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This slow cooker honey teriyaki chicken is so easy to throw together, and the flavor is out of this world! The chicken cooks to perfection and will be one of the best things you’ll ever make!
Reasons You’ll Love This Recipe=
- Easy to Make: This recipe takes a matter of minutes to throw into the slow cooker, and you can just set it and forget it!
- Budget-Friendly: All you need is chicken breasts and a handful of pantry items. During this economy, I’m all for cheap!
- Versatile: You can make this and use it for a variety of things. Sandwiches, bowls, tacos, salads, the possibilities are endless. Make it a meal and serve it over rice with crab rangoons and Asian cucumber salad.
Picky Eater Approved
My 7-year-old is the pickiest eater that you will meet. We keep hoping that he will grow out of it, but he keeps getting older and still doesn’t like a lot of foods. We at least have him try a couple of bites of what we eat, but he usually gags it down. If you ask him what his favorite meal on the blog is, he will say this teriyaki chicken. And if he likes it, I am convinced that the world will like it!
Ingredients For Slow Cooker Honey Teriyaki Chicken
How to Make Slow Cooker Honey Teriyaki Chicken
You can always count on the slow cooker to help you with dinner time! The tasty sauce clings to the tender shredded chicken, and every bite is so flavorful! I walk you through every step with my easy-to-follow instructions and pictures!
- Prepare: Spray the slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray and place the chicken breasts in the bottom.
- Whisk: In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, honey, rice wine vinegar, chopped onion, minced garlic, pepper, and ground ginger.
- Add Sauce and Cook: Pour the sauce mixture over the chicken. Cover and cook on HIGH for 3-4 hours or LOW for 5-6 hours.
- Shred the Chicken: Once the chicken is cooked, remove it with a slotted spoon and shred it using two forks.
- Thicken the Sauce: Pour the sauce left in the bottom of the crockpot into a medium saucepan. In a small bowl, whisk together the water and cornstarch, then slowly whisk that into the sauce on medium-high heat. Continue to whisk and let it boil until the sauce starts to thicken, about 2 minutes.
- Combine and Serve: Add the chicken back to the slow cooker and pour the sauce on top, stirring to coat. Serve over rice and garnish with green onions and sesame seeds, if desired.
Tips and Instant Pot Instructions
I know this recipe will become a family favorite at your house, just like it did at ours! Here are some ideas and variations to make it your own! I also included instructions for making it in the instant pot when you’re short on time!
- What is the best chicken to use? This recipe uses chicken breasts, but I love boneless, skinless chicken thighs! The chicken thigh really absorbs the flavors of the sauce and is SO tender when cooked in the slow cooker.
- Serve it With Veggies! Make this a full meal and serve it with broccoli, green beans, or any veggie your family loves! Vegetables add texture and nutrition.
- Instant Pot Instructions: This easily converts to a quick Instant Pot recipe. Perfect for when you’re short on time or forget to prep this for the slow cooker. Add the chicken breasts to the bottom of the instant pot. Follow the directions for making the sauce and pour it over the chicken. Cook on “Manual” for 25 minutes. Lastly, quick-release the pressure and follow the instructions for shredding the chicken and thickening the sauce.
Slow Cooker Honey Teriyaki Chicken Leftovers
Store any leftover honey teriyaki chicken because it’s great for heating up and enjoying later! I like to make a little extra rice as well for a quick lunch that’s super satisfying!
- In the Refrigerator: Place leftovers in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- In the Freezer: Once cooled, store leftovers in an air-tight container or freezer ziplock bag for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before rewarming.
- To Reheat: Place leftovers in a microwave-safe bowl, then heat for 1-2 minutes or until warmed through.
More Ways To Make Teriyaki Chicken
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Slow Cooker Honey Teriyaki Chicken
Ingredients
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, about 2 pounds
- ½ cup soy sauce
- ½ cup honey
- ¼ cup rice wine vinegar
- ¼ cup chopped onion
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic, 2 cloves
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- ¾ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ cup water
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- green onions, optional garnish
- sesame seeds, optional garnish
Instructions
- Spray the slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray and place 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, in the bottom.
- In a small bowl whisk together ½ cup soy sauce, ½ cup honey, ¼ cup rice wine vinegar, ¼ cup chopped onion, 2 teaspoons minced garlic, ¼ teaspoon pepper, and ¾ teaspoon ground ginger.
- Pour the sauce mixture over the chicken. Cover and cook on HIGH for 3-4 hours or LOW for 5-6 hours.
- Once the chicken is cooked, remove it with a slotted spoon and shred it using two forks.
- Pour the sauce into a medium saucepan. In a small bowl, whisk together ¼ cup water and 3 tablespoons cornstarch. Slowly whisk into the sauce on medium-high heat. Continue to whisk and let it boil until the sauce starts to thicken about 2 minutes.
- Add the chicken back to the slow cooker and pour the sauce on top stirring to coat. Serve over rice and garnish with green onions, and sesame seeds, if desired.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Hello! This sounds so great I’m making it today
2 questions
Do you tenderize the chicken breasts first?
Can I use flour in lieu of corn starch?
Thank you!
It depends on the recipe with tenderizing the chicken. This one I did not. You are always welcome to though. You are welcome to change or adapt the recipe in your own way. Using flour will work great! Thanks so much for following along! You will love this chicken!! XOXO
Could this be made in the Instant Pot? If so, what would the timing & directions be? Thank you!!
Hi! Do you ever double this recipe in the slow cooker? I’m making this for 3 couples and 3 kids (so 9, but 3 are toddlers) on Saturday and I have a very large slow cooker but curious if the chicken will cook correctly if I double the recipe. Thanks!
I just made this for dinner and my entire family LOVED it which is really saying something. Simple, unique and flavorful, DO NOT miss out on this one!
That is so great to hear! Thank you so much for sharing! XOXO
YUMMY…..
Awesome
Hi ALYSSA COULD YOU TELL ME PLEASE IF THE RECIPE IS I AMERCAN CUP SIZES .IF SO I WOULD NEED TO CHANGE TO BRITISH WEIGHTS
Thank you
You are welcome!! Thank you for following along with me!! XOXO
Yes! All of my recipes are in American, the metric system. Hope that helps!! XOXO
My house smells amaaaazing!!!! I cant wait to take a bite!
That is awesome to hear!! I am love the smell of a slow cooker!! Enjoy your delicious meal! XOXO
Does the 1/4 cup water go with the soy sauce/honey mixture? It doesnt state to add this when mixing ingredients.
I now see the water part, sorry~ Cant wait to make this!!
This recipe tastes sooooo good! The only things I changed was that I used white vinegar (the only kind I had) and I browned the chicken before placing in the slow cooker so I could chop it instead of shredding. Added the corn starch mixture right into the slow cooker with chopped chicken until thickened. So good!
I put my chicken breasts frozen. They are juicier & very tender in approx 5 hrs. Be sure they are separated
I made this for my family tonight. My husband and I loved it as is but my son would have preferred that the sauce not be thickened. I think you could also make it and use the meat without the sauce on a sandwich or lettuce wrap with some crispy vegetables. Thank you for a great recipe.
I always use fresh ginger (well, okay, I store it in the freezer) and grind it when I need it.
I don’t have any ground ginger, but do have fresh. Could I substitute?
This sounds like something I could make ahead, freeze, and then cook when needed. Has anyone tried that yet? It would be like marinating the chicken for a while and would probably increase the cook time, but I’m not sure how long.
is there a way that this can be cooked for longer? I work during the day and would like to put this on to come home to at night. Something like 8 hours? Maybe put double the liquid so it doesn’s dry out?
I use a indoor x-mas tree timer plugged into my slow cooker and outlet. Set it to turn on or off at whatever time.
Hi! Can’t wait to try this….
Just wondering: In the directions you mention to whisk the first few ingredients together, including onion. Did you mean the green onion? I don’t see any other type of onion on the list of ingredients so I wanted to be sure.
Thanks!