Best Crock Pot Honey Garlic Chicken

If you ask me, the crock pot is one of the best kitchen tools ever invented.

This honey garlic chicken is a weeknight dinner that practically makes itself while you go about your day. Sweet honey and savory soy sauce come together with garlic and ginger for a sauce that coats every bite.

Bone-in chicken thighs cook low and slow until they’re falling-off-the-bone tender. A sprinkle of sesame seeds and fresh parsley at the end adds a nice finishing touch.

It’s a family-friendly meal that requires almost no hands-on time, perfect for those busy evenings when you need dinner ready and waiting.

What Kind of Chicken Should I Use?

For this crock pot recipe, bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs are your best bet since they stay moist and tender during the long cooking time. That said, boneless, skinless thighs will also work great if that’s what you have on hand or prefer for easier eating. You can even use chicken breasts if you’d like, though keep in mind they tend to dry out more easily in the slow cooker, so you might want to reduce the cooking time a bit. Fresh or frozen chicken both work fine here – just make sure frozen chicken is fully thawed before you start cooking so everything cooks evenly.

Options for Substitutions

This recipe is pretty forgiving when it comes to swaps, so here are some options if you need them:

• Chicken thighs: You can use chicken breasts instead, but keep in mind they’ll cook faster and can dry out more easily. Check them around the 3-hour mark on low, or consider reducing the cooking time by about 30-45 minutes.
• Honey: If you’re out of honey, try using maple syrup or brown sugar mixed with a tablespoon of water. The flavor will be slightly different but still sweet and tasty.
• Soy sauce: Tamari works great as a 1:1 swap if you need a gluten-free option. Coconut aminos also work but are less salty, so you might want to add a pinch of salt to taste.
• Ketchup: You can substitute with tomato paste (use about 3 tablespoons) mixed with a tablespoon of vinegar and a teaspoon of sugar to mimic that tangy-sweet flavor.
• Fresh garlic: In a pinch, use 1 teaspoon of garlic powder, though fresh garlic really does make a difference in this recipe.
• Sesame seeds: These are mainly for garnish, so feel free to skip them or use chopped green onions or extra parsley instead.

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Cooking

The biggest mistake with slow cooker chicken is cooking it too long, which turns even juicy thighs dry and stringy – stick to the lower end of the cooking time and check for doneness around 3 hours on high or 4 hours on low.

Another common error is pouring the sauce directly over the chicken without mixing it first, which can lead to uneven flavor distribution, so make sure all your sauce ingredients are well combined before adding them to the crock pot.

To get a better texture and prevent watery sauce, remove the chicken once it’s cooked through and let the remaining sauce simmer on high with the lid off for 10-15 minutes to thicken up before spooning it over your chicken.

Finally, don’t skip browning the chicken thighs in a pan for 2-3 minutes per side before adding them to the slow cooker – this extra step adds a deeper flavor that makes a noticeable difference.

What to Serve With Honey Garlic Chicken?

This sweet and savory chicken is perfect over a bed of white or brown rice, which soaks up all that amazing honey garlic sauce. I love pairing it with steamed broccoli or green beans on the side to balance out the richness of the dish. For a heartier meal, try serving it with roasted potatoes or even cauliflower rice if you’re looking for a lighter option. You can also shred the chicken and pile it onto slider buns for a fun weeknight dinner that the whole family will enjoy.

Storage Instructions

Store: Keep your leftover honey garlic chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. The sauce actually gets even better as it sits, so this is a great one to make ahead for meal prep throughout the week.

Freeze: This chicken freezes really well for up to 3 months. Let it cool completely, then portion it out into freezer bags with some of that delicious sauce. I like to freeze individual servings so I can just grab what I need for a quick dinner.

Reheat: Warm it up in the microwave for a few minutes, or heat it gently on the stove over medium-low heat until it’s heated through. If the sauce seems too thick after reheating, just add a splash of water or chicken broth to loosen it up.

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

• Calories: 1600-1800
• Protein: 110-125 g
• Fat: 55-65 g
• Carbohydrates: 125-140 g

Ingredients

For the chicken:

• 6 chicken thighs (bone-in, skin-on for more flavor)

For the sauce:

• 5 garlic cloves (minced for best flavor)
• 1/2 cup honey (I use Sue Bee honey)
• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 1/2 tsp oregano
• 2 tbsp parsley (freshly chopped)
• 1/2 tbsp sesame seeds
• 1 tsp fresh ginger (grated)
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

Step 1: Prepare the Honey Garlic Sauce

• 5 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 1/2 tsp oregano
• 1 tsp fresh ginger, grated

In a bowl, combine the minced garlic, honey, ketchup, soy sauce, oregano, and grated ginger.

Whisk together until well combined and the honey is fully dissolved into the liquid.

This creates a balanced sweet-savory sauce with depth from the garlic and ginger.

I like to make this sauce while the slow cooker is heating up so it’s ready to go—there’s no need to wait.

Step 2: Arrange Chicken and Add Sauce

• 6 chicken thighs
• honey garlic sauce from Step 1

Place the bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs in the slow cooker in a single layer, skin-side up if possible.

Pour the honey garlic sauce from Step 1 over the chicken, making sure each thigh is coated.

The bone-in skin helps the chicken stay moist and flavorful during the long, slow cooking process.

Step 3: Slow Cook the Chicken

Cover the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 4-5 hours, or on HIGH for 3-4 hours.

The chicken is done when it’s tender and easily pulls away from the bone.

For the best result with bone-in thighs, I prefer the LOW setting—it allows the meat to become fall-apart tender while the skin renders nicely and the flavors develop more fully.

Step 4: Plate and Finish the Dish

• cooked chicken thighs from Step 3
• slow cooker sauce from Step 3
• 1/2 tbsp sesame seeds
• 2 tbsp parsley, freshly chopped
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

Carefully transfer the cooked chicken thighs to a serving plate.

Spoon the thickened honey garlic sauce from the slow cooker generously over each piece of chicken.

Sprinkle the sesame seeds and freshly chopped parsley over the top as garnish for color, texture, and fresh flavor contrast against the rich, sweet sauce.

Best Crock Pot Honey Garlic Chicken

Delicious Best Crock Pot Honey Garlic Chicken recipe with step-by-step instructions.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 1 hour hr 25 minutes mins

Cook Time 2 hours hrs 45 minutes mins

Total Time 4 hours hrs 12 minutes mins

Servings 6 servings

Calories 1700 kcal

Ingredients

  

For the chicken::

• 6 chicken thighs (bone-in, skin-on for more flavor)

For the sauce::

• 5 garlic cloves (minced for best flavor)
• 1/2 cup honey (I use Sue Bee honey)
• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 1/2 tsp oregano
• 2 tbsp parsley (freshly chopped)
• 1/2 tbsp sesame seeds
• 1 tsp fresh ginger (grated)
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

Instructions

 

• In a bowl, combine the minced garlic, honey, ketchup, soy sauce, oregano, and grated ginger. Whisk together until well combined and the honey is fully dissolved into the liquid. This creates a balanced sweet-savory sauce with depth from the garlic and ginger. I like to make this sauce while the slow cooker is heating up so it's ready to go—there's no need to wait.
• Place the bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs in the slow cooker in a single layer, skin-side up if possible. Pour the honey garlic sauce from Step 1 over the chicken, making sure each thigh is coated. The bone-in skin helps the chicken stay moist and flavorful during the long, slow cooking process.
• Cover the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 4-5 hours, or on HIGH for 3-4 hours. The chicken is done when it's tender and easily pulls away from the bone. For the best result with bone-in thighs, I prefer the LOW setting—it allows the meat to become fall-apart tender while the skin renders nicely and the flavors develop more fully.
• Carefully transfer the cooked chicken thighs to a serving plate. Spoon the thickened honey garlic sauce from the slow cooker generously over each piece of chicken. Sprinkle the sesame seeds and freshly chopped parsley over the top as garnish for color, texture, and fresh flavor contrast against the rich, sweet sauce.