Garlic Brown Sugar Chicken is a recipe that your family will love. Made in a Crock Pot, so it is so easy and this Brown Sugar Chicken recipe only requires 4 ingredients!
This Brown Sugar Garlic Chicken thighs recipe is perfect for when you want to make some delicious, yet simple. The Brown Sugar Chicken requires minimal prep work and can be left alone once in the Crock Pot. For more easy chicken crock pot recipes check out this link!
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What We Love About This Recipe
This melt in your mouth recipe cis a perfect slow cooker recipe. but who invented this machine and why? Find the answers here with slow cooker chicken recipes.
- Minimum Prep Time: Simple garlic brown sugar chicken recipe only requires 10 minutes of prep time and then the Crock Pot does the rest, you do not need to do anything else!
- Easy Ingredients: Only requires 4 ingredients, super simple!
- Family Friendly: This Brown Sugar Chicken, is the perfect family meal to eat on a busy weekday!
Ingredient Notes
- Chicken: The recipe calls for chicken thighs but you could use chicken breast easily.
- Garlic: Pre minced garlic from a jar or freshly minced garlic cloves. Using freshly minced garlic will have a more vibrant flavor.
Equipment Needed
- Crock Pot
- Skillet
- Meat Thermometer
How to Make This Brown Sugar Chicken Crock Pot Recipe
These are the basic steps for making this Brown Sugar Chicken Crock Pot Recipe. Please refer to the recipe card below for more detailed instructions.
STEP 1: SEAR THE CHICKEN THIGHS
First, in order to help the chicken thighs retain moisture and seal in all the juices, sear your thighs in a frying pan or skillet on the stove top with unsalted butter or olive oil and cook for about 4 minutes on each side.
STEP 2: CHICKEN IN CROCK POT
Now add your chicken thighs, skin-side down, to your Crock Pot in an even layer, sprinkle on salt, black pepper, and onion powder. Then in a small bowl stir together the brown sugar, garlic, salt, and pepper, evenly apply mixture over the chicken.
STEP 3: COOK THE CHICKEN
Next, cook the Brown Sugar Garlic Chicken. You can either cook on medium-high heat for 3 hours or 5-6 hours on low. Cooking on low heat will help to increase the tender and juiciness of chicken thighs. Before eating make sure to measure the chicken with a meat thermometer, it should be at least 165 degrees f.
Prep and Storage Tips
HOW TO MAKE THIS RECIPE AHEAD OF TIME
This recipe is great to make ahead of time, for example you could make this before you go to work in the morning and have it be ready right when you get home.
HOW TO STORE THIS RECIPE
Store in an airtight container and store in the fridge, consume within 3-4 days.
HOW TO FREEZE THIS RECIPE
Store in freezer bag or container and for up to a year.
HOW TO REHEAT THIS RECIPE
Reheat in the microwave for 2 minutes and then flipping chicken and continue for 30 second intervals until hot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is highly recommend that you sear your chicken thighs as it will help the contain to juices, resulting is the most tender chicken you’ve ever had.
Yes, you can certainly put raw chicken in a Crock Pot as it will slowly and evenly cook the chicken.
It is very possibly that you can accidentally cook chicken for too long and it will slightly dry it out.
Yes, it is safe to do so and this recipe is perfect to make in the morning and enjoy in the evening.
Expert Tips for Making This Recipe
- Add Chicken Breasts for Chicken Thighs: If you prefer chicken breasts or don’t have any chicken thighs, using chicken breast will work as well!
- Short cut tip: For a quick cook time, cook on high heat for 3 hours, as opposed to 5-6 on low heat.
- Add Some Heat: For a spicy styled Brown Sugar Garlic Chicken, add red pepper flakes to the brown sugar mixture that you sprinkle over the chicken thighs. Or season with a little thyme and oregano to up the flavor. Veggies like onions can be used as well and top with a little parsley or fresh basil.
- Alternate Cooking Method: You can cook this recipe in the oven as well, add a little chicken broth to make more of a sauce.
- Slow Cooker Liner: Use these to make clean up a breeze.
What to Serve with Brown Sugar Garlic Chicken
- Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts
- Roasted Sweet and Spicy Cauliflower
- Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese
- Crispy Potatoes Wedges
- Perfect Brown Rice
Did you try this recipe?
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Crock Pot Garlic Brown Sugar Chicken
Ingredients
- 5-6 Chicken Thighs, we used bone-in and skin on
- ⅓ cup Brown Sugar
- 1 Tablespoon Minced Garlic, about 2-3 garlic cloves
- 2 Tablespoons Butter or Oil, Optional
- Salt and Pepper, to taste
Instructions
- You can add the chicken thighs directly to the Crockpot, but we wanted to sear them first to seal the chicken juices in and give a slightly crispy skin to the final meal.
- If you want to sear the chicken thighs, heat 2 Tablespoons of butter or oil in a skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add the chicken and cook for 4 minutes per side until golden brown.
- Place the chicken thighs in the crockpot in an even layer.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, garlic, salt and pepper. Sprinkle the brown sugar mixture over the chicken and place the lid of the Crockpot on.
- Set Crockpot to high heat for 3 hours, or low heat for 5-6 hours. Once the time is up, check the chicken with a meat thermometer to ensure it has reached 165F.
Expert Tips
- Add Chicken Breasts for Chicken Thighs: If you prefer chicken breasts or don’t have any chicken thighs, using chicken breast will work as well!
- Short cut tip: For a quick cook time, cook on high heat for 3 hours, as opposed to 5-6 on low heat.
- Add Some Heat: For a spicy styled Brown Sugar Garlic Chicken, add red pepper flakes to the brown sugar mixture that you sprinkle over the chicken thighs.
Excellent recipe
Thanks