Honey-Glazed Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs

By AislePrompt Test Kitchen · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · ·

Fall-off-the-bone chicken thighs with a sticky-sweet honey-ginger glaze, perfect for effortless weeknight dinners. This asian-inspired slow cooker ready in about 310 minutes pairs boneless chicken thighs, honey, low-sodium soy sauce for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 420 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

★ 3.5 (15 ratings) Prep: 10 min Cook: 300 min Serves 4 Asian cuisine 420 cal/serving
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Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Step 1: Pat 2 lbs boneless chicken thighs dry with paper towels and season evenly with salt and pepper.
  2. Step 2: In a small bowl, whisk together 1/4 cup honey, 3 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce, 1 tbsp grated fresh ginger, 2 minced garlic cloves, 2 tbsp rice vinegar, and 1 tsp sesame oil until well combined.
  3. Step 3: Place chicken thighs in a slow cooker and pour honey glaze mixture evenly over them. Stir gently to coat.
  4. Step 4: Cover and cook on LOW for 4-5 hours until chicken reaches 165°F internally and is fork-tender.
  5. Step 5: Remove chicken from slow cooker, reserving 1/4 cup of the cooking liquid. Skim excess fat from the sauce, then return sauce to a small saucepan over medium heat. Simmer for 5-7 minutes until reduced by half and thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon.
  6. Step 6: Drizzle glaze over chicken and sprinkle with 1 tbsp sesame seeds before serving.

Equipment for this recipe

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Frequently asked questions

How long does Honey-Glazed Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs take to make?

Total time is about 310 minutes (10 min prep + 300 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.

How do I store leftover Honey-Glazed Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs?

Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep boneless chicken thighs from drying out.

Can I substitute ingredients in Honey-Glazed Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs?

Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.

How do I scale Honey-Glazed Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs for a different number of people?

The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.

What goes well with Honey-Glazed Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs?

Asian slow cooker like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.

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