Slow cooker honey garlic chicken is one of my favorite crockpot chicken recipes that’s quick, flavorful, and absolutely delicious. It comes out perfectly tender every time!
Love easy dinner recipes with this flavor profile? Try honey sesame chicken and my honey garlic meatball recipe, too!
Table of Contents
- Crockpot Honey Garlic Chicken
- Type of Chicken to Use
- Honey Garlic Sauce
- Sauce Variations
- How to Make Honey Chicken in Crockpot
- Instant Pot Method
- Favorite Ways to Serve Honey Chicken
- Recipe FAQs
- 5 star review
- Storing + Freezing Leftovers
- More Easy Crockpot Meals
- Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken Printable Recipe
Crockpot Honey Garlic Chicken
I love to have lots of quick and easy slow cooker recipes on hand, especially for those busy weeknights! This dish is one of my go-to’s, along with crockpot lasagna, chicken enchilada soup, and this crack chicken crockpot recipe!
If you know me, you know that I’m all about quick and easy DELICIOUS recipes! And this slow cooker honey garlic chicken recipe is one of those dishes. The sauce has such a unique flavor and leaves your family begging for more! They’ll think you slaved all day in the kitchen. They don’t have to know it only took you five minutes to prep. ;)
There are so many ways to serve this dish to your liking. We love serving it with cooked rice (or my easy fried rice recipe) and steamed veggies, but you could easily keep it low-carb and serve it over lettuce wraps or with cauliflower rice. This honey chicken would even taste delicious on a bun with some crunchy Asian slaw. You really can’t go wrong any way you serve this slow cooker chicken recipe!
Type of Chicken to Use
I prefer to use boneless skinless chicken breasts when making this recipe. They are lean with white meat and are very easy to shred once cooked.
You could also use boneless skinless chicken thighs if you’d like (I prefer those over bone-in). They are a bit more fatty with dark meat, creating a richer taste. You can add the thighs straight to the crockpot, or sear them first for a crispier exterior with a little more flavor.
Honey Garlic Sauce
The honey garlic sauce is the star of the show! It’s sweet, flavorful, and has a hint of Asian flavor from the soy sauce. All of the ingredients are simple fridge and pantry staples that you likely already have on hand.
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Soy sauce: Regular soy sauce is typically pretty salty, so I like to use the low sodium soy sauce to cut back on the sodium level. Coconut aminos are also a great substitute for those looking for a soy-free alternative.
- Honey: This helps to naturally sweeten the sauce. Feel free to use more or less to taste, depending on how sweet you prefer the sauce.
- Olive oil: Using high-quality olive oil will give you the best flavor.
- Minced garlic: Freshly minced garlic packs a punch of flavor into the sauce. You could always use garlic powder if you don’t have any fresh garlic on hand, however, I prefer the flavor that minced garlic adds. Learn tips for how to mince garlic.
- Spices: A simple mix of onion powder, salt, and pepper is all you need to season the sauce.
Sauce Variations
There are a few ways to add an extra boost of flavor to the sauce. Mix in some fresh ginger or add a dash of red pepper flakes or chili sauce for a little heat. Or make a cornstarch slurry to thicken it up a bit more.
You can also double the sauce recipe if you would prefer your chicken extra saucy. That way you’ll have a little more sauce to pour on top of your veggies and rice when serving!
How to Make Honey Chicken in Crockpot
Create the best dinner using your slow cooker with this honey garlic chicken recipe! It is simple to add the ingredients into the slow cooker and allow the chicken to tenderize and soak in all the juices infusing the chicken with so much flavor. Let the crock pot do all the work!
- Mix sauce. Add all of the sauce ingredients in a medium bowl and whisk until well combined.
- Pour over the chicken. Place chicken breasts in the bottom of the slow cooker and pour sauce over top.
- Cook in the slow cooker. Cook on low for 3 to 4 hours, or until the meat falls apart.
- Serve. Serve the shredded chicken over rice and add green onions and sesame seeds on top.
Instant Pot Method
If you would prefer to make this honey garlic chicken recipe in the Instant Pot, you can easily do so. Prepare the sauce as directed, then add the chicken to the pot and pour sauce on top. You will also need to add in 1/4 cup water.
Set to high pressure and cook for 15 minutes (frozen chicken will need 25 minutes). Then do a quick release. Once complete, remove and shred the chicken. Discard 1/4 cup of the sauce. Then turn to sauté mode and whisk 2 Tablespoons cornstarch into the remaining sauce. Simmer until thickened, then stir the chicken back in.
Favorite Ways to Serve Honey Chicken
These are all great ways to make a complete meal! Adding vegetables, making bowls, or enjoying it in a sandwich is the best way to enjoy this honey garlic chicken recipe. Create your favorite way to make this chicken dinner!
- Chicken bowl. Serve in a bowl over brown rice or white rice. This makes for a great complete meal. Add broccoli or sliced carrots too!
- Toppings. Top with sliced green onions and sesame seeds for additional flavor.
- Veggies. Add in steamed vegetables like broccoli or green beans. Cook them separately, then add them to your bowl before serving.
- Healthy bowl. Use cooked quinoa or cauliflower rice for a healthier version lower in carbohydrates.
- Chow mein. Serve with a side of chow mein noodles. Add a small bowl for a complete meal with chow mein and chicken plus some veggies!
- Greens. This dish also tastes great in lettuce wraps or over a salad. We love a light and tasty meal when it comes to lettuce.
- Bread. For those who love bread and sandwiches, then you need to have this delicious combination! Serve in a sandwich bun with crunchy Asian slaw on top.
Recipe FAQs
Browning or searing chicken before adding it to a slow cooker isn’t necessary, but it can improve the flavor and appearance of the finished dish. Browning the chicken can also help seal in moisture, speed up cooking time, and improve the visual appearance of the dish.
It can be! Make sure to use a gluten-free soy sauce (most varieties contain wheat) or coconut aminos for an easy alternative that’s naturally gluten-free. Tamari is also another wheat-free option that tastes similar to soy sauce.
Sure, however, you will need to add an extra 1-2 hours to the total cook time. You can also use the Instant Pot method (see notes on recipe card). Cooking frozen chicken in the Instant Pot is quicker and just as easy!
I would suggest cooking your veggies separately about 15 to 30 minutes before serving. Cooking them on low for 3 to 4 hours in the crockpot will result in mushy, overcooked vegetables which no one wants! Making steamed vegetables only takes 15 minutes and is super easy.
5 star review
“I can honestly say, this is one of my favorite meals I’ve ever made. It’s also one of my husband’s favorites and he’s the one that does the cooking! We absolutely love this. We use Jasmine rice with ours and it’s just perfect :)”
– Steph
Storing + Freezing Leftovers
Any leftover honey chicken will be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. You may also freeze for up to 3 months. Let thaw in the fridge the night before reheating. Then reheat in the microwave or in a small saucepan on the stove over low heat. You may need to add a splash of water or broth to thin out the sauce a little.
Love easy Asian-inspired recipes? Try this sesame chicken, sweet and sour chicken or beef and broccoli crockpot recipe next!
More Easy Crockpot Meals
Browse allCheck out a few of my other favorite slow cooker dinner recipes.
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Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken
Video
Ingredients
- ½ cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 2-3 cloves garlic , minced
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1.5 pounds chicken breasts
For serving: Cooked rice or Quinoa, Sliced green onions, Sesame seeds
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, stir soy sauce, honey, olive oil, onion powder, garlic, salt, and pepper until well combined.
- Place chicken breasts in a slow cooker. Pour sauce over the chicken.
- Cook on low for 3 to 4 hours, or until the chicken easily falls apart.
- Serve over cooked rice or quinoa. Drizzle with extra sauce and sprinkle with green onions and sesame seeds. Enjoy!
Notes
- To thicken the sauce: Remove chicken and shred. Remove 1/4 cup sauce and discard. Turn Instant Pot to sauté mode. Whisk in 2 Tablespoons cornstarch into remaining sauce and simmer until slightly thickened. Stir in chicken to serve.
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: Asian, Chicken, Crockpot, Crockpot, Dairy-Free, Dinner, Freezer-Friendly, Freezer-Friendly, Instant Pot, Instant Pot, Nut-Free, One Pot, One Pot
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
Fantastic recipe, I have made this several times and my family loves it. So fast, too! Thank you!
I’m glad your family loves it! Thanks for your comment Anjel! :)
What is the story on “amino” I see people substituting them for soy sauce???
I haven’t used it before, I just googled it and seems to be a healthier substitute to soy sauce!
I wanted to let you know we’ve made this recipe several times and have loved it every time! It’s also good to serve to low-key company since you don’t have to slave away in the kitchen right before they arrive. I just set the crockpot early in the day and then whipped up the quinoa and a salad right before they came. Perfect!
Ohhh, your comment made me smile! I’m so glad you have loved this recipe. I agree, recipes that can just be thrown in the crock pot are the best. :)
Making this as my first attempt with quinoa tomorrow – hoping it comes out great! Don’t have quite that much soy sauce and honey left, so hopefully what I have will make a nice marinade!
Hope you enjoy it Danielle, we love it around our house! :)
Hi Jamielyn, How many servings does your original recipe feed? I’m looking to feed seven. Thanks!
Hi Kristi! This recipe feeds between 4-6, so I would probably double the recipe and you will have a little bit of yummy leftovers! :)
Jamielyn, I’m concerned about all the sodium in this recipe. According to the bottle of reduced sodium soy sauce I have, 1 Tblsp. contains 575 mg of sodium, so 1/2 cup would have 4600 mg, and the 1 tsp of salt has nearly 2400 mg, meaning the recipe has 7000mg of sodium just in those two ingredients. Divided into 4 servings, that’s 1750 mg per person which is a lot for just one dish of a meal and exceeds the daily allotment for many diet plans. Please be careful what you label a “healthy” recipe.
Hi Pat, thanks for your concern. Everyones level of healthy is different so you could definitely use less than it calls for in the recipe. Also, there will be quite a bit of sauce left that you don’t use when serving…it mainly just helps marinate the chicken.
I agree about the sodium. Most of it may be in the liquid but the chicken ends up really, really salty. Everyone may have different ideas about what’s healthy, or have different health needs, but if it ends up tasting that salty (even with half the salt it calls for), then it’s probably too much sodium. It was definitely quick and easy but not healthy. I definitely wouldn’t feed this to someone with heart disease unless I didn’t like that person very much. Out of the four people in my family only one of us liked it.
I made this the other night and it was so awesome! I’m going to double it for a small dinner party in a few weeks – SO easy and delicious! We ate it with jasmine rice and broccoli.
I’m so glad you liked it Lisa! Thanks for stopping by again to leave a comment! Sounds like the perfect meal with jasmine rice and broccoli…yum!
Made this for dinner tonight and the chicken is absolutely to die for! Was soooo yummy!!! Thanks for the recipe :)
Thanks for your nice comment Justine! I’m glad you liked the recipe!! :)
Trying this tonight! Sounds wonderful after a cold day!
Hope you enjoyed this! I love cooking with quinoa!
It turned out great!
I used liquid aminos instead of soy sauce and this is delicious. Hubby is having it with quinoa and I’ll probably have it with rice leftover from yesterday.
Yum! I’m so glad you and your hubby enjoyed it! :)
Dumb question, but do I need to add water to the crock pot or does it just dry cook? Thanks!
I’ll usually add about 1/8 cup water to the bottom just to give it a little bit of moisture. :)
I upped the ante on the garlic, just because we like it so much, and I used something called coconut aminos, instead of soy sauce. I also sauted some onions and sweet peppers on the side, for whoever wanted to add them. We used brown rice, as I was out of quinoa. Thawed chicken breasts (about 2#) were cooked nicely in three hours, and I did 1-1/2x the sauce recipe to allow for that much chicken. Delicious! Thank you!
Your changes sound great! Thanks for sharing! So glad you enjoyed it. :)
This looks amazing!
Yum, this looks delicious, always up for more quick and easy recipes!
I’m always looking for new slow cooker recipes. This looks delicious!! Thanks for the recipe!!
That looks amazing! I need to make it asap.
Quinoa is such a nutrient-packed grain and many people are not familiar with it. Thanks so much for sharing this recipe! I will definitely try it.
I still haven’t decided if I like quinoa yet but the chicken looks amazing. At the very least it would be great over rice.
Yes, you could definitely substitue it with rice. :) It took my family awhile to get used to quinoa too. They don’t notice the difference now.
I love quinoa and am always looking for new recipes. Thanks so much for sharing this! make a really good cold quinoa salad where I make a batch of quinoa and to it I add a grilled chicken breast or two, some red onion, a can of tropical fruit (drained) and a can of chunk pineapple (drained). I add sesame oil and some soy sauce and it is delicious!
That salad sounds delicious! Thanks for sharing! Mmm…