Juicy Honey Garlic Slow Cooker Chicken Recipe for Busy Days

Honey garlic slow cooker chicken promises a mouthwatering adventure in culinary comfort.

Tender meat infused with sweet and savory notes redefines an ordinary meal into something extraordinary.

This dish whispers of home-cooked warmth and effortless cooking techniques that simplify meal preparation.

Rich, glossy sauces caress succulent proteins, creating a symphony of flavors that dance across your palate.

Home cooks adore recipes that require minimal effort but deliver maximum satisfaction.

The magic happens when simple ingredients merge in a slow cooker, developing deep, complex taste profiles.

Subtle hints of aromatic seasonings complement the primary ingredients, elevating a basic protein into a restaurant-worthy creation.

Perks of Honey Garlic Slow Cooker Chicken

• Savor Effortless Flavor Fusion: This slow cooker chicken recipe delivers rich, complex tastes without hours of complicated preparation. The honey and garlic combination creates a mouthwatering glaze that transforms ordinary chicken into a restaurant-worthy meal.
• Master Foolproof Cooking Technique: The slow cooker method ensures tender, juicy chicken every single time. Even novice cooks can achieve perfectly cooked meat with minimal hands-on effort, making this recipe incredibly forgiving and stress-free.
• Customize Your Culinary Adventure: The optional searing step and broiling finale allow flexible cooking styles. Home chefs can adjust techniques to match their skill level or time constraints, creating a personalized dining experience that feels both gourmet and approachable.
• Zero-Fuss Weeknight Dinner Winner: From busy parents to tired professionals, this recipe solves the weeknight meal dilemma. Minimal prep, hands-off cooking, and a guaranteed delicious result make this dish a go-to solution for satisfying hunger without kitchen stress.

Ingredients for Honey Garlic Slow Cooker Chicken

• Chicken Thighs: Bone-in and skin-on thighs provide rich flavor and stay tender during slow cooking, with dark meat ensuring juiciness.

• Salt, Black Pepper, Paprika: Classic seasoning blend that adds depth and warmth to the chicken, enhancing overall taste profile.

• Honey, Garlic: Sweet and aromatic combination that creates a sticky, flavorful glaze with balanced sweetness and pungent notes.
• Butter: Adds richness and helps create a smooth, velvety sauce texture.

• Soy Sauce: Provides umami depth and saltiness to complement the honey's sweetness.
• Worcestershire Sauce: Adds complexity and tangy background flavor to the sauce.

• Cornstarch, Water or Broth: Creates a silky sauce consistency, helping to transform cooking liquid into a glossy, clingy glaze.

• Olive Oil: Helps with initial chicken seasoning and searing, providing a light base for cooking.

Instructions for Honey Garlic Slow Cooker Chicken

Step 1: Prepare Chicken

Pat chicken thighs completely dry using paper towels. Create a flavorful rub by mixing olive oil with seasoning ingredients. Massage the rub thoroughly into each chicken thigh, ensuring complete coverage.

Step 2: Optional Flavor Boost

Heat remaining olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Quickly sear chicken thighs for 2 minutes on each side to develop rich, deep flavors.

Step 3: Transfer To Slow Cooker

Carefully place seared chicken into a 6-quart slow cooker bowl.

Step 4: Create Magical Sauce

In the same skillet, melt butter and scrape up delicious browned bits. Add garlic and sauté until wonderfully aromatic. Mix in remaining sauce ingredients and simmer briefly.

Step 5: Combine And Cook

• High setting: 2-3 hours
• Low setting: 5-6 hours

Baste chicken halfway through cooking process.

Step 6: Prepare Sauce Glaze

• Water or broth
• Cornstarch

Whisk into juices and simmer until sauce reaches syrupy consistency.

Step 7: Final Flavor Finish

Broil chicken on lined baking sheet, basting with thickened sauce. Char edges for 1-2 minutes per side.

Step 8: Serve And Enjoy

Slice chicken and drizzle with extra sauce. Garnish as desired and serve immediately.

Tips for Tender Honey Garlic Chicken

• Patting Dry: Always pat chicken thighs completely dry before seasoning to ensure a perfect, crispy exterior and better spice adherence.
• Searing Secrets: Optional searing develops deeper flavor profiles by caramelizing the chicken's surface and creating delicious browned bits.
• Sauce Consistency: Gradually add cornstarch slurry while whisking to prevent lumps and achieve a smooth, glossy sauce texture.
• Basting Technique: Baste chicken halfway through cooking to distribute flavors and keep meat incredibly moist and tender.
• Broiling Brilliance: Watch carefully during the final broiling stage to achieve gorgeous caramelized edges without burning the chicken.

Saving and Reheating Honey Garlic Slow Cooker Chicken

• Refrigeration: Place cooled chicken in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Seal tightly to prevent moisture loss and maintain flavor.
• Freezing: Wrap individual portions in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
• Reheating: Warm gently in the microwave with a splash of broth or sauce to prevent drying. Alternatively, reheat in a covered skillet over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally until heated through and maintaining moisture.

Flavor Matches for Honey Garlic Slow Cooker Chicken

• Pair with Sweet and Tangy White Wine: A crisp Riesling or Gewürztraminer complements the honey garlic's sweet and savory profile, cutting through the richness of the chicken.
• Serve Alongside Fluffy Jasmine Rice: The mild, fragrant rice perfectly absorbs the delicious sauce, creating a harmonious base that enhances the chicken's robust flavors.
• Create a Fresh Side Salad: A light arugula salad with citrus vinaigrette provides a zesty contrast to the rich, caramelized chicken, balancing the meal's overall taste and texture.
• Enhance with Roasted Vegetable Medley: Roasted Brussels sprouts or honey-glazed carrots echo the dish's sweet undertones while adding nutritious variety to the plate.

Recipe Variants for Honey Garlic Slow Cooker Chicken

• Spicy Honey Garlic Chicken: Add red pepper flakes or sriracha to the sauce for a kick of heat. Adjust the amount based on your spice tolerance, creating a bold and zesty flavor profile.
• Mediterranean Herb Chicken: Mix in dried oregano, thyme, and rosemary to the rub. Replace some honey with lemon juice for a bright, tangy Mediterranean-inspired dish that feels like a culinary vacation.
• Asian-Inspired Ginger Chicken: Incorporate fresh grated ginger and replace some honey with soy sauce. Sprinkle sesame seeds before serving and add a splash of rice vinegar for an authentic Asian flavor explosion.
• Smoky Maple Garlic Chicken: Swap honey for maple syrup and add a teaspoon of smoked paprika to the rub. This variation brings a rich, deep flavor that's perfect for those who love a touch of smokiness in their meals.

Honey Garlic Slow Cooker Chicken Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.7 from 34 reviews

• Total Time: 6 hours 20 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

Print Recipe

Description

Succulent honey garlic slow cooker chicken brings sweet and savory magic to dinner tables everywhere. Tender meat glazed with rich honey and garlic creates a simple yet irresistible meal you’ll crave again and again.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Chicken:

• 6 large chicken thighs, skinless and bone-in

Rub:

• 1 teaspoon paprika (mild or smoked)
• 1 teaspoon coarse salt
• ½ teaspoon brown sugar
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• ¼ teaspoon cracked pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)

Oil and Liquid Base:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• ½ cup honey
• 2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
• ¼ cup water or chicken broth

Butter and Seasonings:

• ½ cup unsalted butter
• 6 cloves garlic, finely chopped or minced
• 1 pinch salt
• ½ teaspoon cracked pepper

Thickener:

• 2 teaspoons cornstarch

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Meticulously blot chicken thighs using paper towels to remove excess moisture, creating an ideal surface for seasoning.
2. Create a flavorful rub by mixing olive oil with selected spices, massaging the mixture thoroughly into each chicken thigh to ensure deep flavor penetration.
3. Optionally enhance the chicken’s taste profile by searing in a hot skillet over medium heat, developing rich caramelized exterior notes for approximately 2 minutes per side.
4. Carefully transfer seared chicken pieces into the slow cooker basin, preparing for the upcoming sauce infusion.
5. Utilize the same skillet to melt butter, capturing any delectable browned fragments from the searing process, then introduce minced garlic and sauté until aromatic.
6. Incorporate remaining sauce ingredients, allowing the mixture to gently simmer and marry flavors for one minute before removing from heat.
7. Generously cascade the prepared sauce over chicken thighs, ensuring comprehensive and even coating within the slow cooker.
8. Allow chicken to cook on HIGH temperature for 2-3 hours or LOW temperature for 5-6 hours, periodically basting to maintain moisture and flavor distribution.
9. Remove chicken and let rest briefly under a foil tent, allowing juices to redistribute throughout the meat.
10. Transform cooking liquid into a luxurious sauce by simmering and creating a cornstarch slurry to achieve desired consistency.
11. For maximum flavor development, broil chicken briefly on a lined baking sheet, basting with sauce to create caramelized edges.
12. Plate the chicken, drizzling with the reduced, glossy sauce and serving immediately to preserve optimal temperature and texture.

Notes

• Searing the chicken before slow cooking adds a deep, rich flavor that elevates the entire dish.
• Basting the chicken halfway through cooking ensures maximum moisture and even distribution of the honey garlic sauce.
• Creating a cornstarch slurry helps thicken the sauce to a perfect glazed consistency without lumps.
• Optional broiling at the end gives the chicken crispy, caramelized edges that make the dish look and taste restaurant-quality.
• Letting the chicken rest after cooking allows the juices to redistribute, keeping the meat incredibly tender and juicy.
• The sauce can be easily adjusted for thickness by repeating the cornstarch slurry method if needed.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 6 hours
• Category: Dinner, Lunch
• Method: Slow Cooking
• Cuisine: Asian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 560
• Sugar: 36 g
• Sodium: 800 mg
• Fat: 34 g
• Saturated Fat: 18 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 42 g
• Fiber: 0 g
• Protein: 27 g
• Cholesterol: 130 mg