Slow Cook Chicken Recipes

Save the white styrofoam container for a more desperate time—today we’re making easy Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken. Its sweet, sticky sauce has all the allure of your favorite takeout but is made of healthy, natural ingredients. The recipe is only eight ingredients (nine if you are a stickler and count the rice), and if you cook Asian food regularly (meaning you own soy sauce), you have all of them in your pantry right now.

I regularly hear that you are constantly on the lookout for healthy, easy crockpot chicken recipes.

As a fellow appreciator of keeping dinner simple (but delicious!) and healthy (but by no means “diet”), recipes like this slow cooker honey garlic chicken thighs are some of my absolute favorites to create.

The recipe index also suggests that when it comes to picking a slow cooker chicken recipe theme, I have a serious penchant for this entire “takeout/fake out” approach. (Although, I do have an extensive list of other Healthy Crock Pot Chicken Recipes.)

Does reading that recipe list make anyone else want to borrow a few extra slow cookers and create one of those restaurant-style combo plates? (I’ll have the #2 with slow cooker honey garlic chicken, the cashew chicken, and a side of Homemade Fried Rice please!)

For today, however, this tasty slow cooker honey garlic chicken is exactly what I want at the center of my plate.

The breezy ingredient list only takes a few minutes to stir together, the honey sauce merits nothing short of universal praise, and the leftovers easily pack for lunch and reheat like a dream.

slow cook chicken recipes

Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken

slow cook chicken recipes

Healthy Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken. Easy recipe with 8 simple ingredients! Juicy chicken thighs or breasts in a sticky honey garlic sauce.

Prep: 5min

Total: 270min

Yield: 4

Serving Size: 1 of 4, about 1 cup

Nutrition Facts: servingSize 1 of 4, about 1 cup, calories 329 kcal, Carbohydrate 32 g, Protein 35 g, Fat 7 g, Saturated Fat 2 g, Cholesterol 162 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 25 g

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs (or chicken breasts)
  • 1/3 cup low-sodium soy sauce
  • 1/3 cup honey
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 2 teaspoons chili paste (sambal oelek, sriracha, or hot sauce of choice)
  • 4 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • Prepared brown rice, quinoa, or cauliflower rice
  • Toasted sesame seeds
  • Chopped green onion

Instruction:

  1. Place the chicken in the bottom of a 6-quart or larger slow cooker. In a medium mixing bowl or very large measuring cup, whisk together the soy sauce, honey, tomato paste, chili paste, garlic, and rice vinegar. Pour over the chicken. Cover and cook on LOW for 4 to 5 hours or HIGH for 2 to 3 hours, until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer. If you are available, flip the chicken over once halfway through to coat both sides. (If not, don’t stress; it will still be tasty.)
  2. Remove the chicken to a plate and let cool slightly. Whisk the cornstarch into the slow cooker cooking liquid. Cover and cook on HIGH for 15 minutes, until the sauce thickens slightly, stirring occasionally. If you’d like the sauce particularly thick, you can cook it for a full 30 minutes in the slow cooker OR follow the stovetop method below.
  3. For quicker sauce thickening, reduce the sauce on the stove: After whisking in the cornstarch, transfer the cooking liquid to a medium saucepan. Cook on the stovetop over medium heat, stirring often until the sauce thickens, 5 to 10 minutes. (If your slow cooker insert is stovetop safe, you can remove it from the slow cooker and place it directly on the burner, but do not do this unless you are POSITIVE your insert is stovetop safe or it may crack.)
  4. With two forks (or your fingers if the chicken is cool enough), shred the chicken and place it in the slow cooker. If you reduced the sauce on the stove, add it back to the slow cooker now. Stir to coat the chicken with the sauce. Serve over rice, sprinkled with green onions and sesame seeds.

Crockpot Chicken & Gravy

slow cook chicken recipes

Slow Cooker Chicken & Gravy – only 3 ingredients!! Such a great weeknight meal! Just dump everything in the crockpot and let it work its magic! Serve over hot steamed rice with some green beans. SO easy and kid-friendly too!

Prep: 5min

Total: 245min

Yield: 6

Serving Size: 1 serving

Nutrition Facts: calories 91 kcal, Carbohydrate 5 g, Protein 12 g, Fat 1 g, Saturated Fat 1 g, Cholesterol 36 mg, Sodium 480 mg, Sugar 1 g, servingSize 1 serving

Ingredients:

  • 3 to 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 (10.5-oz) can cream of chicken soup
  • 2 (0.87-oz) envelopes of chicken gravy mix
  • 1/2 cup water or chicken broth, (optional)
  • hot steamed rice

Instruction:

  1. Place chicken in the slow cooker and season with salt and pepper, if desired.
  2. Whisk together soup, gravy mix, and water (if using). Pour over chicken.
  3. Cover crock-pot and cook on LOW for 4-6 hours.
  4. Before serving break the chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces. Serve over hot steamed rice.

Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs and Potatoes Recipe

FAQ

Can you put raw chicken in a slow cooker?

Yes, you can put raw chicken in a slow cooker! Slow cookers and Crock-Pots are designed to cook raw meats. The direct heat from the pot, lengthy cooking time and steam created from the tightly covered container destroys bacteria, making slow cooking safe. You can put frozen chicken in a slow cooker, too!

Is it good to slow cook chicken?

The slower you cook chicken, the better. That’s the overall rule for cooking protein. Start by having the heat medium-high when you put the chicken breast in the pan. Sear it quickly.

What is the best temperature for slow cooking chicken?

After a number of experiments I settled on 325F as being the best of both worlds for the baked chicken breast. At this temperature it takes regular size chicken breasts about 60 minutes to reach the perfect 165F internal temperature. Slower temperature rise allows for a wider margin of error.

Does chicken get more tender the longer you slow cook it?

Slow cookers (or Crock Pots) are perfect for breaking down meats and making them tender and juicy. By gently simmering boneless chicken thighs (or chicken breast) in a flavorful cooking broth, the chicken become ultra tender.

About the author

Helen is an author and editor at helenbackcafe.com, who has a passion for writing about recipes. She loves to experiment with different ingredients and cooking techniques to create delicious and unique dishes.

Among all the foods, pizza holds a special place in her heart, and she loves exploring different variations and toppings to create the perfect slice. Through her writing, Helen hopes to inspire others to get creative in the kitchen and share their love for food with the world.

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