Description
This Crock Pot Honey Sesame Chicken recipe offers a deliciously sweet and savory slow-cooked meal that’s perfect for easy weeknight dinners. Tender chicken thighs cooked in a flavorful honey, soy sauce, and garlic sauce create a comforting Asian-American dish served over rice or noodles and garnished with sesame seeds and green onions.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
Sauce
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/4 cup soy sauce or tamari for gluten-free
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
Thickener
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water
Garnish
- 2 teaspoons sesame seeds
- 2 green onions, sliced
Serving
- Cooked rice or noodles for serving
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken: Place the chicken thighs or breasts in the bottom of the crock pot, spreading them out evenly.
- Make the sauce: In a medium bowl, whisk together honey, soy sauce (or tamari if gluten-free), ketchup, rice vinegar, minced garlic, grated ginger, and crushed red pepper flakes if using.
- Combine and cook: Pour the prepared sauce over the chicken, making sure all pieces are fully coated. Cover the crock pot and cook on low for 4 to 5 hours or on high for 2 to 3 hours, until the chicken is fully cooked and tender.
- Shred the chicken: Remove the cooked chicken from the crock pot and shred it or leave it whole based on preference.
- Thicken the sauce: In a small bowl, mix cornstarch and water to create a slurry. Stir this slurry into the sauce remaining in the crock pot and cook on high for an additional 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens.
- Coat chicken with sauce: Return the shredded or whole chicken back into the thickened sauce and stir to coat all the pieces evenly.
- Serve: Serve the honey sesame chicken hot over cooked rice or noodles. Garnish with sesame seeds and sliced green onions for a fresh finish.
Notes
- For extra flavor, add a splash of soy sauce or sprinkle chili flakes just before serving.
- You can substitute chicken breasts for thighs, but thighs remain juicier with slow cooking.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
