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Easy Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs

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A simple and forgiving slow cooker recipe featuring tender chicken thighs coated in a rich, sweet-savory honey garlic sauce. Perfect for busy weeknights and crowd-pleasing dinners.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce (low-sodium recommended)
  • 1/4 cup chicken broth
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil (for browning)
  • Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
  • Salt, to taste
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch (optional, for thickening)
  • 2 tablespoons water (for cornstarch slurry, optional)

Instructions

  1. Pat chicken thighs dry with paper towels and season lightly with salt and freshly cracked black pepper.
  2. Heat vegetable oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Brown chicken thighs skin-side down for 4-5 minutes until golden and crispy, then flip and cook for another 3 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
  3. In a medium bowl, whisk together honey, soy sauce, chicken broth, minced garlic, apple cider vinegar, and sesame oil until well combined.
  4. Place browned chicken thighs skin-side up in the slow cooker. Pour the honey garlic sauce evenly over the chicken.
  5. Cover and cook on low for 5 to 6 hours or on high for 2.5 to 3 hours, until chicken is tender and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
  6. If a thicker sauce is desired, remove chicken and pour sauce into a saucepan. Mix cornstarch with water and stir into sauce. Simmer over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened (3-5 minutes). Return chicken to sauce before serving.
  7. Serve chicken thighs with the sticky honey garlic sauce spooned over the top. Garnish with chopped green onions or sesame seeds if desired.

Notes

Browning the chicken before slow cooking adds caramelized flavor and better texture but is optional. If skipping browning, add 15-30 minutes to cooking time. Use bone-in, skin-on thighs for juiciness. To thicken sauce, use cornstarch slurry near the end. The chicken can sit on warm for up to an hour without losing quality. Leftovers store well refrigerated for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker, honey garlic chicken, chicken thighs, easy dinner, comfort food, crockpot recipe, weeknight meal

Find it online: https://ariaappetite.com/easy-slow-cooker-honey-garlic-chicken-thighs-recipe-for-perfect-tender-dinner/