This Honey Garlic Chicken Thigh is a tried-and-true recipe that I use in my own home and freezer meal business. It consistently turns out tender, flavorful, and family-approved with easy pantry ingredients. You can use this recipe immediately, or prep ahead as a freezer meal. I show you how to cook this meal in the instant pot or slow cooker, making it a dependable option for busy weeknights.
If cooking in the instant pot, this can be a 30 minute meal option. OR take 5 minutes to prep in the morning, and let it cook low and slow all day for an easy crockpot meal!
Why you will love this recipe
- Simple 5 minute prep time make it an easy weeknight meal
- Freezer meal instructions included. This is an EASY dump freezer meal!
- Cooks in the Instant Pot or Slow Cooker with minimal hands-on time
Ingredients in Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken
- Chicken Thighs
- Honey
- Soy Sauce (Low Sodium)
- Minced Garlic
- Toasted Sesame Oil
- Tomato Paste
- Onion Powder
- Ground Ginger
- Brown Sugar
- Corn Starch
How to make Garlic Honey Chicken Thighs
How to make crockpot honey garlic chicken
- Combine Sauce Ingredients
In a medium bowl, combine all ingredients EXCEPT the cornstarch, water and chicken.
- Instant Pot Instructions:
Dump the sauce + chicken thighs into the instant pot. Cook on high pressure for 13 minutes with a 10 minute natural release.
Remove the chicken from the pot and set sauce to “saute” mode to simmer. Combine cold water and cornstarch to form a slurry. Pour into the simmering sauce and whisk until thickened. Then, glaze the sauce over chicken and enjoy. - Crockpot Instructions
Add the sauce and chicken to the crockpot. Cook on LOW for 6-7 hours or HIGH for 3-4 hours.
Remove the thighs from the pot. Bring sauce to simmer in crockpot. Combine the cornstarch and cold water together in small bowl, then pour into the simmering sauce. Whisk until thickened and pour over chicken.
How to Freezer Prep Honey Garlic Chicken for crockpot or instant pot
- Combine the sauce ingredients (everything EXCEPT cornstarch, water and chicken). Whisk together.
- Add the chicken thighs to a 1 gallon freezer meal bag, then pour the sauce over them. Massage together in the bag, remove as much air as possible and seal well.
- Freeze flat. Freeze for up to 3 months.
- Thaw and prepare as instructed.
I actually used this meal as a “Galentines” or “Valentines” freezer prep meal for an event!
Helpful Tips and Variations
- Use hot honey instead of regular for a kick or add a pinch of red pepper flakes
- Citrus Flavor: swap half the honey for orange or pineapple juice for a fruity flavor.
- Prep ahead: marinate the chicken for at least 30 minutes (or overnight in fridge) for amazing flavor. This is another reason it is a great freezer meal- it gets marinated well as it thaws!
- Watch the sauce: if the sauce would happen to get too thick, just add a splash of broth or water.
- Even Cooking: make sure chicken pieces are similar in size so they cook evenly.
Honey Garlic Chicken FAQ
Yes you can- just be prepared for a little less meat. You may need to add a couple extra minutes of cook time in the instant pot, as well.
Yes, you can! Adjust cooking time slightly- breasts may cook a bit faster so just check for doneness to avoid them being too dry.
Store cooked chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in microwave.
You can also freeze cooked chicken in a freezer safe container for up to 3 months.
As long as you check your soy sauce and other ingredients for hidden gluten–it should be gluten free naturally!
Helpful Tools to Make this Recipe
- My time slow cooker – I like this slow cooker because you can set it for a certain time, and it will automatically turn on “keep warm”. Thaw way, if you’re at work- it won’t overcook!
- Instant Pot if you are cooking this way. I love the instant pot because you can cook meats safely from frozen, and things get done very quickly!
What to pair with Crockpot Honey Garlic Chicken?
This recipe doesn’t need anything complicated to make it a great dinner!
- Serve over your favorite rice
- Buttered noodles
- Steamed Broccoli
- Roasted Carrots
Other Chicken Crockpot or Instant Pot Dinners
many of these are freezer friendly, too!
- Chicken Burrito Bowl is an easy dump freezer meal
- Cheesy Ranch Chicken and Potatoes
- Crockpot Pink Sauce Chicken
- White Chicken Chili
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I hope you enjoyed this slow cooker honey garlic chicken recipe! – Bobbi Jo
Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs (freezer meal)
Equipment
- Instant Pot or
- crockpot or
Ingredients
- 1-1/2 lbs boneless chicken thighs
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1/3 cup low sodium soy sauce
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 tbsp minced garlic
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp toasted sesame oil
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 1/3 cup cold water
- 1 tbsp corn starch
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, combine all ingredients together to form sauce EXCEPT for the water, corn starch and chicken.1/3 cup honey, 1/3 cup low sodium soy sauce, 1 tbsp brown sugar, 2 tbsp tomato paste, 2 tbsp minced garlic, 1 tsp onion powder, 1 tsp toasted sesame oil, 1 tsp ground ginger
Instapot Instructions
- Add the thawed chicken thighs to the instapot and pour the sauce on top of it. If sauce isn't covering all chicken, add about 1/4-1/3 cup of water or chicken broth.1-1/2 lbs boneless chicken thighs
- Seal lid and cook on high pressure for 13 minutes.
- Allow a 10-minute natural release, then quick release.
- Remove chicken from instapot. Combine the 1/3 c water and 1 tbsp corn starch together in small bowl. Bring the sauce to simmer by using "saute" mode and add cornstarch slurry. Whisk until thickened and then turn off. Pour sauce over the chicken thighs and enjoy.1/3 cup cold water, 1 tbsp corn starch
Crockpot Instructions
- Add thawed chicken thighs to the crockpot. Pour sauce on top.1-1/2 lbs boneless chicken thighs
- Cook on LOW for 6-7 hours or HIGH for 3-4 hours.
- Remove the chicken from the crockpot. Bring sauce to a simmer. Combine the 1/3 c water and 1 tbsp corn starch in small bowl. Pour into the simmering sauce and whisk together until thickened. Pour over chicken and enjoy!1 tbsp corn starch, 1/3 cup cold water
Notes
Freezer Meal Instructions:
- Make the sauce as instructed above.
- Add the thighs and sauce to a 1 gallon freezer bag
- Remove as much air as possible from the bag and seal well. Massage bag to mix together.
- Freeze flat, for up to 3 months.
- Thaw and cook as instructed above.
Nutrition
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Great recipe! Easy to prep and freeze.