Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken
(This recipe is from way back in 2011 and it severely needed a new picture to go with it.) This slow cooker honey garlic chicken recipe starts with boneless, skinless chicken thighs–my favorite chicken to make in the slow cooker. I love cooking with chicken thighs in the slow cooker because they do so well with the low temps and the long cooking times. The collagen turns to gelatin and the chicken becomes so easy to shred. You can also use bone-in chicken for this recipe, if you prefer. But if you do, make sure to remove the skin first or else it just gets rubbery and gross. I added broccoli to the slow cooker after the chicken was done cooking but if I were to make this again I would just serve the broccoli on the side. I didn’t necessarily love the way the lemon juice/honey mixture went with the broccoli.
Other Asian slow cooker recipes
If you love this recipe make sure to try these other slow cooker Asian chicken favorites.
Slow cooker pork (or chicken) and broccoli
Slow cooker PF Changs chicken lettuce wraps
Slow cooker Korean BBQ chicken
Slow cooker orange chicken from Averie Cooks
Crockpot honey sesame chicken from Table for Two
What Slow Cooker Did You Use?
For this slow cooker honey garlic chicken recipe I used my 6 quart oval Kitchenaid slow cooker. I love this slow cooker (you can see me talking about it in a video here). It cooks low and evenly. I love the medium heat choice because most slow cookers that I’ve seen only have the option of cooking on low or high. If you’re going to buy just one slow cooker, this is the one that I recommend.
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Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours
- Total Time: 3 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: 4-6 servings 1x
Print Recipe
Pin RecipeDescription
An easy Asian crockpot recipe for tender chicken thighs in a lemon, soy sauce, honey and garlic sauce.
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1/3 cup soy sauce
- 1 1/2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice*
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/4 (about…if you need more, use more) cup flour
- 1 Tbsp quick-cooking tapioca
- 1 1/2 to 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs OR bone-in chicken with skin removed
- 1 lb frozen broccoli florets**
Instructions
- Wash chicken and pat dry.
- Dredge the chicken in flour and place in the slow cooker.
- Combine honey, soy sauce, lemon juice, garlic and tapioca in a small bowl. Pour over the top of the chicken.
- Cover slow cooker and cook on LOW for 3-5 hours.
- Serve chicken and sauce over brown rice.
Notes
*This amount used to be 1/3 cup. After trying it a few different ways I decided that was way too much lemon juice. I changed it to a scant 1 1/2 tablespoons. If you’re unsure on how much lemon juice you’d like to have start with the 1 1/2 tablespoons and if you think it needs more you can always add more at the end of the cooking time.
**I added some frozen broccoli florets straight to the slow cooker after the chicken was through cooking. But if I were to make this again I would serve the broccoli on the side. I didn’t necessarily love how the broccoli tasted with the lemon honey sauce.
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It tastes good, but there’s barely any sauce. After 2 hours it pretty much cooked out and started burning. Hoping that the chicken broth I added will save it and still taste good.
★★
Hi I have a 4.5 qt crockpot do I put it on high or low
low is best for chicken
Lools great! How much cornstarch mix should i add? My slow cooker is a little smaller.
Probably 2 Tbsp
Yer made this i added red onion and leeks loved it many thanks ma’am xx
★★★★
This may be a silly question – do I cook the tapioca before putting it in the crockpot?
No, just add in the granules.
I’m making this now and there isn’t enough sauce to cover the chicken. Should I double the sauce mixture? I don’t want it to burn. I also left out the broccoli based on recommendations.
It won’t burn. You can double sauce if you want but it’s not necessary.
Hi, does the cooking time change if you’re using frozen chicken?
Add 2 more hours for frozen.
Full instructions buts after 2 hrs there was no liquid in the pot. The mixture began to become gelatinous and burn.
Happened to me as well. I took a peak and noticed so I added water hopefully it still turned out good.
If I am cooking on low for 3 hours at what point should I add the FROZEN broccoli? I want to make sure the broccoli is cooked.
Add it in the last hour.
I made this twice, once preparing the broccoli separately and once with broccoli in with th chicken. It was much better without the broccoli cooking in with the sauce. The broccoli seemed to take the sweet taste out of the sauce. Both still very good.
★★★★★
My slow cooker only has the option on low 4-6 hours or High 8-10, I’m not certain which settings to put it on..
Hi Kay, do low for 4-6 hours.
Made this tonight. Will defiantly make again ( we doubled the amount of honey tho) even my 2year old loved this
★★★★
Can I use the tapioca pudding by Jello that os already made? I can’t find the cook and serve one.
no, just thicken with cornstarch and water instead.
What temperature in the oven when using a rockcrock?
What’s a rockcrock?
Cornish Hen
I think she is referring to a Pampered Chef item.
Can you add the rice and cook at the same time ? With more liquid of course?
you could but I’m not sure how it would turn out! give it a try and let me know.
Can you add the rice & cook all together, with more liquid of course
Do you know what the conversion time would be if cooked on high?
probably about 2-3 hours on high.
if I’m using boneless chicken breast and doubling the recipe how long should I cook it for and on what temperature, high or low?
I’d cook on low for about 3-4 hours.
Making it now. I doubled the recipe because I had more than 2lbs. Of chicken. I did use just a little less lemon juice. I will also put the broccoli in last maybe last 20-30 minutes. Sounds like a good recipes!
Could you make this without the tapioca?
yes, it will be a little runny though
This was so good. I will be making it again. One thing I did different was I took the chicken out of the crock pot and got it crispy in a frying pan. I then added the chicken back with the broccoli to steam and it was perfect.
★★★★★
sounds great!!
Very healthy and tasted wonderful.
★
I just made the receipe and I tought it tasted too acid…probably because of the lemon juice. So I added sugar in the receipe was better.
★★★
good to know, thanks Lyndel!
I have not tried this recipe yet. I’m not sure about that much lemon juice. I want honey garlic chicken. Do you have another recipe maybe. I tried one last night that had ketchup in it and that’s all I could taste. Anyone?
I just add more soy sauce and left out the lemon juice
I’m making this tonight. Can anyone comment on cooking time? 3 hours on low work for most?
Would any of the cooking time or recipe change if I use boneless chicken breast instead of chicken thighs
Breasts will cook a little faster. probably between 3-5 hours, depending on you slow cooker.
I’m confused. The recipe already says 3-5 hours
I would cook more towards the 2 1/2 to 3 hour range.
Hello!
For the tapioca, which would you recommend from your local safeway or grocery store?
Thank you!!!
So excited to try this tonight! 🙂
I use the kraft brand and find it by the jello in my grocery store.
Lauren,
if you want to use cornstarch add 1 tbsp that has been mixed with 1 tbsp water at the end of the cooking time. Stir it and then cook with the lid off on HIGH until it thickens. I just like tapioca because then you don't have to wait at the end. I also think you can taste the cornstarch a bit but the tapioca is indistinguishable. Good luck!
Could you use cornstarch instead of tapioca as a thickener in all your recipes that call for the tapioca?
Made this tonight. Thought it was really yummy. Thanks!
My boyfriend made the comment "something smells delicious!" when he walked in from work & proceeded to eat every bit of the honey garlic chicken (I had ONE piece of chicken and yes, it was super yummy). Incredibly easy & very flavorful.
It will be served at least twice a month in this household! Thank you so much for the recipe.
Wao!!! Yummy!! I made it last week..
Thanks for sharing this site…
Here are some more useful recipes which I am sure you will find useful.
paleo results
Regards, Johny
Made this recipe exactly as written except for adding water chestnuts. Everyone loved it and wanted it again! My daughter, who is not fond of Chinese food, suggested adding broccoli at the end of cooking time. I would like to add some heat but others would be turned off because it might be too spicy.
For realz…..yummy! I made it last week:)
i bought tons of chicken on sale, can't wait to try this recipe out with it!!!!