Easy Honey Garlic Crockpot Chicken Thighs
A fuss-free, flavorful slow cooker recipe featuring tender chicken thighs in a sticky honey garlic glaze, perfect for busy weeknights.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 to 7 hours (low) or 3 to 4 hours (high)
- Total Time: 6 hours 10 minutes to 7 hours 10 minutes (low) or 3 hours 10 minutes to 4 hours 10 minutes (high)
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 pounds bone-in, skinless chicken thighs
- 1/3 cup honey (about 113 g)
- 1/4 cup soy sauce (60 ml), low-sodium recommended
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar (30 ml)
- 1/4 cup chicken broth (60 ml), low-sodium recommended
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons cold water (for thickening)
Instructions
- Pat 3 pounds of skinless, bone-in chicken thighs dry with paper towels and trim any excess fat.
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar, chicken broth, minced garlic, black pepper, and red pepper flakes if using until smooth.
- Place the chicken thighs in a single layer at the bottom of the slow cooker and pour the sauce evenly over the top, coating all pieces.
- Cover and cook on low for 6 to 7 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours until the chicken is tender and easily pulls apart with a fork.
- About 20 minutes before serving, mix cornstarch with cold water to make a slurry and stir it into the crockpot. Cover and cook on high for 15 to 20 minutes until the sauce thickens to a glossy glaze, stirring gently halfway through.
- Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning if needed by adding more soy sauce or honey.
- Serve chicken thighs with extra sauce spooned over the top.
Notes
Patting the chicken dry before cooking helps the sauce stick better and prevents it from becoming watery. Use bone-in thighs for juicier meat. Add the cornstarch slurry near the end to thicken the sauce to a sticky glaze. Adjust cooking time if using frozen chicken thighs or different proteins. For gluten-free, swap soy sauce with tamari or coconut aminos. The recipe is freezer-friendly for up to 2 months.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1 chicken thig
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 9
- Fat: 18
- Carbohydrates: 12
- Protein: 28
Keywords: honey garlic chicken, crockpot chicken thighs, slow cooker chicken, easy dinner, weeknight meal, honey garlic sauce, crockpot recipe