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Crockpot Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs

Crockpot honey garlic chicken thighs with a thick, glossy honey-garlic sauce made in the slow cooker. Bone-in or boneless chicken cooks until very tender, then the sauce is thickened and coated for a sticky-sweet finish.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours 20 minutes
Total Time 4 hours 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 520
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Chicken thighs
  • 5 bone-in or boneless chicken thighs
Honey garlic sauce
  • 0.5 cup honey
  • 0.333 cup soy sauce
  • 6 garlic, minced
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tsp sesame oil
  • 0.25 tsp red pepper flakes
Cornstarch slurry
  • 2 tbsp cornstarch
  • 2 tbsp water
Garnish
  • 0.5 sesame seeds
  • 0.5 green onions

Equipment

  • 1 Dutch oven

Method
 

Mix the honey garlic sauce
  1. Whisk honey, soy sauce, garlic, apple cider vinegar, sesame oil, and red pepper flakes until combined and smooth.
  2. Set the sauce aside while you prepare the slow cooker and chicken.
Slow cook the chicken
  1. Place chicken thighs in the slow cooker, then pour the sauce over and dot with butter.
  2. Cook on Low for 4-5 hours (or High for 2-2.5 hours) until the chicken is very tender.
Thicken and glaze
  1. Remove the chicken from the slow cooker and stir the cornstarch slurry into the sauce.
  2. Turn to High and cook 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is thick and glossy.
  3. Return chicken to the sauce and stir until well coated.
Garnish and serve
  1. Top with sesame seeds and green onions for garnish before serving.

Notes

Pro tip: Minced garlic should be fully stirred into the sauce before it hits the slow cooker so the flavor blooms while it cooks. Refrigerate leftovers in a sealed container for up to 4 days; reheat gently in the microwave or on the stove. Freezing is yes—freeze up to 3 months, then thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat until hot. For a gluten-free option, use gluten-free soy sauce (make sure it’s labeled gluten-free).