Tender chicken slowly cooked in a rich honey garlic sauce that turns simple ingredients into pure winter comfort.
Prep & Cook Time
Prep: 10 min
Cook: 4 hours
Total: 4 hours 10 min
Ingredients
- 1½ lb chicken thighs, boneless and skinless
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter
- ⅓ cup honey
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp paprika
Instructions
Place the chicken thighs in the slow cooker, arranging them in an even layer so they cook uniformly.
In a small bowl, mix the melted butter, honey, soy sauce, garlic, black pepper, and paprika until smooth and well combined.
Pour the sauce over the chicken, making sure each piece is coated evenly with the glossy mixture.
Cover and cook on low heat until the chicken becomes tender and easily pulls apart with a fork.
Spoon the sauce over the chicken just before serving, allowing the flavors to settle and deepen.
Nutrition Facts (approx)
Calories: 390
Protein: 32g
Carbs: 22g
Fat: 20g
Quick Facts
• slow cooker meal
• cold weather comfort
• family approved
• budget friendly
• freezer friendly
Tips
Use chicken thighs instead of breasts to keep the meat juicy during the long cooking time.
If the sauce feels thin at the end, remove the lid and let it sit for a few minutes so it naturally thickens.
Stir the sauce gently before serving to evenly distribute the butter and honey.
Variations
For a savory twist, add sliced onions to the slow cooker so they soften and absorb the sauce while cooking.
To introduce gentle heat, mix in a pinch of chili flakes or a spoon of mild chili sauce with the honey mixture. This balance of sweet and heat works beautifully in dishes like our sheet pan honey chicken where simple flavors are elevated with minimal effort.
For a citrus note, add a small splash of fresh orange juice near the end of cooking to brighten the sauce. If you love easy comfort meals with bold flavors, check out our sheet pan garlic chicken recipe for another hands-off family favorite.