Easy Honey Garlic Crockpot Chicken Thighs Recipe
This honey garlic crockpot chicken thighs recipe delivers impossibly tender, caramelized chicken with a glossy, savory-sweet sauce. Perfect for busy weeknights or entertaining, it requires minimal prep and yields restaurant-quality results.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 hours 30 minutes
- Total Time: 5 hours 45 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Asian
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 8–10 thighs)
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Sesame seeds, for garnish
- Fresh green onions, sliced, for garnish
- Fresh cilantro (optional), for garnish
Instructions
- Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels. Season generously with salt and pepper on both sides.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches, sear the chicken skin-side down for 4-5 minutes until golden brown and crispy. Flip and cook for another 2 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together honey, soy sauce, minced garlic, ketchup, rice vinegar, hoisin sauce, sesame oil, and red pepper flakes. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
- Place the seared chicken thighs in a 6-quart slow cooker, skin-side up, in a single layer. Pour the sauce evenly over the top. Do not stir.
- Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours, or on high for 2-3 hours, until the chicken is fork-tender and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Optional for crispy skin: Preheat the broiler. Transfer the chicken thighs to a foil-lined baking sheet, skin-side up. Brush with some sauce from the crockpot. Broil for 3-5 minutes until the skin is bubbly and caramelized. Watch closely to prevent burning.
- While the chicken is broiling, pour the remaining sauce from the slow cooker into a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to a simmer. Cook for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens to a syrupy consistency.
- Arrange the chicken on a serving platter. Drizzle with the reduced sauce. Sprinkle with sesame seeds, sliced green onions, and cilantro if using. Serve immediately.
Notes
Don’t skip the sear; it adds depth of flavor. For gluten-free, use tamari or coconut aminos instead of soy sauce. For a lower-sugar version, reduce honey to 1/4 cup. Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 thighs with sauce
- Calories: 475
- Sugar: 21
- Sodium: 850
- Fat: 23
- Saturated Fat: 6
- Carbohydrates: 28
- Protein: 38
Keywords: honey garlic chicken, crockpot chicken thighs, slow cooker chicken, honey garlic sauce, easy chicken recipe, Asian chicken, chicken thighs