Description
Experience restaurant-quality flavor right from your own kitchen with this incredibly simple Crockpot Teriyaki Chicken. Tender, juicy chicken is slow-cooked to perfection in a homemade sweet and savory teriyaki sauce that thickens into a luscious, glossy glaze. This “dump and go” recipe requires minimal prep, making it the perfect solution for a busy weeknight dinner that the whole family will adore.
Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
2 teaspoons garlic, minced
2 teaspoons ginger, minced
1/4 cup honey
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce
2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
1/4 cup cold water
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 tablespoon sesame seeds (for garnish)
2 tablespoons sliced green onions (for garnish)
Instructions
Whisk the Sauce
In a small bowl, combine the minced garlic, ginger, honey, brown sugar, soy sauce, toasted sesame oil, and rice vinegar. Whisk everything together until the sugar and honey have completely dissolved.
Add to Crockpot
Arrange the chicken breasts in a single layer in your slow cooker. Pour the prepared teriyaki sauce evenly over the chicken, ensuring it’s well-coated.
Cook Low and Slow
Cover the crockpot and cook on LOW for 3-4 hours or on HIGH for 1-2 hours. For the most tender and juicy results, the low setting is highly recommended.
Thicken and Finish
Once cooked, remove the chicken from the crockpot and shred it using two forks. In a small bowl, whisk the cold water and cornstarch together to create a slurry. Stir the slurry into the sauce remaining in the crockpot. Turn the heat to HIGH, cover, and let the sauce thicken for 15-20 minutes. Return the shredded chicken to the thickened sauce and stir to coat. Garnish with sesame seeds and green onions before serving.
Notes
Best Chicken to Use: While chicken breasts work well, boneless, skinless chicken thighs are less likely to dry out due to their higher fat content, making them a great choice for slow cooking.
Glossy Sauce Tip: For an even silkier and glossier sauce, you can substitute arrowroot starch for cornstarch.
Safety First: Always use thawed chicken in a slow cooker. Cooking chicken from frozen can prevent it from reaching a safe temperature quickly enough, posing a food safety risk.
Easy Variations: Turn this into a one-pot meal by adding vegetables like broccoli florets or sliced carrots during the last 30-45 minutes of cooking. For a spicy kick, add a teaspoon of red pepper flakes to the sauce.
Serving Suggestions: This chicken is perfect served over fluffy white or brown rice to soak up the delicious sauce. Steamed vegetables like broccoli, green beans, or bok choy make excellent side dishes.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: Japanese-Inspired, American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 425
- Sugar: 26
- Sodium: 910
- Fat: 9
- Saturated Fat: 2
- Unsaturated Fat: 6
- Carbohydrates: 31
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 52
- Cholesterol: 155
Keywords: crockpot teriyaki chicken, slow cooker chicken, teriyaki chicken, easy chicken recipe, homemade teriyaki sauce, dump and go meal, weeknight dinner, chicken breast recipe