Easy Crockpot Honey Sesame Chicken: Your Ultimate Weeknight Fakeout Takeout Recipe
Transform your busy weeknights with Crockpot Honey Sesame Chicken – a flavorful, fuss-free meal that brings the deliciousness of your favorite takeout right to your dinner table. Simple ingredients, minimal effort, maximum flavor!
In our increasingly busy lives, the siren call of takeout menus on a hectic weeknight is incredibly powerful. The promise of instant convenience is tempting, but the recurring cost, the often-questionable ingredients, and the lack of control over preparation can leave us feeling unsatisfied. This is precisely why cultivating a collection of “better-than-takeout” recipes is an absolute game-changer for any home cook. And when those recipes harness the magic of a crockpot or slow cooker, mealtime transitions from a chore to an effortless pleasure. Imagine starting your dinner prep early in the day, then returning home to a kitchen filled with the inviting aroma of a delicious, home-cooked meal, perfectly ready and waiting to be savored.
Dishes like Crockpot Teriyaki Chicken and Slow Cooker Sesame Beef Noodles have long been celebrated favorites in many households for their incredible ease and robust flavors. Now, prepare to add another sensational, family-friendly dish to your culinary repertoire: Crockpot Honey Sesame Chicken. This recipe promises to deliver all the deeply satisfying, sweet and savory flavors of classic Asian-inspired sesame chicken, but with the added benefits of homemade goodness, customizable ingredients, and the unparalleled convenience of slow cooking. Once you experience the succulent, tender chicken drenched in its perfectly balanced, glossy sauce, beautifully garnished with crunchy toasted sesame seeds and fresh green onions, you’ll find yourself eagerly deleting those food delivery apps, opting instead for this consistently satisfying and surprisingly simple creation.
Why This Slow Cooker Honey Sesame Chicken Recipe is a Weeknight Essential
This Crockpot Honey Sesame Chicken isn’t just another dinner recipe; it’s a true weeknight superhero, designed to rescue you when your schedule is packed, and your energy levels are low. It’s engineered for maximum flavor with minimal hands-on effort, making it an ideal choice for busy families, meal preppers, and anyone craving delicious food without the fuss. Here’s a closer look at what makes this recipe truly outstanding:
- Explosive, Authentic Flavor Profile: Forget bland, uninspired meals. This recipe meticulously combines freshly grated garlic and ginger, along with a perfectly balanced blend of sweet honey and savory soy sauce, creating a deeply aromatic and punchy umami flavor bomb in every single bite. The extended, gentle slow cooking process allows these vibrant flavors to meld together beautifully, resulting in a complex, rich, and satisfying taste that can easily rival any restaurant-quality Asian dish. It’s a symphony of sweet, savory, and spicy notes.
- Consistently Perfect, Glossy Sauce: No more worrying about thin, watery sauces that don’t cling to your chicken! The clever and strategic addition of cornstarch ensures that your honey sesame sauce thickens perfectly to a glossy, rich, and irresistible consistency. This simple yet effective trick elevates the entire dish, making it feel gourmet with hardly any extra work. You’ll achieve that coveted, sticky glaze that is the hallmark of truly delicious honey sesame chicken.
- Effortless, Truly Hands-Off Cooking: The unparalleled beauty of a crockpot lies in its ability to handle virtually all the heavy lifting in the kitchen. Once your ingredients are combined and in the pot, you can genuinely “set it and forget it,” leaving you completely free to tackle other tasks, run errands, spend time with loved ones, or simply relax. This means significantly less time spent actively cooking at the stove and more precious time for yourself. The slow cooker’s gentle heat ensures the chicken becomes incredibly tender and moist without the risk of drying it out, a common pitfall with other cooking methods.
- Highly Versatile and Easily Customizable: This recipe serves as an excellent foundational base for endless customization. Do you crave more heat? Feel free to add an extra pinch or two of red pepper flakes. Prefer a touch more sweetness? A slight adjustment to the honey will do the trick. It’s incredibly easy to adapt to your family’s specific preferences, ensuring that everyone at the table finds something to absolutely adore. You can even experiment with adding vegetables directly to the pot.
- A Healthier Alternative to Traditional Takeout: By preparing your honey sesame chicken from scratch at home, you gain complete and total control over every single ingredient. You can confidently opt for low-sodium soy sauce to manage salt intake, choose lean, high-quality chicken, and avoid the excess oils, artificial additives, and preservatives often found in commercial takeout options. It’s a deliciously smart way to enjoy all your favorite flavors while effortlessly adhering to a healthier diet and lifestyle.
Essential Ingredients for Your Perfect Honey Sesame Chicken
One of the most appealing aspects of this incredible recipe is its reliance on readily available, everyday ingredients. Many of these staples are likely already stocked in your pantry or refrigerator, making this a convenient choice for any night of the week. Utilizing fresh, high-quality components will undeniably elevate the final flavor of your dish, so let’s delve into the specifics of what you’ll need to gather:
- Chicken: For optimal results, use boneless and skinless chicken. Both chicken breasts and chicken thighs will work beautifully, but I often recommend using thighs in a crockpot. Their slightly higher fat content helps them remain incredibly moist, tender, and flavorful even after extended slow cooking, preventing any dryness often associated with breasts. Cut your chosen chicken into uniform, bite-sized pieces (about 1.5 to 2 inches) to ensure even cooking.
- Onion: A small, finely chopped onion provides a crucial foundational aromatic base for the sauce, subtly enhancing its depth and adding a touch of natural sweetness.
- Garlic: This is an absolute flavor powerhouse in this dish. I cannot stress enough the importance of sticking to freshly grated garlic. Pre-minced, tubed, or powdered versions simply will not deliver the same vibrant, pungent, and deeply aromatic flavor that fresh garlic imparts. You will genuinely taste the difference in the final product.
- Ginger: Much like garlic, freshly grated ginger is paramount for achieving the best and most authentic flavor profile. Its distinct warm, spicy, and slightly sweet notes are utterly crucial to that classic Asian-inspired taste. A microplane grater makes quick and easy work of grating both ginger and garlic.
- Honey: This is the star ingredient responsible for the dish’s signature sweetness and its wonderfully sticky, glossy glaze. Opt for a good quality honey for the most satisfying results.
- Soy Sauce: This provides the essential salty, umami-rich backbone of the sauce. I highly recommend using low-sodium soy sauce, as it allows you to control the overall saltiness of your dish more precisely. If you’re inclined to a slightly sweeter profile with an extra hint of ginger, you could consider substituting with teriyaki sauce, but be aware it will alter the original flavor dynamic slightly.
- Ketchup: While it might seem like a surprising inclusion, do not skip the ketchup! It contributes a subtle tang, additional sweetness, and a touch of savory depth that beautifully balances and rounds out the other flavors. Many professional chefs incorporate ketchup into their honey sesame chicken recipes for its unique and essential contribution.
- Canola Oil: A neutral-flavored oil used to help emulsify and combine all the delightful sauce ingredients smoothly.
- Red Pepper Flakes: These are an optional but highly recommended addition if you appreciate a subtle warmth and a gentle kick of heat to cut through the sweetness. Adjust the amount according to your preferred spice level, or omit them entirely for a completely mild dish.
- Cornstarch: This is your secret weapon for achieving a perfectly thick and wonderfully glossy sauce. It’s absolutely essential for reaching that desirable, restaurant-quality consistency that coats the chicken beautifully.
- Water: Used to create a cornstarch slurry, which is the key to thickening the sauce smoothly and preventing lumps. Warm water helps the cornstarch dissolve more effectively.
- Sesame Seeds: These are not just for garnish; they add a delightful nutty flavor and a satisfying textural crunch. For an unparalleled depth of flavor, I strongly encourage you to toast them yourself in a dry pan over medium-low heat for just a few minutes until they turn golden brown and become fragrant. Alternatively, you can purchase pre-toasted ones for convenience.
- Green Onion: An optional, yet highly recommended, fresh garnish. Freshly chopped green onions provide a vibrant pop of color, a mild, clean oniony bite, and a touch of refreshing crispness that significantly brightens and lifts the entire dish.
Step-by-Step: Crafting Your Easy Honey Sesame Chicken to Perfection
Making this incredibly delicious Crockpot Honey Sesame Chicken is wonderfully straightforward, involving just a few simple and easy-to-follow steps. The true beauty of this recipe lies in how the slow cooker takes on most of the heavy lifting, freeing up your time and making it the perfect choice for even the busiest of days. Follow these detailed instructions to create a truly perfect and memorable meal:
- Prepare the Irresistible Honey Sesame Sauce: In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine all the key sauce ingredients: the finely chopped onion, freshly grated garlic, freshly grated ginger, honey, low-sodium soy sauce, ketchup, canola oil, and the red pepper flakes (if you’re opting for a touch of heat). Whisk everything together thoroughly until all components are well combined and the mixture appears smooth and consistent. Set this fragrant sauce aside for a moment.
- Season and Coat the Chicken: Take your boneless, skinless chicken (whether you’ve chosen breasts or thighs, cut into uniform pieces) and gently place it directly into the slow cooker insert. Season generously on all sides with a good pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper. Next, carefully pour the prepared, luscious honey sesame sauce mixture evenly over the chicken pieces, ensuring that every single piece is thoroughly coated and immersed in the flavorful sauce.
- Cover and Cook to Tender Perfection: Secure the lid firmly onto your crockpot. Set the cooking time to the “LOW” setting for a duration of 3 to 4 hours. The exact cooking time may vary slightly based on the specific model and heating efficiency of your slow cooker, as well as the size and thickness of your chicken pieces. The ultimate goal is for the chicken to be cooked through completely, reaching an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C), and becoming incredibly tender, easily shreddable with just a fork.
- Remove Chicken & Skillfully Thicken the Sauce: With approximately 20 minutes remaining in the slow cooker’s cooking cycle, carefully remove all the cooked chicken from the crockpot and transfer it to a separate, clean bowl. Now, it’s time to create that perfectly thick and glossy sauce. In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch with the warm water until a smooth slurry forms and there are absolutely no lumps remaining. Pour this cornstarch slurry into the savory sauce that remains in the crockpot and whisk vigorously for about 30 seconds to ensure it is fully incorporated. Cover the crockpot again and continue to cook for the final 20 minutes. During this crucial time, the sauce will come to a gentle simmer and begin to thicken, transforming into a beautiful, rich, and glossy consistency.
- Shred Chicken & Expertly Combine All Ingredients: While the sauce is actively thickening in the crockpot, use two forks to easily shred the cooked chicken into desirable, bite-sized pieces. It should be so tender that it literally falls apart with minimal effort. Once the sauce in the crockpot has reached your desired thickness and glossiness, return all the shredded chicken to the pot. Gently toss everything together, ensuring that all the chicken pieces are thoroughly coated in the rich, sticky, and flavorful sauce. Allow it to heat through for a few minutes if necessary, ensuring it’s piping hot before serving.
- Serve with Flair and Enjoy: Your homemade Crockpot Honey Sesame Chicken is now perfectly cooked and ready to be enjoyed! Spoon generous portions over a bed of fluffy white rice, brown rice, or your preferred accompaniment. For an added layer of flavor, textural crunch, and vibrant visual appeal, garnish liberally with those wonderfully toasted sesame seeds and a scattering of fresh chopped green onions. Prepare for a truly satisfying and delicious meal!
Pro Tips for the Best Honey Sesame Chicken You’ve Ever Made
Achieving a truly outstanding Crockpot Honey Sesame Chicken is already quite simple, but incorporating a few expert tips can elevate your dish from merely good to absolutely phenomenal. Keep these insights in mind as you prepare your meal for truly impressive results:
- Streamline Your Prep for Easier Cleanup: To minimize the number of dishes you’ll need to wash later, feel completely free to mix all the honey sesame sauce ingredients directly in your crockpot insert. After thoroughly mixing, simply add your chicken pieces, toss them a few times to ensure they are evenly coated in the sauce, and you’re ready to initiate the slow cooking process. This clever trick eliminates the need for an extra mixing bowl.
- Patience is Key When Thickening the Sauce: Do not panic or stress if your sauce doesn’t immediately thicken the moment you add the cornstarch slurry. Cornstarch is a starch-based thickener that absolutely requires heat to fully activate its thickening properties. The sauce needs to reach a gentle simmer within the crockpot to achieve its full, desired glossy and thick potential. So, rest assured that even if it appears somewhat thin when you first return the shredded chicken to the pot, it will thicken beautifully as it continues to heat through.
- Choosing the Right Cut of Chicken Matters: As previously mentioned, boneless, skinless chicken thighs are often the preferred choice for slow cooking due to their higher fat content. This characteristic helps them stay exceptionally moist, tender, and incredibly flavorful throughout the extended cooking time. If you opt to use chicken breasts, be extra mindful to avoid overcooking, as they can dry out more easily. Cutting them into slightly larger, uniform pieces can help mitigate this risk and retain moisture.
- Fresh Ingredients Truly Make a Difference: While convenient pre-prepared ingredients certainly have their place in a busy kitchen, for pungent aromatics like garlic and ginger, using fresh is undeniably best. The vibrant, potent flavors of freshly grated garlic and ginger are irreplaceable and contribute significantly to the overall depth and authenticity of this dish.
- Adjusting Spice Levels to Your Preference: The red pepper flakes in the recipe offer a pleasant, subtle background warmth. If you and your family enjoy a more pronounced spicy kick, feel free to increase the amount to ¾ or even a full teaspoon. Conversely, if you’re sensitive to heat, you can easily reduce it to a tiny pinch or omit it entirely for a completely mild dish.
- The Impact of Toasted Sesame Seeds: This seemingly small step makes a surprisingly significant impact on the dish’s overall flavor. Toasting sesame seeds in a dry pan over medium-low heat for just a few minutes until they become fragrant and lightly golden brown intensifies their nutty flavor profile dramatically. Just remember to keep a close eye on them, as they can burn very quickly!
- Ensure Uniform Chicken Pieces for Even Cooking: Cutting your chicken into roughly equal-sized pieces (aim for about 1.5 to 2 inches) is important for ensuring that all pieces cook evenly. This prevents the frustrating situation where some chicken pieces might be perfectly cooked while others are either still underdone or already overcooked and dry.
Efficient Storage & Reheating for Later Enjoyment
This Crockpot Honey Sesame Chicken makes for absolutely fantastic leftovers, making it an ideal candidate for meal prepping for the week ahead or for quick, delicious lunches. Proper storage is key to ensuring it remains both delicious and safe to eat:
Store any leftover Honey Sesame Chicken in a clean, airtight container. Place the container in the refrigerator, where it will keep beautifully for 3 to 4 days. To reheat individual servings, the microwave is a convenient option; simply heat until the chicken is warmed through. For larger portions, gently reheat on the stovetop over medium-low heat. If the sauce has thickened too much during storage, add a small splash of chicken broth or water to bring it back to the desired consistency. Be careful not to overheat, as this can cause the chicken to dry out.
Can I Make Honey Sesame Chicken Ahead of Time?
Absolutely! This recipe is incredibly forgiving and actually lends itself wonderfully to advance preparation. This “make-ahead” capability can significantly streamline your weeknights, making your busy days even smoother. Preparing components in advance is a fantastic strategy for anyone with a packed schedule:
- Sauce Preparation in Advance: You can prepare the entire honey sesame sauce (all ingredients except the cornstarch and water) a full day or two in advance. Simply mix it together, transfer it to a sealed jar or an airtight container, and store it in the refrigerator until you’re ready to cook.
- Optional Marinating for Deeper Flavor: For an even richer and more deeply infused flavor, you can place your raw chicken pieces directly into a large, resealable freezer bag. Then, pour the prepared honey sesame sauce over the chicken, ensuring it’s completely covered. Gently massage the bag to coat all the chicken thoroughly. Store this marinated chicken in the refrigerator for a few hours, or even overnight. This allows the chicken to absorb more of those wonderful sweet and savory flavors, resulting in an even more delicious final dish. When you’re ready to cook, simply pour the entire contents of the bag (chicken and sauce) into your slow cooker, and you’re all set to begin the slow cooking process!
- Freezing for Future Meals: The cooked Honey Sesame Chicken also freezes exceptionally well, making it perfect for long-term meal planning. Once the dish has completely cooled, transfer it to freezer-safe containers or sturdy freezer bags, making sure to remove as much air as possible to prevent freezer burn. It can be safely frozen for up to 2-3 months. When you’re ready to enjoy, thaw it overnight in the refrigerator before gently reheating.
Delicious Serving Suggestions for Your Amazing Meal
The true beauty of Crockpot Honey Sesame Chicken lies not only in its remarkable ease of preparation but also in its incredible versatility. It pairs beautifully with a wide array of side dishes, allowing you to effortlessly create a complete, satisfying, and visually appealing meal for any occasion – from a simple, comforting family dinner to a more elaborate gathering with friends. Here are some of my absolute favorite ways to serve this irresistible dish, ensuring every bite is a delightful experience:
- Classic and Comforting Rice Companions:
- Fluffy White Rice: A generous bed of perfectly cooked white rice, such as aromatic jasmine or classic long-grain, is the quintessential pairing for Honey Sesame Chicken. The rice acts as a perfect canvas, eagerly soaking up all the glorious, sticky, sweet, and savory sauce, creating a harmonious and deeply satisfying bite every time. I highly recommend trying this Instant Pot Jasmine Rice recipe for consistently perfect, fluffy results with minimal effort.
- Nutty Brown Rice: For a healthier, more fibrous, and slightly nuttier alternative, brown rice offers a pleasant chewy texture that beautifully complements the tender chicken and rich sauce. It adds another layer of complexity to the meal.
- Light Cauliflower Rice: If you’re diligently following a low-carb, keto, or paleo diet, cauliflower rice is an excellent, light, and versatile option. It allows you to savor all the robust flavors of the chicken and its rich sauce without the added carbohydrates, making it a guilt-free indulgence.
- Vibrant and Flavorful Vegetable Sides:
- Green Beans with Bacon: This is an absolute game-changer and a must-try pairing! The savory crispness and smoky flavor of Green Beans with Bacon add a fantastic textural contrast and a delicious salty kick that brilliantly cuts through and balances the inherent sweetness of the chicken. These flavorful beans can even stand in place of rice if you’re on a carb-conscious diet. However, for the ultimate, most memorable culinary experience, serving all three elements—the succulent chicken, fluffy rice, and these delightful green beans—in a single bowl, generously sprinkled with toasted sesame seeds and fresh green onions, truly creates a meal that honestly surpasses any traditional takeout experience.
- Parmesan Garlic Roasted Edamame: For a fun, surprising, and incredibly addictive side dish, serve up some crispy Parmesan Garlic Roasted Edamame. They’re wonderfully crunchy, coated in savory cheese, and offer a delightful pop of freshness that contrasts beautifully with the rich, saucy chicken.
- Steamed or Roasted Broccoli Florets: Simple steamed or lightly roasted broccoli florets are always a winning, healthy choice. They add a fresh, vibrant green color and a pleasant, tender-crisp texture to your plate, complementing the main dish without overpowering it.
- Quick Stir-Fried Vegetables: A quick and easy stir-fry of your favorite colorful vegetables, such as thinly sliced bell peppers, crisp snap peas, shredded carrots, or earthy mushrooms, would also be a delightful and nutritious addition, bringing even more texture and essential nutrients to the meal.
- Delicious Noodle Bowls: Instead of traditional rice, consider serving your honey sesame chicken over a bed of tender ramen noodles, chewy lo mein noodles, or even delicate rice vermicelli. This offers a different yet equally satisfying textural experience, as the noodles readily soak up the wonderful sauce.
My ultimate dream dinner scenario would undoubtedly involve serving this incredible Honey Sesame Chicken with all these suggested pairings. By doing so, you’ll effortlessly create a weeknight spread that is not only remarkably easy to pull off but also exciting, incredibly flavorful, and truly delicious – a testament that homemade truly is the best way to enjoy your favorite meals.
Creative Variations & Customization Ideas to Make it Yours
One of the greatest joys of home cooking is the boundless ability to adapt and modify recipes to perfectly suit your personal taste preferences and what ingredients you happen to have on hand. This Crockpot Honey Sesame Chicken recipe is exceptionally versatile, serving as a fantastic canvas for your culinary creativity. Here are some inspiring ideas to help you customize and make this dish truly your own:
- Adjusting the Spice Level: If you’re a devoted heat seeker, feel free to boldly increase the amount of red pepper flakes in the sauce, or even add a generous dash of your favorite chili garlic sauce or Sriracha for an extra kick. For those who prefer a milder flavor, simply reduce the red pepper flakes or omit them entirely. You could also introduce a tiny pinch of white pepper for a subtle, warming undertone without overt heat.
- Incorporating More Vegetables: Easily boost the nutritional value and add wonderful texture by incorporating your favorite vegetables directly into the slow cooker during the last hour of cooking. Excellent choices include thinly sliced bell peppers (red, yellow, or orange), crisp broccoli florets, sweet snap peas, shredded carrots, or even sliced water chestnuts for an extra crunch. They will cook to a perfect tender-crisp state within the savory sauce.
- Exploring Protein Swaps: While chicken is the traditional and beloved protein for this dish, the versatile honey sesame sauce would also be absolutely delicious with other proteins. Consider trying pork tenderloin cut into medallions, thinly sliced beef (such as flank or sirloin), or even firm or extra-firm tofu (pressed and cubed) for a delightful vegetarian or vegan option. Remember to adjust cooking times accordingly to ensure the protein is cooked through but not overdone.
- Adding a Bright Citrus Zest: A squeeze of fresh orange juice or lime juice, added to the sauce just before serving, can beautifully brighten the overall flavors and introduce a delightful zesty tang that cuts through the richness. A teaspoon of finely grated orange or lime zest could also be stirred in for an aromatic boost.
- Enhancing with a Nutty Crunch: Beyond the classic toasted sesame seeds, consider adding a sprinkle of chopped roasted peanuts, cashews, or even slivered almonds for an extra layer of satisfying crunch and a deeper nutty flavor, which is especially fantastic if you’re serving the dish over noodles.
- Introducing Smoky Undertones: For an unexpected depth and richness, a tiny splash of liquid smoke or a pinch of smoked paprika added to the sauce can impart a subtle, alluring smoky flavor that complements the sweet and savory notes beautifully.
- Fine-Tuning the Sweetness: If you find you prefer a slightly less sweet dish, you can subtly reduce the amount of honey. Conversely, if you enjoy a sweeter profile, feel free to increase the honey slightly or add a tablespoon of brown sugar to the sauce mixture.
Troubleshooting Your Crockpot Honey Sesame Chicken: Quick Fixes
Even with the simplest and most foolproof recipes, questions or minor hiccups can occasionally arise. Don’t worry, this Crockpot Honey Sesame Chicken is incredibly forgiving, and most common issues have very simple solutions. Here are quick fixes for some issues you might encounter:
- Sauce Not Thick Enough: If, after adding the cornstarch slurry and cooking for the recommended 20 minutes, your sauce still appears too thin, don’t fret! This usually means it hasn’t quite reached a high enough temperature to fully activate the cornstarch’s thickening properties. You can easily remedy this in one of two ways:
- Continue Slow Cooking: Simply continue cooking the sauce (with or without the chicken, depending on how tender the chicken already is) on the “High” setting for an additional 10-15 minutes, ensuring the sauce comes to a gentle but consistent simmer.
- Stovetop Boost: For a quicker and more direct fix, carefully transfer the sauce (without the chicken) to a small saucepan on your stovetop. Bring it to a rolling boil over medium-high heat, whisking constantly, until it reaches your desired thick and glossy consistency. Once thickened, return the sauce to the crockpot and combine with the chicken.
- Chicken Seems a Bit Dry: This issue is far less common when using chicken thighs, but it can occasionally occur with chicken breasts if they are significantly overcooked. To minimize this, ensure you are using chicken thighs for maximum moisture, or if using breasts, avoid cooking them longer than the necessary time. If your chicken does feel a little dry, thoroughly shredding it into smaller pieces and ensuring it’s generously coated in the abundant, sticky sauce will help immensely to mask any perceived dryness and add moisture back in.
- Sauce Tastes Too Salty: If the sauce seems overly salty (perhaps due to using regular soy sauce instead of low-sodium, or simply a matter of taste), you can effectively balance the flavors. Try adding a little more honey to counteract the saltiness, a squeeze of fresh lemon or lime juice for brightness, or a splash of chicken broth or water to dilute it slightly. Always taste and adjust small amounts until it reaches your preference.
- Sauce Tastes Too Sweet: Conversely, if the sauce is a bit too sweet for your liking, you can easily balance it out. A small splash of rice vinegar or a little more low-sodium soy sauce can help cut through the sweetness and add a savory depth. A pinch of red pepper flakes can also provide a pleasant contrast and subtly reduce the perception of sweetness.
More Comforting Slow Cooker Recipes You’ll Absolutely Love
If you’ve fallen head over heels for the incredible ease, convenience, and deliciousness of this Crockpot Honey Sesame Chicken, then you’re truly in for a treat! The slow cooker is an undisputed kitchen hero, a culinary workhorse perfect for creating comforting, flavorful, and incredibly hands-off meals that are packed with robust taste and require minimal active cooking time. Don’t stop here; explore these other fantastic slow cooker recipes to further expand your repertoire and make weeknight cooking an absolute breeze, ensuring your family always enjoys a hearty, homemade meal:
- Slow Cooker Pork Roast: Achieve wonderfully tender, juicy pork roast that practically falls apart with just a fork, making it perfect for a hearty and satisfying family dinner or impressive enough for guests.
- Slow Cooker Tikka Masala: Indulge in the rich, creamy, and aromatic flavors of traditional Indian cuisine with this unbelievably easy slow cooker adaptation. It’s a flavorful journey without the fuss.
- Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches: Create deliciously tender, thinly sliced beef simmering in a savory au jus, perfect for crafting classic, irresistible French Dip sandwiches that everyone will rave about.
- Slow Cooker Balsamic Pork with Polenta & Avocado Cream: Enjoy a gourmet-tasting meal with surprisingly minimal effort, featuring rich, tangy balsamic-infused pork that pairs beautifully with creamy polenta and a luscious avocado cream.
- Slow Cooker Korean Beef Tacos: Elevate your taco night with incredibly tender, deeply flavorful Korean beef that’s perfect for stuffing into warm tortillas for an exciting and exotic twist.
- Crockpot Potato Soup: Warm up with a bowl of creamy, hearty, and utterly satisfying potato soup that’s ideal for a cozy evening, especially on chilly nights.
- Crockpot Chili: A timeless classic comfort food, slow-cooked to absolute perfection with rich, complex flavors that develop beautifully over hours, making it deeply satisfying.
- Crockpot Chicken & Gravy: Savor tender, succulent chicken smothered in a wonderfully rich and creamy gravy, perfect served over fluffy mashed potatoes, warm biscuits, or a pile of noodles.
Slow Cooker Honey Sesame Chicken
Equipment
- Slow Cooker (Crockpot)
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken, breasts or thighs, cut into 1.5-inch pieces
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, freshly grated for best flavor
- 1 Tablespoon fresh ginger, freshly 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, adjust to taste for desired heat
- 4 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1/3 cup warm water
- 3 Tablespoons toasted sesame seeds, for garnish
- 2 green onions, chopped (optional garnish)
- 3 cups cooked white rice, for serving
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, combine the chopped onion, grated garlic, grated ginger, honey, soy sauce, ketchup, canola oil, and red pepper flakes. Whisk everything together until well combined, creating your flavorful honey sesame sauce.
- Place the cut chicken pieces into the slow cooker insert. Season generously with salt and pepper on all sides. Pour the prepared honey sesame sauce evenly over the chicken, ensuring it’s well coated.
- Cover the crockpot and cook on the LOW setting for 3-4 hours, or until the chicken is tender and cooked through.
- During the last 20 minutes of cooking, carefully remove the cooked chicken from the slow cooker and transfer it to a separate bowl. In a small bowl, dissolve the cornstarch in the warm water to create a slurry. Pour this cornstarch slurry into the sauce remaining in the crockpot and whisk well to combine. Cover the crockpot again and continue to cook for the remaining 20 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken and become glossy.
- While the sauce is thickening, use two forks to shred the cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces. Once the sauce is thick, return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker. Toss gently to ensure all chicken is coated in the delicious sauce and allow it to heat through for a few minutes.
- Serve your Crockpot Honey Sesame Chicken immediately over a bed of fluffy white rice. Garnish generously with toasted sesame seeds and fresh chopped green onions for an extra burst of flavor and color.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should only be used as an approximation. It can vary based on specific ingredients and preparation methods.
Additional Recipe Info
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