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
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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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i bought tons of chicken on sale, can't wait to try this recipe out with it!!!!
For realz…..yummy! I made it last week:)
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.
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
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.
Made this tonight. Thought it was really yummy. Thanks!
Could you use cornstarch instead of tapioca as a thickener in all your recipes that call for the tapioca?
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!
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.
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.
I’m making this tonight. Can anyone comment on cooking time? 3 hours on low work for most?
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 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!
Very healthy and tasted wonderful.
★
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!!
Could you make this without the tapioca?
yes, it will be a little runny though
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!