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.
Hi Christina I got an email from you today saying I hadn’t opened your emails lately…Just yesterday I made a copy of one of your recipes . My puter hasn’t been working rite for last yr. Have been shopping [online} for new one –that may be the reason I did get email about not opening your emails lately, just today. I love your site and your recipes. You are a good cook so I certainly will be keeping your site. Thanks so much for your work and keeping your site interesting for sure. Sallyann
Thank you so much for your feedback! I am so happy that you are enjoying my recipes!
I was so eager to do this recipe but I don’t know what happened. I had 6 chicken breasts that I cut up in thirds. I doubled the spices recipe and coated the chicken as directed. So far so good. The crock pot was on hour #4 when I checked it and I saw that it was soupy and definitely not sticky. The chicken seemed not covered in the coating anymore and it was tough so I put the crock pot on Hi for about 20 minutes. My dinner time was rapidly approaching and I had to get it going so I got the broiler on and spread out the chicken pieces flat on the broiler pan and coated with the tomato paste mixture without the water. The soup in the crock pot was still there so while the chicken was in the broiler I tried to boil the juices in a small pan to thicken. I boiled for 10-15 minutes and it never thickened! I got the chicken out of the broiler after about 8 minutes and poured the soupy liquid over the chicken pieces. It was a mess that was very soupy and not sticky at all. I was really hoping for more. Any clues anyone? I took pics if there is a way to upload them let me know.
The liquid in the slow cooker is not meant to be thick. The stickiness comes from making the glaze and then broiling the chicken with the sticky glaze – see steps 3-5 in the recipe.
My new favourite sticky chicken recipe, I used the oven for this recipe & marinated the chicken for 5 hours! Turned out amazing thank you for an awesome recipe & will definitely be using again and again and again!
Hey, can I use frozen chicken breast for this?
Yes! That would work great!
Just a general FYI. The link the Fix It and Forget it Big book actually goes to the Slow Cooker Revolution. Also thanks for your website lots of good info and The Sticky Chicken looks delicious!!
Thank you! I fixed that link 🙂
Hi can I make this in a conventional oven ?? If so what would th3 cooking times be ?? Many thanks
You can absolutely make it in a conventional oven, although I never have. I’m not sure what the cooking would be – it would definitely depend on the cut and thickness of the chicken.
Was just wondering if I wanted to do bone in skin on chicken. Would that change the Cooke time and tempter ?
I don’t think so, but definitely use a meat thermometer to make sure it’s 165 degrees.
Chris, have you ever tried this with boneless country style ribs? Seems like a good fit! Would you switch up the tomato paste, since it’s pork? Maybe barbecue sauce? Thanks!
I haven’t but it should work perfectly! It’s a great sauce recipe.
I don’t see any beer in this.
What am I missing?
There is no beer in this recipe.
Looks like beer was must have been in the original recipe, as the option to sub a non-alcoholic version is given.
There’s no beer in this recipe. I’m not seeing where it mentions non-alcoholic beer either. But, I think I am going to try it with beer next time! Thanks for inspiring me!
I’m confused. Is there or is there not supposed to be liquid of some sort—beer, water, whatever—in with the coated chicken while it is in the slow cooker?
Not in this recipe. The liquid is from the soy sauce, plus the chicken will release its juices too.
What do you like to serve with this dish?
Usually I serve rice and broccoli or green beans.
Is it possible to cook the chicken on low for 8 – 10 hours since I don’t have 4 hours in a row to cook this before I’m home for dinner at night or would that way overcook this? Perhaps I could pre-cook the first step and just broil it when I get home to heat it up? Has anyone tried either of those approaches yet? Thanks!!
Hi Heather! I always cook my chicken for about 8 hours. I put in before leaving for work and then finish it off when I get home. I works just fine. I do use the thickest chicken breasts I can find though. I’m fearful that the thin ones would be waaaaaay overdone.
Good luck! 🙂
Christina
Is this supposed to cook 4 hours on Low or High?
Low
I know I cant use my Pyrex dish under the broiler or it will crack, but I was wondering if I could use my metal 9×13? Im making this tonight and I dont want to have to run to the store for a new pan.
I’ve used my metal pan under the broiler without problems. I would think you would be OK too! I hope you enjoy the dish! 🙂
I can’t wait to try making this! I’m thinking Valentine’s Day will be that day. I just have a question, what can you do if your stove is a bit older and doesn’t have a broiler?
Hope you like it! 🙂 I would try cooking the sauce down a bit in a pan on the stove if you don’t have a broiler. Let me know how you make out!
What a fast way to cook a cichken! We’re not much for beer at our house, but I’m wondering if cichken broth or water work work, too. I can’t wait to give it a try.
I would definitely try subbing chicken broth for the beer. Or, maybe a non-alcoholic beer? Let me know how you make out! 🙂
I found you through ‘Under the Table and Dreaming’ – this recipe looks amazing! I am always looking for slow cooker recipes and will definitely try this.
Thanks!
Kim
I made this a while back and my kids loved it, I need to make it again soon!
Love! I’ll be sharing this one with my hubby, as he’s been searching for new crock pot recipes for a while now. Thanks!
I make this regularly, it’s a family favorite meal! Kelly @ Semi Homemade Mom
🙂 YUMMMM!
That looks so good Chris. I’m wondering if you could use boneless chicken breast instead of bone-in chicken? By the way, I love your blog….<3
Yep! That’s what I used…boneless, skinless! It was fantastic!
Thanks for the kind words! 🙂
I just happen to have boneless skinless chicken breasts in the freezer…:-) I will definitely try this Chris!!! Thanks for your response.
Sounds yummy! I love crockpot dishes lately!
Oh I can’t wait to try this! I love sticky chicken, but never made it in the crock pot! Please stop over and share at Mix it up Monday:
http://flourmewithlove.blogspot.com/2012/01/mix-it-up-monday_29.html#more
I hope to see you soon!
Are you triyng to make me drool over my keyboard? All these treats and dinners look fantastic. Holy moly. I’m seriously wanting to jump through my computer!