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Honey Garlic Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs

Honey Garlic Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs
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Tender and juicy chicken thighs slow cooked in a flavorful honey garlic sauce, delivering a perfect balance of sweet and savory with minimal hands-on time. Ideal for busy weeknights or comforting meals, this dish combines effortless preparation with rich, comforting flavors and is finished with a glossy, thickened sauce and optional garnishes for a delightful presentation.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken

  • 6 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs

Sauce

  • 1/3 cup honey
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce (use tamari or coconut aminos for gluten-free option)
  • 2 tablespoons ketchup
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 4 garlic cloves, smashed
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch

Optional Garnishes

  • 2 green onions, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds

Instructions

  1. Prepare the sauce: In a medium bowl, whisk together honey, soy sauce, ketchup, rice vinegar, and smashed garlic cloves to form the sauce base.
  2. Arrange the chicken: Place chicken thighs in a single layer at the bottom of your slow cooker, skin side up if possible.
  3. Pour sauce over chicken: Evenly pour the prepared honey garlic sauce over the chicken thighs, ensuring they are well coated.
  4. Cook low and slow: Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 6 hours, or on high for 3-4 hours, until the chicken is tender and cooked through.
  5. Thicken the sauce: About 30 minutes before serving, mix cornstarch with water to create a slurry. Pour it into the slow cooker and stir gently to thicken the sauce around the chicken.
  6. Finish and garnish: Once the sauce is thickened and glossy, serve the chicken topped with chopped green onions and a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds if desired.

Notes

  • Use skin-on thighs to keep the chicken juicy and flavorful during slow cooking.
  • Don’t skip the cornstarch slurry—it transforms the sauce to a beautifully sticky glaze.
  • Arrange chicken skin side up to maximize crispiness if finishing under the broiler.
  • Adjust the sweetness by tasting the sauce before cooking and adding more or less honey as preferred.
  • Check internal temperature to ensure chicken is safe to eat—165°F (74°C) is the recommended minimum.

Nutrition

Keywords: honey garlic chicken, slow cooker chicken thighs, easy slow cooker recipe, honey garlic sauce, gluten free chicken recipe

Find it online: https://marycorner.com/honey-garlic-slow-cooker-chicken-thighs/