This Crockpot Honey Garlic Chicken is one of those easy recipes that is perfect for beginners. Tender chicken cooks slowly in a sweet, savory, garlicky sauce made with honey, soy sauce, ketchup, and simple pantry seasonings.
There is very little prep, no complicated technique, and the slow cooker does nearly all the work. Serve the juicy chicken with rice, mashed potatoes, noodles, or vegetables and spoon plenty of the sticky honey garlic sauce over the top.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
This recipe is beginner-friendly because you simply mix the sauce, pour it over the chicken, and let the crockpot handle dinner.
The sauce has a great balance of sweetness from honey, savory flavor from soy sauce, tang from ketchup, and plenty of fresh garlic.
You can serve the chicken whole, slice it, or shred it directly into the sauce. It also works well for meal prep because the leftovers stay flavorful after reheating.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts or chicken thighs, fully thawed
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme or oregano, optional
For a Thicker Sauce
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons cold water
Optional Garnishes
- Sliced green onions
- Sesame seeds
- Fresh parsley
Ingredient Notes
Chicken: Chicken breasts make a leaner meal, while boneless thighs stay especially juicy during slow cooking. Start with fully thawed chicken rather than raw frozen poultry.
Honey: Honey provides the sweetness and helps create the glossy, sticky sauce.
Soy sauce: Low-sodium soy sauce is best because the sauce becomes more concentrated as it cooks.
Ketchup: Ketchup adds acidity, sweetness, and body to the sauce.
Garlic: Fresh minced garlic gives the strongest honey-garlic flavor, but jarred garlic can also be used for convenience.
How to Make Crockpot Honey Garlic Chicken
- Lightly grease the inside of your slow cooker if desired.
- Arrange the fully thawed chicken in a single layer.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the honey, soy sauce, ketchup, garlic, olive oil, onion powder, garlic powder, black pepper, and optional herbs.
- Pour the sauce evenly over the chicken.
- Turn the chicken once if needed so every piece is coated.
- Cover the slow cooker.
- Cook on low for about four to six hours or on high for approximately two and a half to three and a half hours.
- Begin checking near the earlier end of the cooking range.
- The chicken is ready when the thickest part reaches 165°F.
- Transfer the chicken carefully to a clean plate.
- Stir the sauce in the slow cooker.
- If you want it thicker, combine the cornstarch and cold water in a small bowl.
- Stir the slurry into the hot sauce.
- Cover and cook on high for another 10 to 15 minutes.
- Return the chicken to the sauce and coat it well.
- Garnish with green onions or sesame seeds and serve hot.
Beginner Tip: Do Not Overcook the Chicken
The easiest way to get juicy chicken is to start checking it early. Slow cookers vary in temperature, and chicken breasts can become dry if they stay in the crockpot much longer than necessary.
Use an instant-read thermometer and remove the chicken from active cooking once it reaches 165°F.
If you want an even more forgiving option, use boneless chicken thighs.
How to Get a Sticky Honey Garlic Sauce
The cooking liquid may look thin at first because the chicken releases moisture as it cooks.
A cornstarch slurry thickens the liquid into a glossy sauce that clings to the chicken.
Always combine cornstarch with cold water before adding it to the slow cooker. Adding dry cornstarch directly can create lumps.
How to Get Caramelized Edges
If you want the chicken to look extra glossy and caramelized, transfer the cooked pieces to a foil-lined baking sheet.
Brush them with some of the thickened honey garlic sauce and broil for about two to four minutes.
Watch carefully because honey can darken quickly under high heat.
Spoon more sauce over the chicken after broiling.
Can You Shred the Chicken?
Absolutely. Once the chicken reaches 165°F and is tender, shred it with two forks.
Return the shredded chicken to the crockpot and stir it into the honey garlic sauce.
This version is especially good for rice bowls, sandwiches, wraps, baked potatoes, or meal prep.
Easy Variations
For spicy honey garlic chicken, add sriracha, crushed red pepper flakes, or chili garlic sauce.
For ginger honey garlic chicken, add one teaspoon of freshly grated ginger.
For sesame chicken, finish with toasted sesame seeds and sliced green onions.
For a tangier sauce, add one tablespoon rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar.
For orange honey garlic chicken, stir in one teaspoon fresh orange zest.
What to Serve with Honey Garlic Chicken
Steamed white rice, jasmine rice, or brown rice are classic choices because they soak up the sticky sauce.
You can also serve the chicken with mashed potatoes, egg noodles, quinoa, or cauliflower rice.
For vegetables, try broccoli, green beans, carrots, snap peas, Brussels sprouts, or roasted zucchini.
Mini Crockpot Version
For one or two people, use two chicken breasts and approximately half of the sauce ingredients.
A small 2- to 3-quart slow cooker works well for this amount.
Because smaller portions may cook faster, begin checking the chicken early and cook only until it reaches 165°F.
Meal Prep Tips
Divide the cooked chicken into containers with rice and steamed vegetables.
Add a little extra sauce to each portion so the chicken stays moist during reheating.
Keep fresh garnishes such as green onions separate until serving.
Storage and Reheating
Store cooled leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three to four days.
Reheat gently in the microwave or in a covered skillet over medium-low heat until steaming hot.
If the sauce becomes too thick after refrigeration, stir in a splash of water or chicken broth.
The cooked chicken and sauce can also be frozen for up to two months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Printable Recipe Card
Crockpot Honey Garlic Chicken
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 4 to 6 hours on Low
Total Time: About 4 hours 10 minutes
Yield: 4 to 6 servings
Category: Dinner
Cooking Method: Slow Cooker
Quick Instructions
- Place thawed chicken in the crockpot.
- Whisk honey, soy sauce, ketchup, garlic, olive oil, and seasonings.
- Pour the sauce over the chicken.
- Cook on low for four to six hours or high for two and a half to three and a half hours.
- Cook until chicken reaches 165°F.
- Thicken the sauce with optional cornstarch slurry.
- Return chicken to the sauce and coat well.
- Serve with rice, potatoes, noodles, or vegetables.
Final Thoughts
This Crockpot Honey Garlic Chicken is a great beginner slow cooker recipe because it is simple, forgiving, and made with everyday ingredients. You get tender chicken and a sweet-savory garlic sauce without spending much time in the kitchen.
Mix the sauce, pour it over the chicken, cook until the chicken reaches 165°F, and thicken the sauce at the end for an easy dinner that tastes much more involved than it really is.