Crockpot Honey Garlic Chicken is a tender and flavorful slow-cooked dinner, with juicy chicken slathered in a sweet and savory Asian inspired sauce. Serve on a bed of rice with vegetables for a filling, delicious meal.
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Why this Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken Recipe is a Keeper
- Easy Ingredients: All of the ingredients used in this recipe can be found in your kitchen or local grocery store.
- Family Friendly: If your family loves this recipe, crock pot honey garlic chicken is a great dinner to cook on a busy day. Toss the ingredients into the slow cooker and let cook, then come back to a juicy honey chicken just in time for dinner.
- Adaptable: Adjust the ingredients in this great and easy recipe to your preferences and dietary needs, or add spices and sauces to your liking.
If you’re looking for more easy slow cooker recipes, try these: Slow Cooker Lasagna, Slow Cooker Chicken Parmesan, and Crock Pot Beef Stroganoff.
Are Thick or Thin Chicken Breasts Better for the Crock Pot?
You can cook both thin and thick chicken breasts in the crock pot, but thin chicken breasts take less time to cook. If you’re cooking thin chicken breasts, set your crock pot to 165-200 degrees F, and cook for 3-4 hours. Thick slow cooker chicken breasts take about 6-8 hours to cook.
Ingredient Notes for Crockpot Chicken
- Honey: Honey will help add a nice sweet flavor to the sauce and bind the ingredients together.
- Chicken: Use boneless skinless chicken breasts in this crockpot recipe. You can use frozen chicken or boneless chicken thighs as well. While bone-in chicken is also possible, it’s recommended to use chicken breasts without bones, as they take less time to cook.
- Ginger: Mince fresh ginger root in this delicious recipe instead of using powdered ginger for a fresher taste.
See the recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements.
Variations and Substitutions to Make this Recipe
This chicken with so much flavor is fantastic, but you don’t have to follow the recipe exactly if you have varying dietary needs or preferences. The type of chicken to use, for instance, is up to you- slow cooked chicken thighs are delicious, but you can also use chicken breasts. The sauce ingredients, seasonings, and cooking methods are also free for you to modify as well. Here are some ideas to try:
- Rice Vinegar: You can use rice vinegar instead of soy sauce if you’re looking to cut back on sodium.
- Chili Paste: Some chili paste will add a spicy kick, or you can add garlic powder for more seasoning.
- Low Sodium Soy Sauce: If you still want to use soy sauce, you can also use a low sodium option.
- Pressure Cooker: You can make honey, garlic, chicken and veggies in the instant pot or pressure cooker if you’re short on time.
Special Equipment Needed for Slow Cooker Chicken
- Crock Pot: Cook this chicken recipe in the crock pot or slow cooker. Use a 5 quart slow cooker to make sure the chicken cooks evenly, or use a larger slow cooker if needed.
- Crock Pot Liners: Use crock pot liners to easily clean up the juices from the slow cooker.
Crockpot Recipe Pro Tip
For juicy chicken in the slow cooker, cook on the low setting for 4 hours. Longer cooking dries it out.
How to Make Crockpot Honey Garlic Chicken
This crock pot chicken recipe is full of garlic flavor and is delicious and easy enough to make at home. Just add everything in the pot along with the chicken in the slow cooker and come back later when it’s time for dinner. The sweetness of the honey pairs with garlic and ginger, making this crock pot recipe one of the best you can try. To learn how to make this easy chicken recipe, follow the steps below.
These are the basic steps for making slowcooker pineapple chicken. Refer to the full, printable recipe card below for detailed instructions.
1. Make Honey Garlic Sauce and Cook the Chicken
Combine honey, soy sauce, chicken broth, ketchup, and garlic in slow cooker. Add the chicken in slow cooker with reserved pineapple juice. Cover and cook 4 hours on high.
2. Add Pineapple
Stir in pineapple just before cooking, and mix cornstarch and water in a small bowl.
3. Pour Sauce over the Chicken Thighs or Breasts
Once the chicken is done, remove the chicken from slow cooker. Whisk the cornstarch into the sauce in the slow cooker to thicken, then pour over the chicken. After the chicken has cooked, place the chicken on a serving dish with your preferred sides and enjoy!
Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Recipe FAQs
Store leftover chicken in an airtight container in the fridge. It should stay good for 4-5 days.
Serve this chicken and sauce with rice, broccoli, or roasted vegetables.
Yes, you can use boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts in this slow cooker recipe. Chicken thighs cooked in the slow cooker are just as delicious, and are even more tender and juicy.
For a low carb option, substitute almond flour for cornstarch.
Expert Tips to Slow Cook Chicken
- Oranges: Instead of pineapple, you can try this recipe with oranges or apricots. If you don’t want a fruit, you can also try zucchini.
- Tamari: It’s possible to substitute tamari for soy sauce in this pineapple chicken recipe.
- Sauce: Double the sauce recipe to use for dipping or sides. Chicken in the sauce is already delicious, but think of everything this honey garlic sauce could be used for- vegetables, rice dishes, meats, and more!
- Stir Fry Chicken: After cooking, shred the chicken to make a honey garlic chicken stir fry. Then, toss the shredded chicken with the sauce, noodles, and sauteed vegetables.
More Chicken in the Slow Cooker Recipes
Here are some more dump and go slow cooker recipes for a busy day:
- Slow Cooker Balsamic Chicken
- Slow Cooker Fiesta Chicken
- Slow Cooker Chicken and Gravy
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Crock Pot Honey Garlic Chicken
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Ingredients
- ¾ cup Honey
- ½ cup Soy Sauce
- ¼ cup Chicken Broth
- 3 tablespoons Ketchup
- 2 cloves Garlic, crushed
- 1 tablespoon Fresh Ginger Root, minced
- 4 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast Halves
- 20 ounces Pineapple Chunks, drained with juice reserved
- 2 tablespoons Cornstarch
- ¼ cup Water
Instructions
- Combine first 5 ingredients in slow cooker.
- Add chicken and reserved pineapple juice.
- Cover and cook 4 hours on high.
- Stir in pineapple tidbits just before serving.
- Mix cornstarch and water in a small bowl.
- Remove chicken from slow cooker.
- Whisk the cornstarch into the sauce in the slow cooker to thicken.
- Serve sauce over the chicken.
Christina’s Notes
- Oranges: Instead of pineapple, you can try this recipe with oranges or apricots. If you don’t want a fruit, you can also try zucchini.
- Tamari: It’s possible to substitute tamari for soy sauce in this pineapple chicken recipe.
- Sauce: Double the sauce recipe to use for dipping or sides. Chicken in the sauce is already delicious, but think of everything this honey garlic sauce could be used for- vegetables, rice dishes, meats, and more!
- Stir Fry: After cooking, shred the chicken to make a honey garlic chicken stir fry. Then, toss the shredded chicken with the sauce, noodles, and sauteed vegetables.
- Scale the recipe: Simply adjust the serving size in the recipe card and the ingredients will update automatically.
- Make your own All Purpose Seasoning: When a recipe calls for All Purpose Seasoning, you can use my homemade All Purpose Seasoning recipe or substitute salt and pepper to taste.
- Meat doneness: I always use a meat thermometer to test for doneness when cooking meat.
- Use unsalted butter: I use unsalted butter so I can control the salt level in the recipe.
- Preheat the oven: Unless otherwise noted, always preheat your oven before baking.
For more helpful information about this recipe, such as variations, substitutions and other pro-tips, check out the blog post.
I am intrigued by this recipe, especially with the comments! But I’m worried about the excessive amount of sweetener. Does it really need 3/4 cup of honey? Would it taste as good with 1/4 cup? Has anyone cut down the amount with good results?
I usually just eyeball the honey when I add it, so I’m sure I don’t use quite as much as the recipe calls for. I think it would still be great with 1/4 cup as opposed to 3/4 cup. If you try it, please report back. I’d love to get your feedback! Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
As a new crockpotter, I have a beginners question: I leave my house for the entire day, so if I wanted to cook this on low, how many hours would be okay?
Thanks! This recipe looks wonderful!
I would set it for 6-8 hours. Make sure you use thick cut chicken breasts, though. Thin ones would cook too fast.
Good luck! And, enjoy your crock pot! 🙂
it looks so yummy and delicious! will definitely try this chicken recipe this weekend. thanks for sharing 😉
I made this a few weeks ago and it was delicious!!!
THanks for sharing! So glad you liked it! 🙂
My family loves sweet & sour chicken, I think this recipe will be a ‘scrump-dilly-icious’ healthier replacement for that… And in my c’pot — yes Yes YES!!!!!
Thanx so much for your site, Christina! This ol’ “been cooking since my early teens” (35 + years) mom of 5 looks forward to your recipes… they give me ideas for something other than the ‘same old same old’.
Barb
i am slightly obsessed with honey and cannot wait to try this recipe….and it uses a slow-cooker!? be still my heart!
thank you for sharing with tuesday night supper club!
Featuring your recipe today!
http://embellishinglifeeveryday.blogspot.com/
Thanks so much!!! 🙂
thanks for linking up to photo tuesday, I hope to see you bring some comfort food recipes to the Beat the winter blues party starting tuesday!
I am making this for dinner next week, so I’ll let you know how it turns out! It sounds delicious. Thanks so much for linking up to the Catwalk…I love the recipes you share and I’m loving your blog! I added your Thursday link party button to my link up page, too.
This looks delicious! I love that it can be made in a slow cooker.
This sounds amazing! I love, love, love my crockpot so every time I find a good crock pot recipe I bookmark it!
This looks fantastic! I’ve printed it out and hope to try it 🙂 I am a perpetual new-recipe-fanatic.
Definitely a KEEPER!! Love it! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Ohmygod I am SOOOO bookmarking this one! I can only imagine how delicious it must taste – and judging from the comments I see, it’s even better than imaginable! 😉
Thank you so much for sharing, I just know that this is going to be a popular dish in my house!
Visiting from Tasty Tuesdays, and so glad I am.
So happy to help, Jen! Let me know how you make out! 🙂
I have never used fresh ginger, but I think that is about to change! Yum!!!
FYI, I just clicked on your link list and it’s not working. Would love to visit who you are linking to!!
Hmmm…it seem to be working now. Maybe I was updating it when you were trying. Give it a whirl and let me know if it’s still not working for you. 🙂
Wow! That looks yummy. Honey and garlic are such a natural match together and I love the addition of pineapple at the end. Is that “It’s a Keeper” a cookbook? Your photo styling is beautiful too.
Stopping by from Debbie’s Crockpot Wednesday where I posted my Crockpot Creole Chicken – stop by sometime!
Thanks for the kind words, Mary! My hubs and I did make 2 cookbooks — you can find them here: http://www.lulu.com/browse/search.php?fListingClass=0&fSearch=christina+hitchcock&fSubmitSearch=Go&showingSubPanels=&fSort=relevance_desc
I’ll tell my hubs you liked the photos — he’s my resident photographer! 🙂
Make sure you stop back tomorrow for It’s a Keeper Thursday — you can link up your recipes. I want to check out that Crockpot Creole Chicken! It sounds divine!