Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken

Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken is an easy dinner steeped in rich sweet-and-savory flavor! With only a few ingredients and minimal effort, you’ll have a great weeknight meal without even turning on the oven!

Tender Crockpot Chicken with Honey Garlic Sauce

After shopping, working, and living life in general, sometimes I have little motivation to turn on my oven (yes, really!). Like, zero. Even a food blogger craves a break from actually cooking once in a while! Which is why I am eternally grateful for my slow cooker.

Like my Slow Cooker Crack Chicken, this recipe for honey garlic chicken is a family favorite in times like these. The honey garlic sauce is packed with buckets of sweet-salty-savory flavor. You only need a few ingredients to bring out the beauty in this delicious, sticky chicken that is perfect to spoon over rice, noodles, or some veggies! 

Best of all, this chicken recipe leaves all the effort to the slow cooker. Making it ideal for lazy weeknight meals and potlucks!

What You’ll Need

• Chicken Breasts: I use boneless skinless chicken breasts for this slow cooker recipe, cut into smaller sized pieces. You can also make this meal with boneless skinless chicken thighs if you prefer. 
• Soy Sauce: For a little Asian-inspired flavor alongside the honey and garlic.
• BBQ Sauce: Use your favorite store bought BBQ sauce, or make your own!
• Honey: I love the sweetness that honey brings to the sauce. It balances all the savory, spicy, salty flavors into something extra delicious!
• Garlic: Fresh is best! Try to use whole cloves and finely mince them.
• Red Pepper Flakes: Crushed red pepper brings just the right amount of extra heat.

Can I Use Frozen Chicken Breasts?

You can, but the chicken absolutely must be thawed fully beforehand. Don’t put frozen chicken directly into your slow cooker. It will stay in there at room temperature for longer periods of time as it slowly cooks, running the risk of foodborne illness. Definitely not worth the risk!

How to Make Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken

Effortless, thy name is slow cooker chicken. It takes minutes to prep the ingredients for this honey garlic chicken and pop it into the slow cooker. Then you walk away and let it cook into something saucy and delicious. Here are the steps:

1. Whisk together soy sauce, BBQ sauce, honey, garlic, and crushed red pepper.
2. Season your chicken breasts with salt and pepper and place them in the slow cooker. 
3. Pour the honey garlic marinade over top.
4. Cook on high for about 2-3 hours, or on low for about 5.

You want the chicken to be cooked thoroughly, but not so much that it shreds. Check the breasts for doneness towards the end of the cooking time to make sure that they don’t overcook. And the more sauce, the merrier!

Success Tips

• Can I Make This With Chicken Thighs?: You can make this recipe with skinless boneless chicken thighs as well. Just keep in mind that cooking times may vary depending on your slow cooker.
• How To Know When the Chicken Is Done: Chicken is done when the internal temperature reaches a safe 165ºF. Use a kitchen thermometer if you have one, otherwise pay attention to the juices and texture. Your chicken breasts are done when the juices run clear.

Serving Suggestions

There are tons of ways to make this easy chicken into a meal:

• Serve over rice. As mentioned, this honey garlic chicken is great to dish up over white or brown rice or noodles. You can even serve it with Easy Fried Rice!
• Serve with a side of veggies. Sauté a fresh or frozen stir fry mix, or steam broccoli to stir into the honey garlic sauce. If you’re avoiding the stovetop at all costs, buy some steam-in-the-bag veggies to microwave instead!
• Serve it over noodles. My favorite noodles to serve this over are ramen, egg noodles, or rice noodles. You can also serve it up with some Sesame Zoodles for an easy low-carb option. 

Storage and Reheating

Leftover honey garlic chicken, once it’s completely cooled, can be stored airtight in the fridge for up to 4 days. I reheat this saucy chicken in a pan on the stove over low heat, with a spoonful of water to keep things moist. You can also do the same in the microwave.

Can I Freeze Crockpot Chicken?

Yes, this slow cooker chicken is great to make ahead as a freezer meal! Allow the chicken to cool and then store it in a freezer-safe bag or container. It will keep frozen for up to 3 months, just leave it to thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.

More Satisfying Slow-Cooked Dinners to Try

• Slow Cooker Crack Chicken
• Slow Cooker Fiesta Chicken
• Juicy Sesame Meatballs
• The Best Beef and Noodles
• Easy Slow Cooker Beef Tips

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