Slow Cooker Citrus-Honey Chicken Thighs
Tender chicken thighs slow-cooked in a bright citrus and honey glaze that infuses every bite with sweet and tangy flavors. This slow-cooker recipe, ready in about 315 minutes, pairs bone-in chicken thighs, orange juice, lemon juice for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 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.
Ingredients
- 6 pieces bone-in chicken thighs
- 1 cup orange juice
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 3 tbsp honey
- 4, minced garlic cloves
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp, grated fresh ginger
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
The slow cooker we’d leave this in all day → Best Slow Cookers in 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Season 6 bone-in chicken thighs with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper, then brown them in the skillet for 3-4 minutes per side until golden. Transfer the thighs to the slow cooker.
- Step 2: In a bowl, whisk together 1 cup orange juice, 1/4 cup lemon juice, 3 tbsp honey, 4 minced garlic cloves, 2 tbsp soy sauce, and 1 tbsp grated fresh ginger until well combined.
- Step 3: Pour the citrus-honey sauce over the chicken thighs in the slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 5 hours or on high for 3 hours until the chicken is tender and cooked through.
- Step 4: Remove the chicken thighs and set aside. Pour the sauce from the slow cooker into a saucepan over medium heat and simmer for 5-7 minutes until it thickens slightly and coats the back of a spoon.
- Step 5: Return the chicken to the sauce, spoon over the glaze, and garnish with 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro before serving.








