Crockpot Honey Garlic Boneless Chicken Thighs

This recipe for crockpot honey garlic boneless chicken thighs will impress the entire dinner table! The flavors are out of this world fantastic, with honey, garlic, citrus, brown sugar, and more. The meat is so tender it literally melts in your mouth. You can even easily turn it into slow cooker shredded chicken with a few twists of a fork!

Easy Crockpot Chicken Recipe

My family loves a good chicken dinner recipe, and slow cooker meals like this are my favorite for ease as a busy mom.

I used boneless skinless chicken thighs for this recipe, but you could use skin-on chicken, especially if you pan-sear the meat first. This way, you get a lovely crispy outer layer that really elevates the flavor profile.

Another aspect I just adore about this crockpot dish is the delicious sauce! It literally makes its own mouth-watering sauce right there in your slow cooker, immersing in chicken juices and simultaneously marinating the meat!

Why You Will Love This Recipe

An unbelievable flavor results from the slow cooking of the chicken and other ingredients
Super easy hands-off cooking
Makes the perfect amount for a family dinner
Tender chicken that melts in your mouth
Heavenly sauce doubles as salad dressing, gravy for mashed potatoes, and more
The easiest restaurant-quality dish you’ve ever made!
You can use a fork to pull the thighs apart into shredded chicken.

What Ingredients Do You Need?

Crockpot Honey Garlic Boneless Chicken Thighs Ingredients boneless skinless slow cooker shredded

Boneless skinless chicken thighs
Olive oil
Brown sugar
Honey
Soy sauce
Juice of orange or mandarin
Salt
Paprika
Pepper
Black garlic pepper
Cornstarch
Chicken broth
Shallots
Garlic – sliced or crushed
Cilantro for garnish – optional
Red chili flakes – optional

Tools & Equipment

6qt or larger crockpot

How Do You Make This Slow Cooker Chicken?

Crockpot Honey Garlic Boneless Chicken Thighs In process

Combine the spices and brown sugar and whisk them.
Pat the chicken dry, then brush it with some oil.
Rub the spices on all sides of the chicken.
If you want to pan-sear the chicken first, heat a skillet to medium-high, drizzle some of the oil, brown the garlic and shallots, then sear on either side for 2 minutes.
Add the shallots, garlic, and chicken to the crockpot.
Combine the juice and cornstarch (aka a cornstarch slurry) and whisk until combined, then pour over the chicken.
Add the soy sauce, honey, and broth as well.
Turn the crockpot on high and cook for 3-4 hours, or low and cook for 6-8 hours.
Serve whole or make shredded chicken!

Tips & Tricks

Make a cornstarch slurry with the orange juice to ensure the powder is distributed evenly and doesn’t clump up.
While you don’t have to pan-sear your crockpot honey garlic chicken thighs first, I recommend it if possible because it adds a scrumptious texture and flavor. However, if you’re using skin-on meat, then pan-searing is a must!
Make shredded chicken if you like! Just pull the chicken thighs apart with a fork.

Variations

Try using chicken breast in place of chicken thighs.
Try increasing the amount of cornstarch to make the sauce thicker.
You can add some fresh vegetables to the slow cooker in the last 20 minutes or so, like asparagus, corn, brussel sprouts, or bell peppers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a cornstarch slurry?

Have you ever heard of a cornstarch slurry? It’s a game-changing hack I learned recently. When you mix cornstarch into your recipe, there’s a high likelihood that it will clump and become chunky.

That’s why I made a cornstarch slurry for these crockpot honey garlic chicken thighs. It is essentially a mixture of a smaller amount of cold liquid with cornstarch. The proper ratio is typically 2 parts cold liquid and 1 part cornstarch. Add the slurry slowly into your main recipe.

Do bone-in chicken thighs take longer to cook?

Yes, bone-in chicken thighs take longer to cook than boneless. That’s because the bone changes the way heat is distributed. This is because the bone is very dense, so it takes longer to heat up.

More Hearty Chicken Dinner Recipes

I hope you enjoy this delicious recipe for crockpot honey garlic boneless chicken thighs. If so, please leave a star ★★★★★ rating and a comment below! Follow along on Pinterest, Facebook, or Twitter for more delicious recipes!