Slow Cooker Honey Soy Chicken

1 day ago 8

A plate of white rice topped with glazed, saucy Slow Cooker Honey Soy Chicken pieces and garnished with sliced green onions. A spoon rests on the side of the plate.

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Slow Cooker Honey Soy Chicken is an easy, hands-off dinner with tender chicken in a sweet and savory sauce. Perfect for busy nights.

Know Before You Scroll

Servings: 4 servings

Prep: 15 minutes

Cook: 4 hours

Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes

Chicken thighs, soy sauce, honey, vinegar, garlic, green onions

Sweet, savory, tangy with a rich soy depth

Brown the chicken first for deeper flavor

Use pre-cut chicken thighs

Use chicken breast instead of thighs

A close-up of Slow Cooker Honey Soy Chicken—tender pieces in a rich brown sauce, garnished with sliced green onions, with a metal serving spoon scooping some from a black pot.

A Reader Favorite

This recipe was originally posted back in 2015, and it’s been a reader favorite ever since. With over 37,000 shares on social media and nearly all 5-star reviews, it’s one of those reliable, go-to dinners people come back to again and again.

I’m republishing it now with an even easier, super early dump-and-go option for those nights when you just don’t have time to brown the chicken. I’ve also added more helpful tips, variations, and guidance so you can make it work perfectly for your kitchen and your schedule.

A close-up of chopsticks holding a piece of glazed, saucy Slow Cooker Honey Soy Chicken above a plate of braised meat garnished with green onions. A bowl of white rice is blurred in the background.

Ingredient Notes

A variety of ingredients for Slow Cooker Honey Soy Chicken on a white surface, including a large bowl of diced raw chicken, chopped green onions, minced garlic, sauces, seasonings, pepper grinder, and bottles of soy sauce and vinegar.

Boneless, skinless chicken thighs for tenderness

Chicken breast works but may be slightly less juicy. Cornstarch helps create a light coating that thickens the sauce later.

Combination of light and dark soy sauce for balance

Use all low-sodium soy if needed, but flavor will be lighter. Light soy adds saltiness, dark soy adds color and depth.

Honey and brown sugar create sweetness while rice wine vinegar adds brightness

Apple cider vinegar can work in place of rice vinegar.

Garlic and green onions bring freshness and depth

Reserve some green onions for garnish for a fresh finish.

You can find the full, printable recipe at the top of this post, but you can read the detailed instructions with photos for each step below.

Step By Step Instructions

Coat the Chicken

Place the cubed chicken in a bowl and toss with 3 tablespoons cornstarch until evenly coated. Shake off any excess so it’s not clumpy.

A glass bowl filled with raw, frozen pieces of chicken, perfect for making Slow Cooker Honey Soy Chicken, viewed from above on a white background.

Brown for Flavor

Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken in a single layer and cook until lightly golden on all sides. You’re looking for a pale golden crust, not fully cooked pieces.

Close-up of golden brown chicken pieces being cooked in a frying pan, with crispy edges and juicy texture, reminiscent of Slow Cooker Honey Soy Chicken.

Don’t have time to brown the chicken? See the recipe card for a dump and go method.

Build the Base

Add the remaining oil if needed, then push the chicken to one side. Add the garlic and sliced green onions and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant.

Chopped green onions and pieces of cooked chicken are being sautéed together in a pan with oil and garlic, similar to the flavors found in Slow Cooker Honey Soy Chicken.

Create the Sauce

Pour in the honey, light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, and rice wine vinegar. Add freshly ground black pepper to taste. Stir in the chicken stock and brown sugar, mixing until dissolved. Bring to a gentle simmer until the sauce looks slightly glossy.

Chunks of chicken cooked in a rich, glossy brown sauce with chopped green onions and visible spices, this Slow Cooker Honey Soy Chicken is a savory and appetizing dish.

Slow Cook Until Tender

Transfer everything to the slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 4 to 6 hours. The chicken should be tender and the sauce rich and infused.

A black slow cooker filled with a hearty stew, similar to Slow Cooker Honey Soy Chicken, featuring chunks of meat and potatoes in a rich brown sauce, viewed from above on a white background.

Finish and Serve

Taste the sauce and season to taste with salt, pepper, or a splash more vinegar if needed. If you want a thicker sauce, simmer it on the stove for a few minutes. Spoon over rice and garnish with reserved green onions.

Chunks of glazed chicken in a rich brown sauce, garnished with sliced green onions, simmering in a slow cooker—this Slow Cooker Honey Soy Chicken is perfect for an easy, flavorful meal.

A plate of white rice topped with glazed, saucy Slow Cooker Honey Soy Chicken pieces and garnished with sliced green onions. A spoon rests on the side of the plate.

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 4 hours

Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes

Serves 4 servings

▢ 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (plus more as needed)
▢ 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs (cubed)
▢ 2 tablespoons cornstarch
▢ 2 cloves garlic (chopped)
▢ 4 green onions (sliced into rounds (reserve some for garnish if desired))
▢ ¼ cup honey
▢ ¼ cup light soy sauce (or low-sodium soy sauce)
▢ ¼ cup dark soy sauce (adds color and depth, not saltiness)
▢ ½ cup rice wine vinegar
▢ ¼ cup brown sugar
▢ Freshly ground black pepper
▢ 1 cup chicken stock (or water)

Place the chicken in a bowl and toss with the cornstarch until evenly coated. Shake off any excess.
Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until lightly browned on all sides. Transfer to a plate if needed.
Add the remaining oil to the pan if it looks dry. Add the garlic and green onions and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant. Return the chicken to the pan and stir to combine.
Stir in the honey, light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, and black pepper. Add the chicken stock and brown sugar and stir until dissolved. Bring to a gentle simmer until slightly glossy.
Transfer everything to the slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 4 to 6 hours, until the chicken is tender.
Taste and season to taste before serving. If needed, simmer the sauce on the stovetop for a few minutes to thicken.
Serve over rice and garnish with reserved green onions.

Method 2: Dump-and-Go

Add the cubed chicken directly to the slow cooker and sprinkle over the cornstarch. Toss to coat as evenly as possible.
Add the garlic, green onions, honey, light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, brown sugar, black pepper, and chicken stock. Stir well to combine.
Cover and cook on low for 4 to 6 hours, until the chicken is tender and cooked through.
Stir well before serving and taste for seasoning. If you’d like a thicker sauce, cook uncovered on high for 15 to 20 minutes or transfer the sauce to a saucepan and simmer until reduced.
Serve over rice and garnish with reserved green onions.

The sauce came out quite thick when I added it to the slow cooker and I worried it would burn. But my slow cooker builds up a lot of condensation that drips into the food as it cooks, thinning the sauce. If your slow cooker doesn’t do that, I would suggest saving the thickening until the end so it doesn’t burn around the sides.