Best Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs Recipe
Tender and flavorful chicken thighs slow-cooked in a sweet and savory honey garlic sauce, perfectly balanced with mustard, soy sauce, and a hint of ginger. This comforting and easy-to-make dish is ideal for busy weeknights and sure to be a family favorite.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours
- Total Time: 3 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 2 lb chicken thighs, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
- 2.5 tsp salt
- 3/4 tsp pepper
- 1 tbsp avocado oil
- 1 tbsp butter (preferably Kerrygold unsalted butter)
Sauce
- 1/3 cup honey (Nature Nate’s raw honey recommended)
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup chicken broth
- 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 2 tsp fresh garlic, minced into 1/8-inch pieces
- 1/2 tsp ground ginger
- 3 tbsp butter
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Trim excess fat from the chicken thighs and cut them into uniform 2-inch pieces. Season the chicken pieces thoroughly with 2.5 teaspoons of salt and 3/4 teaspoon of pepper to enhance flavor.
- Sear the Chicken: Heat 1 tablespoon of avocado oil and 1 tablespoon of butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, sear the chicken pieces just until they are golden brown on all sides, approximately 3-4 minutes per batch, to lock in juices and add depth of flavor. Transfer the seared chicken to the slow cooker.
- Mix the Sauce: In a separate bowl, whisk together 1/3 cup honey, 1/4 cup soy sauce, 1/4 cup chicken broth, 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard, 2 teaspoons freshly minced garlic, and 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger until well combined.
- Add Sauce and Butter: Pour the mixed sauce over the chicken in the slow cooker. Dot with 3 tablespoons of butter evenly over the top of the chicken and sauce to enrich the flavor and create a luscious texture.
- Slow Cook the Chicken: Cover the slow cooker with its lid and cook on low heat for approximately 3 hours or until the chicken is tender, cooked through, and infused with the honey garlic flavor.
- Serve: Once cooked, carefully stir the dish to combine any separated butter and sauce. Serve hot over rice, noodles, or your favorite side dishes.
Notes
- You can substitute chicken thighs with boneless, skinless chicken breasts if preferred, but thighs provide a juicier, more flavorful result.
- Adjust the amount of honey to taste if you prefer a less sweet sauce.
- For a thicker sauce, remove the lid during the last 30 minutes of cooking to allow some liquid to evaporate.
- Serve garnished with chopped green onions or sesame seeds for an added flair.
- This recipe can be doubled or halved easily depending on the number of servings needed.
Keywords: slow cooker chicken, honey garlic chicken, slow cooked chicken thighs, easy dinner, weeknight recipe
