Crockpot Honey Garlic Chicken is a simple, flavorful way to prepare boneless, skinless chicken thighs. With pantry staples—honey, garlic, soy sauce, ketchup, and a few seasonings—you can make a comforting weeknight meal the whole family will enjoy. This recipe is perfect for busy evenings: toss the ingredients into the slow cooker, set it, and come back to tender, juicy chicken in a rich honey-garlic sauce. Consider doubling the batch if you want leftovers for lunches or another dinner.
A slow cooker (Crockpot) is one of the most useful kitchen tools for hands-off dinners. It frees up the stove and oven, concentrates flavors, and yields consistently tender results. This honey garlic chicken works well with rice, mashed potatoes, or noodles and pairs nicely with steamed vegetables or a simple green salad.
I like to finish the dish with sliced green onions and sesame seeds for color and a touch of texture. The sauce is sweet, savory, and garlicky—comfort food with straightforward ingredients. The following recipe yields about six servings and is easy to scale up or down depending on your needs.
How to Store Leftovers
Store any leftover chicken and sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3–5 days. Reheat gently on the stove over low heat or in the microwave until warmed through. If the sauce has thickened in the fridge, add a splash of water or broth when reheating to loosen it up.
Common Questions
Yes. If you prefer a longer, slower cook, set the Crockpot on low and cook for about 6 hours. The chicken will still be tender and flavorful.
This honey garlic chicken is excellent over yellow or white rice, mashed potatoes, or egg noodles. Add steamed broccoli, snap peas, or a crisp green salad for a complete meal.
Crockpot Honey Garlic Chicken
A hands-off slow cooker recipe using pantry staples to create tender chicken thighs coated in a glossy honey-garlic sauce. Easy to prepare and perfect for family dinners or meal prep.
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 4 hrs (high) or 6 hrs (low)
Total Time: 4 hrs 10 mins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Chinese-inspired
Servings: 6 people
Calories: 329 kcal (per serving)
Ingredients
- 2 – 2.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 1/2 cup honey
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 3–4 tbsp brown sugar (adjust to taste)
- 3 tbsp minced garlic (fresh or jarred)
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp all-purpose seasoning (or your favorite seasoning blend)
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp salt (or to taste)
- Garnish: sliced green onions and sesame seeds
Instructions
- Place the chicken thighs in the Crockpot in a single layer if possible. Season the chicken evenly with salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder, plus the all-purpose seasoning.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, honey, tomato paste, ketchup, minced garlic, and brown sugar until smooth. Taste and adjust sweetness or salt as desired.
- Pour the honey-garlic sauce over the seasoned chicken, making sure the pieces are coated.
- Cover and cook on high for 4 hours or on low for about 6 hours, until the chicken is cooked through and very tender.
- When ready, remove the chicken and spoon sauce over it. Garnish with sliced green onions and sesame seeds. Serve over rice, mashed potatoes, or noodles.
Nutrition (per serving)
Approximate values: Calories 329 kcal; Carbohydrates 37 g; Protein 32 g; Fat 6 g; Sodium varies with soy sauce and added salt.