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Honey Garlic Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs

Honey garlic slow cooker chicken thighs with a glossy honey-soy glaze, cooked until tender and then thickened for a clingy finish. Bone-in, skin-on chicken simmers low-and-slow, with an optional broil for extra caramelized skin.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 hours
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 520
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Chicken
  • 4 bone-in skin-on chicken thighs
Honey garlic sauce
  • 0.333 cup honey
  • 0.25 cup soy sauce
  • 4 garlic minced
  • 2 tbsp ketchup
  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 0.5 tsp ground ginger
  • 0.25 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 0.25 tsp black pepper
  • 2 tbsp cornstarch
  • 2 tbsp cold water
  • 1 sesame seeds for garnish
  • 1 green onions for garnish

Equipment

  • 1 slow cooker

Method
 

Layer and season
  1. Place the bone-in skin-on chicken thighs skin-side up in the slow cooker.
  2. Whisk together honey, soy sauce, minced garlic, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, ground ginger, red pepper flakes, and black pepper until smooth.
  3. Pour the honey garlic sauce over the chicken thighs so they’re coated as evenly as possible.
Slow cook until tender
  1. Cook on low for 5–6 hours (or high for 2.5–3 hours) until the chicken is cooked through and tender.
  2. Remove the chicken and set it aside while you thicken the sauce.
Thicken glaze and finish
  1. Whisk cornstarch and cold water together, then stir it into the sauce in the slow cooker.
  2. Cook on high for 15 minutes until the sauce is thickened and glossy.
  3. Optional: broil the chicken for 3–4 minutes to caramelize the skin.
  4. Spoon the thickened sauce over the chicken, then garnish with sesame seeds and green onions.

Notes

Pro tip: Keep the chicken skin-side up so it stays intact and helps the glaze cling. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge up to 3 days; reheat gently until hot (sauce may thicken—add a splash of water). Freezing is yes, up to 2 months; thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat. For a lower-sugar option, use reduced-sugar honey or a honey substitute measured cup-for-cup, and expect a slightly less sticky finish.