevate the dish’s visual appeal and taste by sprinkling toasted sesame seeds and thinly sliced green onions as a final flourish.
Notes
- Choose bone-in or boneless chicken thighs for extra flavor and moisture, ensuring a juicier final dish.
- Adjust spice levels by reducing or eliminating red pepper flakes for a milder version suitable for children or sensitive palates.
- Create a gluten-free alternative by using tamari instead of traditional soy sauce and ensuring cornstarch is certified gluten-free.
- Enhance meal prep by preparing the sauce mixture the night before and storing it in the refrigerator to save morning cooking time.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 hours (low) / 23 hours (high)
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 37 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg