Description
Honey garlic chicken delights home cooks with its simple yet flavorful approach to weeknight meals. Succulent chicken thighs bathe in a sweet and savory sauce, promising a satisfying dinner you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4–6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs (or chicken breasts)
- ½ cup (120 ml/4 fl oz) honey
- ⅓ cup (80 ml/2.7 fl oz) low-sodium soy sauce
- ¼ cup (60 ml/2 fl oz) ketchup
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated (optional)
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp sesame oil (optional)
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
- 2 tbsps cornstarch
- 2 tbsps water
- Sesame seeds (for garnish)
- Chopped green onions (for garnish)
Instructions
- Marinade Preparation: Whisk honey, soy sauce, ketchup, garlic, ginger, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and red pepper flakes into a smooth, fragrant emulsion that coats the palate with rich, complex flavors.
- Chicken Placement: Arrange chicken pieces in a single, relaxed layer within the slow cooker, ensuring minimal overlap to promote even cooking and maximum flavor absorption.
- Flavor Infusion: Cascade the prepared marinade over the chicken, massaging the liquid to guarantee complete and uniform coverage, allowing each morsel to become deeply saturated with the aromatic blend.
- Slow Cooking Process: Secure the lid and program the slow cooker to low heat, allowing the chicken to gently simmer and tenderize for 4-5 hours, transforming the proteins into melt-in-your-mouth perfection.
- Moisture Management: Intermittently baste the chicken using tongs, redistributing the cooking liquids to enhance moisture retention and intensify the flavor profile throughout the cooking duration.
- Finishing Touches: Once the chicken reaches optimal tenderness and safe internal temperature, delicately transfer the pieces to a serving platter, creating an inviting presentation.
- Sauce Refinement: Optionally, elevate the remaining cooking liquid by reducing it on high heat, stirring consistently until the sauce metamorphoses into a glossy, concentrated glaze that clings seductively to the chicken.
- Serving Presentation: Embellish the dish with a sprinkle of freshly chopped green onions or toasted sesame seeds, adding a vibrant visual and textural dimension before serving alongside steamed rice or roasted vegetables.
Notes
- Avoid Overcrowding: Arrange chicken pieces in a single layer to ensure even cooking and prevent steaming instead of achieving desired tenderness.
- Marinade Mastery: Whisk marinade ingredients thoroughly to create a well-blended, harmonious sauce that coats chicken evenly and maximizes flavor absorption.
- Moisture Management: Baste chicken periodically with cooking liquid to prevent dryness and enhance overall flavor profile during slow cooking process.
- Sauce Reduction Technique: Optional step to intensify sauce flavors by carefully reducing liquid, creating a glossy, concentrated glaze that elevates the dish’s taste and presentation.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Asian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 260
- Sugar: 22 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 4 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg