Description
This Slow Cooker Honey Sesame Chicken is a flavorful and easy Asian-inspired dish featuring tender chicken thighs cooked in a sweet and savory honey sesame sauce. Perfect for busy weeknights, it combines honey, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and a hint of heat, served over steamed rice for a comforting meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
Sauce
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Thickening & Garnish
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water
- 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
- 3 green onions, sliced
To Serve
- Steamed white rice
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Place the boneless, skinless chicken thighs in the bottom of your slow cooker to create a base for the sauce.
- Mix the Sauce: In a medium bowl, whisk together the honey, low-sodium soy sauce, ketchup, rice vinegar, sesame oil, minced garlic, grated fresh ginger, and crushed red pepper flakes until well combined.
- Cook the Chicken: Pour the prepared sauce over the chicken thighs in the slow cooker, cover, and cook on low for 4 hours or on high for 2 hours until the chicken is fully cooked and tender.
- Shred the Chicken: Remove the cooked chicken thighs from the slow cooker and shred them finely using two forks for consistent texture.
- Thicken the Sauce: In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch and water to make a slurry. Whisk this mixture into the sauce remaining in the slow cooker. Turn the heat to high and cook for 10 to 15 minutes until the sauce thickens considerably.
- Combine Chicken and Sauce: Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker and stir thoroughly to evenly coat it with the thickened sauce.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle toasted sesame seeds and sliced green onions over the top for added flavor and texture. Serve hot over steamed white rice for a complete meal.
Notes
- This dish can also be served with quinoa or cauliflower rice as a lighter or lower-carb option.
- For extra flavor and a spicy kick, drizzle with sriracha or add an additional splash of sesame oil before serving.
- Leftover honey sesame chicken can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup chicken with sauce
- Calories: 360 kcal
- Sugar: 21 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 34 g
- Cholesterol: 145 mg
