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–+ servings
4 peices of honey garlic chicken thighs smothered in sticky sauce served on white dish

Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs (freezer meal)

recipesfromfrenchcreek
These honey garlic chicken thighs are a simple freezer meal made with pantry staples and bold, sweet-savory flavor. Prep it once, freeze it raw, then cook in the instant pot or slow cooker. Perfect for busy nights, minimal prep, and a family-friendly dinner with tender, saucy chicken every time.
5 from 1 vote
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 23 minutes
Total Time 28 minutes
Course dinner, lunch
Cuisine American, Chinese
Servings 4 servings
Calories 390 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients
  

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:

  1. Make the sauce as instructed above. 
  2. Add the thighs and sauce to a 1 gallon freezer bag
  3. Remove as much air as possible from the bag and seal well. Massage bag to mix together.
  4. Freeze flat, for up to 3 months.
  5. Thaw and cook as instructed above.
To cook from frozen (instapot only)
You can cook this from frozen in the instapot. 18-20 minutes high pressure with a 10 minute natural release. Add 1/2 cup of water to the frozen mixture to prevent the "burn notice" on your instapot. 

Nutrition

Serving: 6ozCalories: 390kcalCarbohydrates: 27gProtein: 34gFat: 16gSodium: 820mgFiber: 1gSugar: 22g
Keyword chicken freezer meal, dump freezer meal chicken, easy chicken dinner, honey garlic chicken thighs, instant pot honey garlic chicken, slow cooker honey garlic chicken
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