Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken

This Crockpot Honey Garlic Chicken with a sweet and savory Asian sauce couldn't be easier to make. It's always a huge hit. It tastes like your favorite sweet and sticky Chinese chicken, but it's made with just a few simple ingredients you probably already have at home.

Lately, I have just needed simple, crowd-pleasing dinners. You know, the kind of recipes that can be thrown together in a couple of minutes with things I already have in the house, recipes that everyone will eat and even go back for seconds.

This honey garlic chicken recipe is that kind of recipe. All you need is chicken, soy sauce, honey, and ketchup. Garlic, dried basil, and red pepper flakes enhance the sauce, but I'll share some easy swaps in case you don't have any at home. It takes less than five minutes to put the chicken in the slow cooker, and in a few hours, dinner is ready. Easy, peasy!

Serve it over white rice, stuff it into a sandwich, toss it on a salad, wrap it up in some lettuce, or add it to stir-fried vegetables. I'm telling you, this delicious sauce always delivers! Since this recipe is versatile, consider doubling up for leftovers during the week for easy dinners.

If you love this recipe, you'll also enjoy my other slow cooker diced chicken recipes, such as Slow Cooker Chicken and Cauliflower Tikka Masala and Slow Cooker Chicken Burrito Bowls.

Why You’ll Love Crockpot Honey Garlic Chicken

Here are sure reasons why this delicious slow cooker chicken recipe will be a family favorite:

• 8 Simple ingredients: This easy crockpot chicken recipe is ideal for days (or nights) when you just want to whip up a quick and yummy meal with the things you already have in your fridge and pantry.
• Thick and sweet sauce: This homemade honey garlic sauce is one of my favorites. It's so flavorful, and it’s great drizzled over rice, noodles, or veggies.
• Easy to cook: I love using a slow cooker because all I really need to do is put all my ingredients in there and let it do its job. That's more or less 5 minutes of prep time. Definitely one of the easy slow cooker recipes out there!

Ingredients and Easy Swaps

Here's everything you need for this slow cooker honey garlic chicken recipe:

• Chicken: I use boneless skinless chicken breasts and cut them into bite-sized chunks. You can also use chicken thighs or even drumsticks but just make sure to adjust the temperature and cooking time accordingly.
• Honey garlic sauce: The star of the dish! It combines all the goodness of freshly minced garlic, dried basil, soy sauce, ketchup, and honey in one sticky, sweet, and savory sauce. If you don't have garlic on hand, you can swap in garlic powder, dehydrated garlic, or jarred minced garlic from the grocery store.
• Herbs: When it comes to dried herbs, you can use basil, oregano, parsley, or any other dried herb you like. It can also be left out and won't change the flavor significantly.
• Red pepper flakes: Add a bit of red pepper flakes for some heat. You can even use sriracha or garlic chili paste like sambal olek instead for more unique flavors.
• Cornstarch: If you want to thicken the sauce more, make a cornstarch slurry and add it to the slow cooker as the sauce simmers.

How to Slow Cook Honey Garlic Chicken

A slow cooker can make your life so much easier! Use it to turn an already simple chicken recipe into something simpler with these steps:

1. Mix the sauce ingredients: Whisk together the garlic, basil, soy sauce, ketchup, and honey. Add more honey if you want it sweet and some red pepper flakes for a spicy kick.
2. Cook everything: Add the chicken to the crockpot. Pour the sauce over and mix everything together. Cook on low for 2.5-3 hours in most slow cookers until the chicken breast is cooked through. Remove using a slotted spoon. Note that cooking whole chicken breasts may take a bit longer. Avoid lifting the lid too much while cooking to keep all the moisture inside.
3. Thicken the sauce: Mix the cornstarch with a touch of water (about 1 tablespoon) and add it to the slow cooker. Let cook for 15-20 minutes until it is nicely thickened. Add the chicken back to the crockpot and serve. You can also mix the cornstarch with an equal amount of water. Pour the leftover cooking liquid into a small saucepan. Add the cornstarch slurry and bring to a boil. Cook for 4-5 minutes until thickened.

Instant Pot Option

To make this dish in an Instant Pot, start by preparing the sauce. In a small bowl, whisk together the garlic, basil, soy sauce, ketchup, and honey until well combined. Add the chicken breast chunks directly into the Instant Pot, then pour the sauce over the top, stirring everything to coat the chicken evenly.

Secure the Instant Pot lid, set the valve to “Sealing,” and cook on High Pressure for 10 minutes. Once done, allow the pressure to release naturally for 5 minutes, then carefully turn the valve to “Venting” to release any remaining pressure.

If you prefer a thicker sauce, there are two options. First, you can use the Instant Pot’s Sauté function. Make a slurry by mixing 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of water, then add it to the sauce in the pot. Stir the sauce, letting it cook on Sauté mode for 3-5 minutes until thickened, then return the chicken to the pot if you removed it.

Alternatively, pour the cooking liquid into a small saucepan and bring it to a boil on the stovetop. Add the cornstarch slurry and cook for 4-5 minutes until the sauce thickens. Finally, pour the thickened sauce over the chicken in the Instant Pot, and it’s ready to serve.

Recipe Variations

This weeknight favorite is about to get a delicious upgrade! Pick any of these ideas to keep your dinners exciting:

• Shredded chicken: If you prefer shredded chicken, cook the chicken breasts whole and then shred in the sauce with two forks.
• Different protein: Make this recipe with boneless skinless chicken thighs or even pork tenderloin and lean pork roast. If you have struggled with dry chicken in the slow cooker in the past, make it with chicken thighs. You can even make the dish vegetarian by using tofu instead!
• Other cooking methods: If you don’t have a slow cooker or crockpot, you can also make garlic honey chicken on the stove top or even better, grill the chicken for extra flavor. Make the sauce on a pan and drizzle it over the cooked chicken.
• Spicy: Spice up the sauce by adding red pepper flakes. I like using Asian hot sauces like Sriracha and Gochujang because they pair so well with the other flavors of the dish.
• Tomato paste: If you are out of ketchup, you can use two tablespoons of tomato paste mixed with one tablespoon of rice vinegar.
• Toppings: You wouldn’t want to skip the finishing touches! Garnish with sesame seeds, chopped green onions, or fresh cilantro for a pop of color and flavor.

What to Serve with Crockpot Honey Garlic Chicken

This takeout-style dish will surely have you craving other Asian-style dishes, so here are some favorites we like to serve on the side:

• Rice: Make a batch of steamed white or brown rice. Or if you are craving fried rice, you could try this Cauliflower Fried Rice or Healthy Fried Rice.
• Vegetables: You'll likely want a vegetable on the side to add greens and nutrition. Many times, I will just quickly stir fry some broccoli, green beans, or cauliflower with a little soy or hoisin sauce and serve that on the side. When I want something a little more unique, I make this Roasted Asian Broccoli or 10 Minute Cabbage Stir Fry, which uses bagged coleslaw mix.
• Lettuce wraps: For a lighter option, this honey garlic chicken is delicious, wrapped up in some butter lettuce with shredded carrots and bean sprouts. For a heartier lettuce wrap, add some thin rice noodles.
• Noodle bowls: You could also turn this into a noodle bowl with cooked pasta tossed with a little soy sauce and sesame oil. Or make some Lo Mein or Chow Mein for a complete meal.

Recipe Tips and Tricks

My whole family loves a good homemade meal, and this honey-garlic chicken fits the bill perfectly. Here's how to make sure your chicken dinner turns out great every time:

• Slow cooker temp: Make sure to know your slow cooker. Many people think chicken breasts come out dry in the slow cooker, usually because the chicken is overcooked. Many slow cookers, even on low, cook quite quickly. For example, this chicken was finished cooking in just 3 hours on low heat in my slow cooker.
• Pressed for time: If pressed for time, you can skip thickening the sauce. The chicken will still be delicious and won't have a thick, sticky sauce.
• Sear the chicken: For an extra layer of flavor sear the chicken for an extra layer of flavor and a nice caramelized color.
• Taste as you go: Tasting the sauce as it cooks won't hurt. Adjust the flavor profile to your liking—if it needs more sweetness, add a touch of honey. A splash of vinegar can do the trick if it needs a bit of tang.

Storage and Reheating

This honey garlic chicken is so versatile, and it's great to pair with almost anything: rice, vegetables, noodles—you name it!

• To store: Put leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for 4-5 days. Make sure to store in individual servings for easier reheating.
• To reheat: Reheat on the stove or microwave until warmed through. For a saucy chicken, you can also make a new batch of sauce to make the dish saucier after reheating since the chicken can lose a bit of moisture the longer it’s stored.

Meal Prep and Leftover Ideas

This crock pot honey garlic chicken recipe is one of my favorites for meal prep since there are so many different ways to serve leftovers. It tastes so much better the next day!

• Rice bowls: Consider packing some leftovers as rice bowls with cooked cauliflower rice and steamed vegetables. For super easy prep, use frozen rice and frozen stir fry veggies. They will defrost in the fridge and then cook when you reheat the dish in the microwave.
• Salad: Use leftover chicken to make an Asian-style chicken salad with Romaine lettuce, mandarin oranges, bean sprouts, cucumbers, and crushed peanuts. You can also turn these salads into wraps.
• Fried rice: Make some quick fried rice with the leftover chicken. You could also make some honey garlic chicken lo mein using leftover cooked spaghetti.