Description
This Slow Cooker Honey Sesame Chicken is a delicious and easy-to-make Asian-inspired dish featuring tender shredded chicken thighs simmered in a flavorful honey soy sauce, thickened to perfection and garnished with sesame seeds and green onions. Perfect for busy weeknights, it cooks low and slow, resulting in juicy, melt-in-your-mouth chicken served best over steamed rice or noodles.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Sauce Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
Thickening and Garnish
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons cold water
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
- Sliced green onions for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken and Sauce: Place the chicken in the bottom of the slow cooker. In a medium bowl, whisk together the honey, low-sodium soy sauce, ketchup, rice vinegar, sesame oil, minced garlic, grated ginger, and crushed red pepper flakes if using. Pour this sauce mixture evenly over the chicken.
- Cook the Chicken: Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 4 to 5 hours or on high for 2 to 3 hours, until the chicken is cooked through and tender enough to shred easily with two forks.
- Shred the Chicken: Using two forks, remove the chicken from the slow cooker and shred it into bite-sized pieces. Set aside temporarily.
- Thicken the Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and cold water until smooth. Stir this mixture into the sauce inside the slow cooker. Return the shredded chicken to the pot and mix well to combine.
- Final Cook: Cover and cook on high for an additional 10 to 15 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened to a glossy consistency, coating the chicken beautifully.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle sesame seeds and sliced green onions over the chicken just before serving. Serve hot over steamed rice or your favorite noodles for a complete meal.
Notes
- For a lower-sugar version, reduce honey to 1/3 cup.
- Chicken thighs keep the dish more moist and flavorful compared to chicken breasts.
- Leftovers keep well refrigerated for up to 4 days.
- Serve with steamed rice or noodles for best results.
