Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs With Honey Garlic Sauce

Why You’ll Want to Put These Chicken Thighs on the Menu

There are so many reasons you’ll love this slow cooker chicken thigh recipe. Here are just a few!

• Tender and juicy. Chicken thighs are awesome for the crockpot because they don’t run the risk of getting tough with the long cooking time. They turn out PERFECT every time!
• So flavorful. The honey garlic sauce is everything! It’s sweet, savory, garlicky, and a little bit spicy. It infuses so much flavor into the chicken thighs as they cook.
• Practically effortless. There’s really nothing to this recipe. Just add the chicken thighs to the crockpot and pour the sauce over the top! Then right before you’re ready to eat, broil the chicken thighs to brown them.

What You’ll Need

So many of the ingredients you’ll need for these slow cooker chicken thighs are pantry staples. Scroll down to the recipe card to find the ingredient quantities and recipe instructions.

For the Chicken Thighs:

• Chicken thighs – Use boneless, skinless chicken thighs for this recipe.
• Seasonings – Salt, black pepper, and garlic powder.

For the Sauce:

• Honey – Use a drippy, pourable honey.
• Tamari – Low-sodium soy sauce also works, but tamari keeps this recipe gluten-free.
• Sriracha – For a kick! You can adjust the amount to your taste preferences.
• Ground ginger and smoked paprika – These add some warmth and smokiness to the sauce.
• Garlic – We add LOTS of garlic to make the sauce garlicky. 
• Chicken broth – You can use water instead, but chicken broth adds some flavor along with helping the sauce reach the right consistency.

How to Make Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs

Let’s get started! Here’s what you’ll need to do.

• Season the chicken. Season both sides with salt, pepper, and garlic powder and set them in the bottom of a slow cooker coated with cooking spray.
• Make the sauce. Whisk together all of the ingredients until everything is combined. Pour half over the chicken and reserve the other half.

• Cook. Slow cook on HIGH for 2 to 2.5 hours or on LOW for 4 hours, until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
• Broil. Transfer the chicken to a foil-lined baking sheet and brush with the remaining sauce. Broil for 3 to 4 minutes, until the chicken is browned, then serve.

Tips and Variations

Here are a few more tips and variation ideas for this slow cooker chicken thigh recipe!

• Add fresh ginger. If you love the flavor of ginger, this will give the sauce a little extra warmth. Just swap the dried ginger for 2 to 3 teaspoons of freshly grated ginger.
• Use an instant read thermometer. It’s the best way to know when chicken is done! Insert it into the thickest part of the chicken thigh to get the temperature.
• Don’t skip the broiling! Seriously, it’s so worth it. The sauce thickens into a sticky glaze and the chicken thighs get golden brown. SO good.

What to Serve With These Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs

Plate the chicken thighs with rice and Perfectly Crispy Air Fryer Green Beans for a simple dinner. Or lean into those Asian flavors and serve it with Cauliflower Fried Rice! You can pair it with just about any vegetable too, from Grilled Sweet Potatoes to Air Fryer Asparagus.

How to Store and Reheat Leftovers

• Refrigerator: Transfer leftover slow cooker chicken thighs to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days.
• Freezer: You can also freeze the chicken thighs in a freezer bag with the air pressed out for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before reheating.
• To reheat: Warm leftovers in a 350ºF oven until heated through or use the microwave. The air fryer also works.

More Slow Cooker Favorites

• Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa
• Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon
• Crock Pot Vegetarian Chili
• Beer Braised Slow Cooker Brisket Sliders