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–+ servings
Shredded honey garlic chicken over brown rice in a bowl and garnished with sliced scallions and sesame seeds.

Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken

This tried and tested recipe for Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken stars super-tender pulled chicken doused in a sweet, tangy, garlicky soy sauce.
4.85 from 19 votes
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 5 hours
Total Time 5 hours 20 minutes
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients  

  • 3 large bone-in, skinless chicken breasts (2 1/2 to 3 lbs total)
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce
  • 1/4 cup blackberry jam
  • 1/4 cup hoisin sauce
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cup diced onion
  • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 1 Tablespoon cornstarch
  • Sliced scallions, for garnish
  • Sesame seeds, for garnish

Equipment:

  • slow cooker

Instructions 

  • Arrange the chicken breasts in the slow cooker so that they are not overlapping.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together the honey, soy sauce, blackberry jam, hoisin, olive oil, garlic, onion and crushed red pepper flakes, and then pour the sauce over the chicken. Cover the slow cooker and cook the chicken on LOW for 4 to 5 hours until the chicken is fully cooked.
  • Using tongs, remove the chicken from the slow cooker (reserving the liquids) and place it on a cutting board. Remove the bones then use two forks to shred the chicken into smaller pieces. Place the shredded chicken in a large bowl.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch with 3 tablespoons of cold water to make a slurry.
  • Transfer the liquids from the slow cooker into a small saucepan set over medium-high heat and whisk in the slurry. Bring the sauce to a boil and cook it until it reduces and has thickened slightly, about 3 minutes. Pour the sauce over the chicken, tossing to combine. Serve the chicken topped with sliced scallions and sesame seeds.

Notes

  • To make this dish kid-friendly, simply leave out the crushed red pepper flakes.
  • Using bone-in chicken breasts, rather than boneless chicken breasts, is key to guaranteeing moist, tender shredded chicken.
  • Depending on your preferences, you may want to pour only a portion of the sauce over the shredded chicken. Any leftover sauce can be served with other proteins or veggies.
  • Storage: Once your leftovers have cooled to room temperature, transfer them to an airtight container. Your honey garlic chicken will stay fresh in the refrigerator for 3-4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. To reheat, let the frozen chicken thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave, adding a splash of water to retain moisture.
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