Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken Recipe

This Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken is exactly the kind of easy dinner that makes a busy weeknight feel manageable. When schedules are packed with school, work, sports, errands, and everything else that seems to land right around dinnertime, a reliable slow cooker recipe can be a lifesaver. This one is simple, flavorful, family-friendly, and requires less than five minutes of prep before the slow cooker does the rest.

The chicken cooks in a sweet and savory honey garlic sauce made with soy sauce, seasoned rice wine vinegar, honey, garlic, and a few pantry seasonings. As it simmers, the chicken becomes tender enough to shred, and the sauce coats every bite with a rich, garlicky flavor. It is delicious served over hot jasmine rice with a side of steamed or roasted broccoli, but it also works well with your favorite vegetable or rice alternative.

To make it, simply place the chicken in the slow cooker, whisk the sauce ingredients together, pour the mixture over the top, and finish with a few pats of butter. Cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 6 hours. By the end of the cooking time, the chicken should be tender, juicy, and easy to shred with two forks. It is a low-effort dinner with a big payoff, which is exactly what busy families need.

Recipes for Busy Weeknights

• Ketchup Sloppy Joes
• Instant Pot Chicken Taco and Rice Skillet
• Slow Cooker Mississippi Pot Roast
• Instant Pot Chicken Tetrazzini
• Slow Cooker Pork Roast and Gravy
• Instant Pot Lentils with Chicken and Sweet Potato

Step-by-Step Photos for How to Make Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken

This recipe is very straightforward, which is one of the reasons it is so perfect for weeknight dinners. Start by adding boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs to the bottom of the slow cooker. In a separate bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, seasoned rice wine vinegar, honey, crushed garlic, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper until smooth and fully combined. Pour the sauce evenly over the chicken, add the butter on top, then cover and cook.

Tips for How to Make Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken

• Use a slow cooker liner if you want cleanup to be quick and easy.
• Boneless, skinless chicken breasts and chicken thighs both work well in this recipe.
• If you start with frozen chicken, allow about one extra hour of cooking time.
• For a little heat, add a small shake of crushed red pepper flakes or a pinch of cayenne pepper to the sauce.
• If you do not have seasoned rice wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar can be used instead.
• Serve the honey garlic chicken over jasmine rice, white rice, or Coconut Rice.
• Shred the chicken directly in the slow cooker so it can soak up more of the sauce before serving.
• Add a simple green vegetable on the side, such as broccoli, green beans, or a salad, to complete the meal.

Chef’s Tools:

• Slow Cooker
• Slow Cooker Liners
• Mixing Bowls
• Measuring Spoons
• Measuring Cups
• Whisk