Easy Crockpot Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs: Best 4-Ingredient Dinner
These easy crockpot honey garlic chicken thighs require only four ingredients and five minutes of prep. The result is a sticky, sweet, and savory sauce that coats tender chicken thighs, making it a perfect weeknight dinner.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours (on LOW) or 2.5 hours (on HIGH)
- Total Time: 4 hours 5 minutes (on LOW) or 2 hours 35 minutes (on HIGH)
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 to 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 4 to 5 cloves garlic, minced (or 1 tablespoon pre-minced)
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons cold water (optional, for thickening)
- Sesame seeds and sliced green onions (for garnish, optional)
- Cooked rice or quinoa (for serving, optional)
Instructions
- Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels. Optionally, sprinkle with a tiny pinch of black pepper (do not add salt).
- In a small bowl or directly in the crockpot, whisk together the honey, soy sauce, and minced garlic until combined.
- Place the chicken thighs in the bottom of the crockpot in a single layer if possible. Pour the sauce over the top, ensuring each piece is coated.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 4 to 5 hours, or on HIGH for 2.5 to 3 hours, until the chicken is fork-tender.
- For a thicker sauce, remove the chicken with tongs and set aside. In a small bowl, mix 1 tablespoon cornstarch with 2 tablespoons cold water until smooth. Pour the slurry into the sauce in the crockpot, stir, and cook on HIGH uncovered for 5 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens.
- Return the chicken to the crockpot and spoon the thickened sauce over each piece. Let sit for a minute or two.
- Serve the chicken over rice or quinoa, garnished with sesame seeds and sliced green onions if desired.
Notes
Use low-sodium soy sauce to avoid excessive saltiness. Chicken thighs are preferred over breasts for tenderness. For a spicier version, add 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes or 1 tablespoon sriracha. Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 1/4
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 28
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 16
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Carbohydrates: 30
- Protein: 33
Keywords: crockpot honey garlic chicken, easy chicken thighs, 4-ingredient dinner, slow cooker chicken, honey garlic chicken