Description
This Slow Cooker Honey Sesame Chicken recipe offers a flavorful, tender, and easy-to-make Asian-inspired meal. Boneless chicken cooked low and slow in a sweet and savory honey sesame sauce makes for the perfect dinner that can be served over rice, quinoa, or steamed vegetables. With minimal prep time and simple ingredients, this dish is ideal for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts
Sauce
- ½ cup low-sodium soy sauce
- ½ cup honey
- ¼ cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
Thickener
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water
Garnish
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
- 2 green onions, sliced
Instructions
- Prepare Chicken and Sauce: Place the chicken thighs or breasts in the bottom of the slow cooker. In a medium bowl, whisk together soy sauce, honey, ketchup, rice vinegar, sesame oil, minced garlic, grated fresh ginger, and crushed red pepper flakes if using. Pour the sauce mixture evenly over the chicken.
- Cook Chicken: Cover the slow cooker and cook the chicken on low for 4 to 5 hours or on high for 2 to 3 hours, until the chicken is tender and cooked through.
- Shred Chicken: Remove the cooked chicken from the slow cooker and shred it finely using two forks.
- Thicken Sauce: In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch with water until smooth. Stir this slurry into the remaining sauce in the slow cooker. Return the shredded chicken back into the pot and stir until well coated.
- Final Cook: Cook on high for an additional 15 to 20 minutes to allow the sauce to thicken and cling to the chicken.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle the finished dish with sesame seeds and sliced green onions before serving. Serve over rice, quinoa, or steamed vegetables for a complete meal.
Notes
- Use chicken thighs for more flavorful and tender meat compared to breasts.
- Add broccoli or bell peppers during the last hour of cooking for a one-pot complete meal.
- Serve this dish over steamed rice, quinoa, or alongside your favorite steamed vegetables.
