Name: Slow Cooker Honey Sesame Chicken
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 4 h
Total time: 4 h 5 min
Yield: 8
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken (breasts or thighs); salt and pepper; 1 small onion, finely chopped; 3 cloves garlic, grated; 1 Tablespoon fresh ginger, grated; 1/2 cup honey; 1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce; 1/4 cup ketchup; 2 Tablespoons canola oil; 1/4 -1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes; 4 teaspoon cornstarch; 1/3 cup warm water; 3 Tablespoons toasted sesame seeds; 2 green onions, chopped (optional garnish); 3 cups cooked white rice

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Crockpot Honey Sesame Chicken combines simple ingredients you probably have in your pantry with an effortless cooking method to create a standout dinner without the fuss.

It’s astonishing how tempting takeout menus are on a busy weeknight. That’s why I like to keep a few better-than-takeout recipes on hand. And using a crockpot means I can start early in the day, and the food is ready to eat when dinner rolls around.

Crockpot Teriyaki Chicken and Slow Cooker Sesame Beef Noodles have been long-time favorites. And now I can add Crockpot Honey Sesame Chicken to the repertoire.

When you need a quick, easy, filling dinner, reach for these tried-and-true crockpot recipes. After you taste this home-cooked Honey Sesame Chicken, you won’t hesitate to delete all those food delivery apps.

slow cooker honey and sesame chicken on a plate

Table of Contents show

Why This Recipe Works

Crockpot Honey Sesame Chicken is that weeknight superhero recipe for when you simply don’t have time to spend at the stove.

Freshly grated garlic and ginger create a punchy, umami flavor bomb in every bite.
Cornstarch eliminates any guesswork and thickens the sauce perfectly.
Since the crockpot does virtually all the work, you have time to whip up some extraordinary sides that’ll blow your family away.

What You’ll Need

Chicken – Use boneless and skinless chicken. Both breasts or thighs will work, but I prefer using thighs in a crockpot because they won’t dry out as much over the long cooking time.
Onion
Garlic – Since garlic is a prominent flavor in this dish, I’d stick to the fresh stuff. Skip the pre-minced, tubed, or powdered versions because you won’t get as much flavor from them.
Ginger – Just like with the garlic, you’ll want to use freshly grated ginger for the best flavor.
Honey
Soy Sauce – If you want, you can use Teriyaki sauce instead for a little more sweetness and added ginger goodness.
Ketchup – Don’t skip the ketchup! Even though it might seem like a surprising ingredient, even professionals use ketchup in their honey sesame chicken.
Canola Oil
Red Pepper Flakes – Feel free to omit this if you don’t want any heat.
Cornstarch
Water
Sesame Seeds – Either toast these yourself or buy toasted ones. The depth of flavor you get once these seeds are toasted to golden brown is unmatched.
Green Onion – This is an optional garnish, but it really perks up the whole dish.

How to Make Crockpot Honey Sesame Chicken

Create Honey Sauce – Mix together all of the ingredients except the cornstarch, water, and toppings.
Season & Coat the Chicken – Season the chicken on both sides with salt and pepper, and add it to the slow cooker. Then, pour the honey sauce mixture over the top.
Cover & Cook – Cover the crock pot, and set it to cook on low for 3-4 hours.
Remove the Chicken & Thicken the Sauce – When there are 20 minutes left in the cooking time, remove the chicken from the crockpot. Mix cornstarch and warm water until dissolved, then whisk it into the sauce. Cover the sauce and cook for the last 20 minutes until it’s glossy and thick.
Shred the Chicken & Combine All Ingredients – Shred the chicken, and add it to the sauce. Toss to coat and allow it to reheat thoroughly.
Serve – Spoon the Honey Sesame Chicken over rice, and garnish with toasted sesame seeds and chopped green onions.

Recipe Tips

If you want to save some dishes, mix the honey sauce in the crockpot. Then, add the chicken to the sauce and flip it to coat.
The sauce won’t get thick immediately after you add the cornstarch. It needs to come to a simmer to fully thicken. So don’t stress if the sauce is thin when you add the shredded chicken.

Storage

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. They’ll keep for 1-2 days.

Can I Make Ahead of Time

You can make the honey sauce and add it to a resealable freezer bag a day or two in advance. Then, place raw chicken into the bag, and leave it in the fridge to marinate for a few hours or overnight. When you’re ready to cook, pour the contents into your slow cooker and you’re set!

close up honey sesame chicken in a bowl over white rice

How To Serve Honey Sesame Chicken

Rice is a classic side dish for Honey Sesame Chicken that’s hard to beat. I love this Instant Pot Jasmine Rice because it always comes out fluffy and perfect.

Green Beans with Bacon are also a must try along with the Honey Sesame Chicken. The beans can take the place of rice if you’re on a carb-conscious diet. However, the meal is best if you serve all three––chicken, rice, and green beans in a bowl sprinkled with sesame seeds and green onions. Seriously, even takeout can’t beat it.

For a fun and surprising side, serve up some Parmesan Garlic Roasted Edamame. They’re crispy, coated in cheese, and so addicting.

My ultimate dinner would be serving the Honey Sesame Chicken with all these pairings. You’ll create a weeknight spread that’s as easy to pull off as it is exciting and delicious.

More Comforting Slow Cooker Recipes

Yield: 8

Slow Cooker Honey Sesame Chicken

Crockpot Honey Sesame Chicken combines simple ingredients you probably have in your pantry with an effortless cooking method to create a standout dinner without the fuss.

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 4 hours

Total Time 4 hours 5 minutes

Ingredients

2 pounds boneless skinless chicken (breasts or thighs)
salt and pepper
1 small onion, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, grated
1 Tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce
1/4 cup ketchup
2 Tablespoons canola oil
1/4 -1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
4 teaspoon cornstarch
1/3 cup warm water
3 Tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
2 green onions, chopped (optional garnish)
3 cups cooked white rice

Instructions

In a bowl combine onion, garlic, ginger, honey, soy sauce, ketchup, canola oil, and red pepper flakes. Mix to combine.
Place chicken in the slow cooker. Season with salt and pepper. Pour honey mixture over chicken.
Cover and cook on low for 3-4 hours.
During the last 20 minutes of cooking remove the chicken from the slow cooker. Dissolve cornstarch in the warm water. Add to sauce, and whisk to combine. Cover and cook for 20 minutes.
Meanwhile shred the chicken. Add back to the sauce, tossing to combine.
Serve over rice, with a sprinkle of sesame seeds. Garnish with green onions if desired.

Notes

Recipe adapted from Damn Delicious

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Slow Cooker

Nutrition Information

Yield

Serving Size

1
Amount Per Serving Calories 433Total Fat 14gSaturated Fat 3gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 9gCholesterol 101mgSodium 779mgCarbohydrates 41gFiber 1gSugar 20gProtein 37g

Nutrition Disclaimer: All information presented on this site is intended for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information shared on dinnersdishesanddesserts.com should only be used as a general guideline.

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Erin S

Welcome to Dinners, Dishes, & Desserts where my love of food meets my busy life. My name is Erin and I’m a casual home cook who loves to feed people. On this blog, you’ll find hundreds of quick and easy recipes made mostly from scratch. My days are spent in the kitchen, creating new recipes to share with family and friends.