Crockpot Honey Sesame Chicken is the easy recipe youโll want to make on repeat. With simple ingredients you can find at most grocery stores, tender chicken slow cooks in a sweet and savory sauce made with honey, sesame oil, garlic, and ginger. The best part is how little time it takesโjust pour mixture over the chicken, let the slow cooking work its magic, then shred chicken and serve over hot cooked rice. Itโs a complete meal with great flavor the whole family will love, and it might just become your new family favorite.
Why Youโll Love This Recipe
- Effortless slow cooker dinner โ Perfect for busy days or late nights when you want dinner ready with little effort.
- Better than takeout โ Get those savory flavors of Chinese food right at home.
- Simple ingredients โ Everything can be found at most grocery storesโno hard-to-find sauce ingredients.
- Hands-off cooking โ Just pour sauce over the chicken, let the crockpot do the work, then shred chicken and enjoy.
- Versatile protein โ Works with chicken thighs or breasts for your preferred texture.
- Family-approved โ This new family favorite is mild enough for kids but packed with flavor for adults.
- Meal prep friendly โ Store leftovers and reheat the next day for an easy lunch or dinner.
Looking for other easy slow cooker recipes?
Ingredient Notes
- Boneless skinless chicken thighs - can swap with boneless skinless chicken breasts as well. Looking for other chicken thigh recipes? Try our sheet pan chicken thigh dinner with herbed yogurt sauce, one pan chicken thighs and rice, or slow cooker chicken tikka masala.
- Yellow onion - can swap with a white onion.
- Low-sodium soy sauce - can swap with coconut aminos or tamari for a gluten-free option. If you need another gluten-free recipe, try our gluten-free ramen, crispy oven baked beef tacos, or easy lemon chicken skillet with summer squash.
See the recipe card below for a complete list of ingredients and measurements for this crockpot sesame chicken.
Recipe Tips & Variations
- Serve with white rice or brown rice or rice noodles. We love using jasmine rice but you can use basmati or long grain rice instead. You can also serve with steamed or roasted veggies such as green beans, broccoli, carrots, bell pepper, or a stir fry vegetable mix.
- Serve this chicken in lettuce wraps.
- Add 1โ2 tablespoons sriracha or chili paste to the sauce mixture for a sweet-heat combo.
- Add chopped bell peppers, broccoli, or snap peas in the last hour of cooking for extra crunch and color.
- Stir in pineapple chunks during the last 30 minutes for a tropical twist.
How to Make Slow Cooker Honey Sesame Chicken
For the full recipe instructions, scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of the page.
Step 1: In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, honey, sesame oil, rice vinegar, garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes (if using).
Step 2: Place chicken thighs or breasts in the bottom of a slow cooker. Layer the onions on top. Pour the sauce evenly over the chicken and onion.
Step 3: Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours or high for 3-4 hours, until the chicken is tender and shreds easily with a fork.
In the last 30 minutes of cooking, mix the cornstarch and water together in a small bowl to create a cornstarch slurry. Stir it into the sauce in the slow cooker. Shred the chicken right in the crockpot using two forks. Stir it well to coat in the thickened sauce. Leave the crockpot uncovered and cook for the remaining time until the sauce thickens.
Step 4: Sprinkle with sesame seeds and chopped green onion for garnish and serve with rice and veggies, such as steamed broccoli, if desired.
Crock Pot Honey Sesame Chicken FAQs
We recommend storing leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator and consuming within 3-4 days. You can also store leftovers in the freezer. Simply let the meat cool to room temperature, place in a freezer bag or freezer-safe container, and freeze. Crockpot honey sesame chicken will keep well in the freezer for about 3 months if stored in an airtight container or freezer bag.
The easiest way is to move the container to the fridge the night before you plan to serve it. For a faster option, place the sealed bag in a bowl of cold water and change the water every 30 minutes until thawed.ย
To reheat:
Stovetop: Place thawed chicken and sauce in a skillet over medium heat. Stir occasionally until warmed through (about 8โ10 minutes).
Microwave: Heat in a microwave-safe dish, covered, in 60โ90 second intervals, stirring between each, until hot.
From Frozen: If you didnโt thaw ahead, you can reheat gently on the stovetop over low heat with a splash of water or chicken broth, covering to keep moisture in.
If the sauce thickens during freezing, stir in a tablespoon or two of water or broth while reheating to bring it back to its silky texture.
This recipe is gluten-free with the use of coconut aminos or tamari in place of soy sauce. It is dairy-free.
Other Easy Chicken Recipes
If you make this crockpot honey sesame chicken recipe, please let us know how it turns out in the comments below and/or rate the recipe! Donโt forget to tag us on Instagram to show us your finished productโit makes our day every time we see you trying the recipes we love!
Crockpot Honey Sesame Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 ยฝ pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs (or breasts)
- 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
- ยฝ cup low-sodium soy sauce
- โ cup honey
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic (fresh, pre-minced, or frozen)
- 1 tablespoon grated ginger (fresh, pre-prepared, or frozen)
- ยฝ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, optional
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons cold water
- Sesame seeds (optional for garnish)
- 3 green onions, sliced (optional for garnish)
- Optional for serving: steamed rice and veggies
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, honey, sesame oil, rice vinegar, garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes (if using).
- Place chicken thighs or breasts in the bottom of a slow cooker. Layer the onions on top. Pour the sauce evenly over the chicken and onion.
- Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours or high for 3-4 hours, until the chicken is tender and shreds easily with a fork.
- In the last 30 minutes of cooking, mix the cornstarch and water together in a small bowl to create a slurry. Stir it into the sauce in the slow cooker. Shred the chicken right in the crockpot using two forks. Stir it well to coat in the thickened sauce. Leave the crockpot uncovered and cook for the remaining time until the sauce thickens.
- Sprinkle with sesame seeds and green onions for garnish and serve with rice and veggies if desired.
Notes
- Save time/prep ahead:
- Pre-chop ingredients โ Dice onion, mince garlic, and grate ginger the night before. Store them together in an airtight container in the fridge.
- Mix the sauce ahead โ Whisk the honey sesame sauce ingredients (honey, sesame oil, rice wine vinegar, soy sauce, etc.) and store in a sealed jar in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Use prepped produce from grocery stores โ Look for pre-minced garlic, grated ginger paste, or pre-chopped onion to skip chopping time.
- Make it a freezer meal โ Add raw chicken and sauce mixture to a freezer bag, label, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge, then slow cook as directed.
- Double the batch โ Slow cooking two batches means one for dinner tonight and one for the freezer (future you will thank you).
- Serve with quick sides โ Pair with microwaveable hot cooked rice or steamed frozen vegetables for a complete meal in minutes.
- This recipe is gluten-free with the use of coconut aminos or tamari in place of soy sauce. It is dairy-free.
- The recipe can be found on My Fitness Pal by searching "BWB Crockpot Honey Sesame Chicken." The nutrition content provided for each recipe is an estimate created through the My Fitness Pal database. Please be aware that the nutritional content of each recipe may vary based on the products you use, the precision of your measurements, and the source you use to obtain nutrition data. While we try to provide accurate information, we give no guarantee regarding the accuracy of the nutritional information provided.
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