Description
Sticky Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs are the ultimate comfort meal your family craves, packed with bold flavors that bring everyone running to the dinner table. Tender chicken smothered in a glossy, sweet-savory sauce makes weeknight cooking a total breeze.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs
Sauce Ingredients:
- ½ cup soy sauce
- ⅓ cup honey
- ¼ cup ketchup
- 4 cloves garlic
- 2 teaspoons fresh ginger
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Thickening Agents:
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons cold water
Instructions
- Craft the sauce by combining ½ cup soy sauce, ⅓ cup honey, ¼ cup ketchup, 4 minced garlic cloves, 2 teaspoons grated ginger, and optional ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes in a medium bowl. Whisk until smooth.
- Arrange 2 pounds of boneless chicken thighs in a single layer inside your crockpot. Pour the entire sauce mixture over the chicken, ensuring complete coverage.
- Cover the crockpot and cook on high temperature for 3.5 hours or low temperature for 6-7 hours until chicken becomes extremely tender.
- Carefully transfer chicken to a large bowl using tongs. Let it rest momentarily.
- Prepare thickening agent by mixing 2 tablespoons cornstarch with 2 tablespoons cold water in a small bowl until completely combined.
- Pour cornstarch mixture into crockpot sauce. Stir gently to incorporate.
- Cover crockpot and allow sauce to thicken for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Shred chicken using two forks or an electric mixer until it pulls apart easily.
- Return shredded chicken to crockpot. Stir thoroughly to coat each piece with thickened sauce.
- Serve hot over steamed rice, garnishing with sesame seeds or chopped green onions for extra texture and visual appeal.
Notes
- Ensure chicken thighs are bone-in and skin-on for maximum flavor and tenderness during slow cooking.
- Adjust red pepper flakes based on preferred spice level, keeping in mind that slow cooking can mellow heat.
- For a gluten-free version, swap soy sauce with tamari or coconut aminos to maintain the savory profile.
- Leftover chicken freezes beautifully and can be reheated in the microwave or stovetop with a splash of extra sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours 45 minutes (including thickening)
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 311 kcal
- Sugar: 17 g
- Sodium: 1165 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 2.8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7.2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 0.4 g
- Protein: 27 g
- Cholesterol: 105 mg