Slow Cooker Honjozo-Style Braised Chicken Thighs

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-25 · Updated 2026-04-25

Tender chicken thighs slowly braised in a subtly sweet sake-infused broth inspired by traditional honjozo brewing methods. This Japanese-inspired slow-cooker recipe, ready in about 370 minutes, pairs bone-in chicken thighs, honjozo sake, soy sauce for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 350 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 (about 1.5 lbs) bone-in chicken thighs
• 1/4 cup honjozo sake
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 2 tbsp mirin
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1-inch piece, thinly sliced ginger
• 3, smashed garlic cloves
• 2 stalks, cut into 2-inch pieces green onions

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Place 6 bone-in chicken thighs in the slow cooker. Add 1-inch thinly sliced ginger and 3 smashed garlic cloves evenly over the chicken.
2. Step 2: In a bowl, whisk together 1/4 cup honjozo sake, 1/4 cup soy sauce, 2 tbsp mirin, and 1 tbsp brown sugar until sugar dissolves.
3. Step 3: Pour the sake-soy mixture over the chicken. Add 2 stalks green onions cut into 2-inch pieces on top.
4. Step 4: Cover and cook on low for 6 hours or until the chicken is tender and fully cooked, absorbing the fragrant sake broth.
5. Step 5: Remove green onions before serving. Serve chicken with steamed rice or vegetables to soak up the flavorful braising liquid.