Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken

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Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken made with just 8 ingredients that are already in your pantry is just as easy as takeout with all the sticky and sweet flavor you're craving.

201 CAL 17g CARBS 1g FAT 33g PROTEIN
24 Comments

This Crockpot Honey Garlic Chicken with a sweet and savory Asian sauce couldn't be easier to make and is always a huge hit. It tastes like your favorite sweet and sticky Chinese chicken but is made with just a few simple ingredients you probably already have at home.

Lately, I have just needed simple, crowd-pleasing dinners. You know the kind of recipe I mean, something that can be thrown together in a couple of minutes with things I already have in the house. Recipes that everyone will eat and even go back for seconds. 

This Honey Garlic Chicken is that kind of recipe. All you need is some chicken, soy sauce, honey, and ketchup. Garlic, dried basil, and red pepper flakes enhance the recipe but I am going to share some easy swaps in case you don't have any at home. 

It takes less than five minutes to get into the slow cooker and in a few hours dinner is ready. Easy, peasy.

Once it’s done there are endless serving possibilities serve it over rice, stuff it into a sandwich, toss it on a salad, wrap it up in some lettuce, or add it to stir-fried vegetables. Since this recipe is so versatile, consider doubling up for leftovers during the week. It is great for meal prep.

Crockpot honey garlic chicken cut into cubes with green onions and brown rice.

What to Serve with Crockpot Honey Garlic Chicken

This takeout-style dish will surely have you craving other Asian-style dishes, here are some favorites we like to serve on the side.

  • Rice: Make a batch of simple steamed brown, white rice, or cauliflower. Or if you are craving fried rice, you could try this Cauliflower Fried Rice or Healthy Fried Rice.
  • Vegetables: You'll likely want a vegetable on the side to add some greens and nutrition. Many times I will just quickly stir fry some broccoli or cauliflower with a little soy sauce and serve that on the side. When I want something a little more special, I make this Roasted Asian Broccoli or 10 Minute Cabbage Stir Fry, which uses bagged coleslaw mix. 
  • Lettuce wraps: For a lighter option, this Honey Garlic Chicken is delicious wrapped up in some butter lettuce with shredded carrots and bean sprouts. For a heartier lettuce wrap, add some thin rice noodles. 
  • Noodle Bowls: You could also turn this into a noodle bowl with some cooked pasta tossed with a little soy sauce and sesame oil. Or make some Lo Mein or Chow Mein on the side.

Recipe Tips and Ideas

There are so many easy ways to customize this recipe based on your tastes and preferences.

  • Chicken: Make this recipe with boneless skinless chicken breasts, chicken thighs, or even pork. If you have struggled with dry chicken in the slow cooker in the past, then make it with chicken thighs. 
  • Slow cooker temperature: Make sure to know your slow cooker. Many people think that chicken breast comes out dry in the slow cooker and this is usually because the chicken is overcooked. Many slow cookers, even on low, cook quite quickly. For example, this chicken was finished cooking in just 3 hours on low in my slow cooker.
  • Garlic and chili options: If you don't have garlic on hand, you can swap in garlic powder, dehydrated garlic, or minced garlic that comes in a jar.  You could also use a garlic chili paste, like sambal olek, to add some garlic flavor.
  • Herbs: When it comes to dried herbs, you can use basil, oregano, or any other dried herb you like. It can also be left out and won't change the flavor significantly.
  • Swap in tomato paste: If you are out of ketchup, you can use two tablespoons of tomato paste mixed with one tablespoon of rice vinegar. 
  • Pressed for time: If you are pressed for time, you can skip thickening the sauce. The chicken will still be delicious, it just won't have a thick sticky sauce.
  • Shredded chicken: If you prefer shredded chicken, cook the chicken breasts whole and then shred in the sauce with two forks. 

Honey garlic chicken in a slow cooker with sliced green onions and a sticky sauce.

Meal Prep and Leftover Ideas

This recipe is one of my favorites for meal prep since there are so many different ways to serve leftover honey garlic chicken.

Consider packing some leftovers up as rice bowls with some cooked rice and steamed vegetables.

For super easy prep, use frozen rice and frozen stir fry veggies. They will defrost in the fridge and then cook when you reheat the dish in the microwave.

Use leftover chicken to make Asian-style chicken salads with Romaine lettuce, mandarin oranges, bean sprouts, cucumbers, and crushed peanuts. You can also turn these salads into wraps.

Make some quick fried rice with the leftover chicken. You could also make some honey garlic chicken lo mein using leftover cooked spaghetti. 

More Slow Cooker Chicken Recipes

This recipe was originally posted back in 2012 and has been updated with new photos and recipe tips.

The Recipe
Slow cooker honey garlic chicken with green onions over a bed of brown rice

Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken

201 CAL 17g CARBS 1g FAT 33g PROTEIN
PREP TIME: 5 Min
COOK TIME: 4 Hours
TOTAL TIME: 4 Hours, 5 Min
24 Comments
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Ingredients

US METRICS
  • 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into chunks
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/3 cup low sodium soy sauce
  • 1/3 cup ketchup
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 3/4 tsp dried basil
  • 1/8 tsp. red pepper flakes
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch

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Instructions

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1

Whisk together the garlic, basil, soy sauce, ketchup, and honey.

2

Add the chicken to the crockpot. Pour the sauce over and mix everything together.

3

Cook on low for 2.5-3 hours in most slow cookers until the chicken breast is cooked through. Remove using a slotted spoon. If you leave the chicken breasts whole, this may take slightly longer.

4

Option 1: Mix the cornstarch with a touch of water (about 1 tablespoon) and add it to the slow cooker. Let cook for 15-20 minutes until it is nicely thickened Add the chicken back to the crockpot and serve.

5

Option 2: Mix the cornstarch with an equal amount of water. Pour the leftover cooking liquid into a small sauce pan. Add the cornstarch slurry and bring to a boil. Cook for 4-5 minutes until thickened.

Nutritional Facts
Serving Size: 6 oz.
Amount Per Serving
Calories 201
Calories from Fat 13
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 1g
2%
Saturated Fat 0g
0%
Monounsaturated Fat 0g
0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0g
0%
Cholesterol 74mg
24%
Sodium 676mg
29%
Total Carbohydrate 17g
6%
Dietary Fiber 0g
1%
Sugars 15g
Protein 33g

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

The Nutritional Values provided are estimates only and may vary based on the preparation method.

Notes

Some people have shared that their chicken cooks in as little as 2 hours. Please keep an eye on the chicken to make sure it doesn't overcook and become dry.
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About the author Meet Kristen McCaffrey
Hi, I’m the cookbook author, recipe developer, and food enthusiast behind Slender Kitchen. I am obsessed with making healthy food that is easy to prepare and absolutely delicious. Meal planning is my secret weapon and I hope I can make meal time easier for you with our tried and tested recipes and foolproof meal plans. Learn More
24 Comments
On Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken
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Tan Green
February 13, 2024 - 16:48
Can you use regular soy sauce or does it need to be reduced sodium?
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February 14, 2024 - 07:43
Regular soy sauce will work great!
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Diane Marxen
June 24, 2023 - 05:38
Can this be frozen?
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Linda Calderone
November 20, 2022 - 15:17
Add a Rating:
5
Delicious. I didn't realize I had defrosted chicken thighs instead of breast. But I used those and kept it in the Crock-Pot a little bit longer and it was perfect. Thanks for a great recipe!
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Valerie Kennerell
October 11, 2022 - 11:37
How long would you cook cut up Chicken Breasts if temperature is on HIGH?
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October 18, 2022 - 13:25
In most slow cookers, cut-up chicken breast will only need about 2 hours, but you will want to check the doneness
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Rachel
October 7, 2021 - 13:27
Made this last night. Relatively easy and quick. Family loved it.
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Henry Lau
April 29, 2020 - 18:45
Although this looks delicious, (Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken) the sodium content is 676 mg. per serving. My wife is on a strict low sodium (max 500mg. per meal) due to a heart condition) and I find most of your recipes exceed this amount. Could you please include more recipes for low sodium meals. I'm sure that it's not just my wife and I who would appreciate it.
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Michelle L Murphy
October 23, 2021 - 09:17
Also try coconut aminos as a substitute for the soy sauce. MUCH lower sodium content.
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Krysti Connors
November 9, 2020 - 17:33
You could always get low sodium soy sauce and natural ketchup to help with sodium amount!
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Theresa
April 29, 2020 - 15:33
How long would I cook this in my instant pot?
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Angie
September 1, 2018 - 17:09
Add a Rating:
5
So good! Family love love this served on a vegetarian stir fry.
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Amanda Counts
April 28, 2018 - 17:24
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5
Fabulous! I used chicken thighs and cooked it for about 3 hours. It was super tender. Served over quinoa. Thanks!
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Chiz
November 29, 2018 - 03:13
Was that on low?
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Frankie
April 3, 2022 - 04:01
I would do chicken thighs LOW for 5-6 hours :)
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Terry Lottermoser
April 26, 2018 - 06:57
Do you cook chicken first?
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May 2, 2018 - 13:58
There is no need to cook the chicken first, it can go right into the crockpot raw.
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vicki doyle
April 24, 2016 - 17:14
Add a Rating:
4
upped the amount of red pepper flakes because we like that sweet/spicy flavor. So easy and very tasty! I served with brown rice, roasted carrots and steamed broccoli. My husband really liked it.
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lou
February 26, 2019 - 07:18
how much did you up the red pepper flakes?
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Gary
March 1, 2020 - 08:20
About 50% depending on your heat tolerance! This increase will take it from (1-10); 3 to about 6 or 7. Just right to my likes.
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Ellen Shelton
March 11, 2016 - 22:00
Add a Rating:
5
This is a delicious recipe! Toward the end, I used a spoon to dice up some of the breasts (the chicken was VERY tender at this point) and it really allowed the flavor to soak in even more. Seriously tasty and delightfully easy to make.
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Andrea Earl
August 4, 2021 - 12:32
I used cayenne pepper instead of red pepper flakes because I didn't have any at my house
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Angela Mcgowan
March 1, 2023 - 12:11
Me too
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Isa
May 10, 2022 - 03:41
Me too and it worked out great
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