This Slow Cooker Sticky Chicken is sweet, spicy and deliciously sticky. This slow cooker favorite is perfect for parties, weeknight dinners or anytime you want a quick and easy meal.
If you want more delicious chicken recipes for the slow cooker, try my crock pot chicken and gravy or my crockpot bacon ranch chicken.
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Why this Sticky Chicken Recipe is a Keeper
I love this recipe because it’s a quick and easy meal, that also happens to be super delicious! You will definitely want to add this one to your stash of easy weeknight dinner recipes.
- 5 Minute Prep: Throw all the ingredients into the crock pot and you are done!
- Easy Ingredients: All the chicken and sauce ingredients can be found in pantry or the fridge.
- Family Friendly: These are sticky and fun and it’s delicious. Perfect for parties, game night or whenever you want a sticky sweet treat.
- Adaptable: You can make this sweet and sour chicken recipe low-sodium.
How Do I Get the Sauce to Stick to the Chicken?
The sauce should stick right to the chicken. If you need to thicken your chili sauce, make and add a cornstarch and water slurry.
Chicken Recipe Ingredient Notes
To make this recipe, you will need just a few easy ingredients. If you don’t already have these ingredients in your kitchen, they can all easily be found at the store.
- Brown Sugar: You can use either a light or dark brown sugar.
- Soy Sauce: A low sodium version or coconut aminos can also be used in this recipe.
- Chicken thighs: The recipe calls for boneless skinless chicken thighs. However, you can also use other chicken pieces like bone-in thighs, wings, boneless skinless chicken breasts, chicken legs, etc.
See the recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements.
Prep Ahead Suggestions to Make Sticky Chicken
When you prepare ingredients ahead of time, it can help save you time and kitchen space when it comes to making everything for dinner!
- Make Sauce: Prepare the sauce in advance so that it’s ready when your slow cooker is done.
Special Equipment Needed for Asian Chicken
Sometimes you need a specific piece of equipment to make a recipe just right. In this case, all you need is a crock pot!
- Slow Cooker: A crock pot will slowly cook your chicken, making sure they’re juicy and tender.
Pro Tip for Chicken Ingredients
Marinate the chicken in the sauce mixture overnight in the refrigerator. This will allow the flavors to penetrate the meat more deeply.
How to Make Sticky Asian Sesame Chicken
This recipe comes together in just 3 easy to follow steps. These sticky chicken thighs are so easy and delicious, you’ll come back to them again and again.
These are the basic steps for making Slow Cooker Sticky Chicken. Refer to the full, printable recipe card below for detailed instructions.
1. Season the Chicken
Combine ¼ cup of brown sugar, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, ginger, garlic and cayenne pepper in a bowl. Add the chicken and toss to coat.
2. Cook the Chicken
Place in a slow cooker and cook on low for about 4 hours. When chicken is done place in a broiler proof dish and preheat the broiler.
3. Make Sauce and Broil
Combine remaining brown sugar, water, tomato paste and remaining soy sauce. Brush sauce on chicken and cook under the broiler for about 5 minutes or until chicken is slightly crisp. Keep a close eye on the chicken under the broiler.
How to Store, Reheat and Use Leftover Sticky Sauce
- Storing: Store in an airtight container in the fridge. If you’d like, freeze the chicken in an airtight freezer bag for up to six months.
- Reheating: Heat the chicken in a skillet on the stove or in a baking dish in the oven. If reheating on the stove, heat over medium heat or medium high heat.
- Using Leftovers: Enjoy leftovers served with Vodka Cream Sauce over Penne Pasta.
Variations and Substitutions for Sweet and Spicy Chicken
This sticky chicken recipe is super easy to customize to make it your own! Try taking it to the next level by trying different proteins or adding different ingredients.
- Different Protein: Try substituting for pork, beef or tofu.
- Veggies: Add vegetables such as broccoli and carrots.
Chili Garlic Sauce Recipe FAQs
Serve with Parmesan Cauliflower Rice, Copycat Chipotle Lime Rice or Cold Sesame Noodles.
If stored correctly, this cajun sticky chicken will be good for up to four days.
Absolutely! Try whatever cut of chicken you love the most.
Expert Tips for Making This Delicious Chicken Recipe
- Make More Sauce: This sweet chili sauce is great over vegetables, pieces of chicken and brown rice. Therefore, make more sauce for tender and juicy chicken.
- Spice: If you do not like spice, omit the pepper or if you love to live on the spicy side, try adding more red pepper flakes or other spices. Salt to taste.
- Honey Garlic: Want more sweetness? Try stirring in some honey to the pan.
- Broil: This is an important step, do not skip it for optimal crispy sesame chicken.
- Go Fresh: Fresh garlic and ginger make this recipe so good. Store the whole, unpeeled ginger root in an airtight container in the fridge to make more Asian sauce later.
- Alternate Cooking Method: Cook in the instant pot for 20 minutes on high. Finish in the broiler.
- Garnish: Top with fresh parsley, sesame seeds or fresh green onions. You can also try it with Worcestershire sauce or ketchup.
- Corn Starch: To make a cornstarch and water slurry, whisk together water and cornstarch in a small bowl. Sauce thickens with the slurry and heat.
Slow Cooker Sticky Chicken
Video
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Ingredients
- ¾ cup Brown sugar, divided
- ¼ cup Soy sauce, divided
- 2 tablespoons Fresh ginger, minced
- 4 cloves Fresh garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon Cayenne
- 3 pounds Chicken, breast, thighs, legs, etc.
- ¼ cup Water
- ¼ cup Tomato paste
Instructions
- Combine 1/4 cup brown sugar, 2 tablespoons soy sauce , ginger, garlic, and cayenne pepper in a bowl or zipper bag; add chicken and toss to coat.
- Place in a slow cooker and cook on low for about 4 hours or until done.
- When done place chicken in a broiler proof dish and preheat the broiler.
- Combine remaining 1/2 cup brown sugar, water, and tomato paste, and remaining soy sauce.
- Brush on chicken and cook under the broiler for about 5 minutes or until chicken is slightly crisp. Keep a close watch on the chicken under the broiler.
Christina’s Notes
- Make More Sauce: This sweet chili sauce is great over vegetables, pieces of chicken and brown rice. Therefore, make more sauce for tender and juicy chicken.
- Spice: If you do not like spice, omit the pepper or if you love to live on the spicy side, try adding more red pepper flakes or other spices. Salt to taste.
- Honey Garlic: Want more sweetness? Try stirring in some honey to the pan.
- Broil: This is an important step, do not skip it for optimal crispy sesame chicken.
- Go Fresh: Fresh garlic and ginger make this recipe so good. Store the whole, unpeeled ginger root in an airtight container in the fridge to make more Asian sauce later.
- Alternate Cooking Method: Cook in the instant pot for 20 minutes on high. Finish in the broiler.
- Garnish: Top with fresh parsley, sesame seeds or fresh green onions. You can also try it with Worcestershire sauce or ketchup.
- Corn Starch: To make a cornstarch and water slurry, whisk together water and cornstarch in a small bowl. Sauce thickens with the slurry and heat.
- 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.
Is the chicken cut before or after in crockpot?
Hello, wondering do I cut the chicken before putting in crock pot? Also, where would I find the recipe that uses beer?
Thank you!
If not using bone in chicken thighs etc., then cut before putting into the slow cooker.
Made the recipe tonight. Oh, so delicious. Super easy. We had a bite or two, could have had more, lol. Will do again and again.
Thank you for the delicious recipe.
It truly is so good. Thanks for trying it!