Description
Slow Cooker Honey Sesame Chicken is a delicious, tender, and flavorful Asian-inspired dish that combines sweet honey, savory soy sauce, and a hint of spice. This easy recipe uses boneless, skinless chicken thighs cooked to perfection in a slow cooker, making it perfect for a no-fuss weeknight dinner or meal prep. Garnished with sesame seeds and green onions, it’s perfect served over rice, noodles, or in lettuce wraps.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 teaspoons sesame oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons cold water
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
- Sliced green onions for garnish
Instructions
- Prep the Chicken: Place the boneless, skinless chicken thighs in the bottom of your slow cooker, spreading them evenly to create a solid base for cooking.
- Make the Sauce: In a medium bowl, whisk together the low-sodium soy sauce, honey, ketchup, hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, minced garlic, grated fresh ginger, and crushed red pepper flakes if you desire some heat. Mix until smooth and combined.
- Cook the Chicken: Pour the prepared sauce over the chicken, ensuring each piece is well coated. Cover the slow cooker with the lid and set it to cook on low heat for 4 to 5 hours, or on high heat for 2 to 3 hours, until the chicken is tender and fully cooked through.
- Shred the Chicken: Once the chicken is cooked, remove it from the slow cooker and use two forks to shred it into bite-sized pieces.
- Thicken the Sauce: In a small bowl, create a slurry by whisking together the cornstarch and cold water. Stir this mixture into the sauce left in the slow cooker.
- Combine and Finish Cooking: Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker and mix it well with the thickened sauce. Cook on high for an additional 15 to 20 minutes until the sauce has thickened and nicely coats the chicken pieces.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle the finished dish with sesame seeds and sliced green onions for a fresh and nutty flavor before serving. Enjoy it over steamed rice, noodles, or wrapped in lettuce leaves.
Notes
- Serve the dish over steamed rice, noodles, or in lettuce wraps for a versatile meal.
- This recipe is excellent for meal prep and reheats beautifully without losing flavor or texture.
- If you prefer, chicken breasts can be substituted for thighs, though thighs provide a more tender and juicy result.
- Adjust crushed red pepper flakes to taste to control the spice level.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 hours
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: Asian-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 16 g
- Sodium: 640 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 34 g
- Cholesterol: 115 mg
