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Crockpot Honey Garlic Chicken – a new go-to family dinner. Easy, slow-cooked chicken tossed in a spicy-sweet and tangy honey garlic sauce. Serve this dish with broccoli cooked up right alongside the chicken. It’s the easiest crockpot dinner. Add a side of rice for a main and lots of fresh herbs to finish. And if you’re short on time, you can bake this chicken too!
My Nonnie was the queen of a sweet and tangy honey garlic chicken. She used to make this meal the day guests would arrive to visit them in South Florida. She knew that everyone always enjoyed the dish!
Nonnie’s sauce included some 1000 Island dressing and, I believe, an entire jar of orange marmalade, plus soy sauce. It may not sound that appealing when you say it out loud, but you can’t deny that the dish she made with delicious! She would serve the chicken and sauce with rice and roasted asparagus or broccoli.
I drew some inspiration from my Nonnie’s dish and made a variation in the crockpot. My sauce is much, much less sweet, with no dressing and a lot more garlic. Pretty different but very delish!
Since the weather has been so chilly and life is always busy, I wanted to make this in a crockpot. I slow-cooked the chicken in the sauce with the broccoli right on top.
This has to be one of my most effortless crockpot dinners. Nothing fancy to it! Which is often what we need most. While my Nonnie’s recipe inspired me, this also reminds me of a cozy Sunday night dinner my mom would serve. If you’re looking for a cozy dinner that’s still elegant enough to serve for Valentine’s Day, give this dish a try!
Here are the details
Ingredients
- Chicken breast or thighs – you can also use a mix, which is exactly what I do!
- Garlic – and lots of it!
- Tamari or soy sauce
- Ketchup – ideally, this is organic with no added sugars, or at least very little sugar. I love the Rao’s homemade ketchup. Primal Kitchens makes an unsweetened and one sweetened with honey. If you’re using Heinz ketchup, use the organic, it does not include any corn syrup.
- Honey
- Chili paste
- Rice vinegar
- Broccoli
- Fresh herbs – scallions and cilantro
- Toasted sesame seeds
- Steam or crispy rice – for serving
Special Tools
For this recipe, you’ll need a crockpot, or you can bake the chicken in a baking dish instead.
Steps
Step 1: the chicken
Arrange the chicken in the bowl of your crockpot. Sprinkle the garlic over the chicken.
Step 2: the sauce
I like to mix this in a glass jar first, but you can also add all the ingredients directly to the crockpot and then stir it up with the chicken.
The sauce is a mix of tamari (or use soy sauce), ketchup, honey, chili paste, and rice vinegar. I like to add black pepper too. Pour the sauce over the chicken.
Step 3: add the the broccoli
You can add the broccoli now, like I do, or you can wait until the end and add the broccoli before serving. I love that the broccoli gets super saucy, but some prefer to cook the broccoli for less time. Choose whatever you will enjoy!
Slow cook for 3 to 4 hours on low, then remove the lid and cook on high to thicken up the sauce.
Step 4:
Serve the chicken and sauce over bowls of crispy sesame rice. Steamed rice is great too! Then I love to add fresh scallions and cilantro for some freshness. It’s so yummy!
Looking for other busy weeknight-night recipes? Try these!
One Skillet Saucy Chicken Tortilla Enchilada Rice Bake
Crockpot Crispy Chicken Tinga Tacos with Avocado Jalapeño Crema
Sheet Pan Honey Mustard Salmon with Caesar Roasted Potatoes
One Skillet Cheesy Green Chile Chicken
Lastly, if you make this Crockpot Honey Garlic Chicken, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And, of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Crockpot Honey Garlic Chicken and Broccoli
Servings: 6
Calories Per Serving: 605 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken breasts or thighs
- 6 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1/2 cup tamari or soy sauce
- 1/4 cup organic ketchup
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 2-3 tablespoons chili paste
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- black pepper
- 3 cups broccoli florets
- 1/2 cup fresh chopped herbs scallions/cilantro
- toasted sesame seeds, for serving
- rice, for serving
Instructions
Crockpot
- 1. In the bowl of your slow cooker, add the chicken and garlic. 2. In a bowl, mix the tamari, ketchup, honey, chili paste, rice vinegar, and pepper. Pour the honey sauce over the chicken. Add the broccoli. Cover and cook on low for 3-4 hours or on high for 1-2 hours.3. Crank the heat on the slow cooker to high. Remove the lid. Cook for 25 minutes to thicken the sauce. 4. Serve the chicken, broccoli, and sauce over bowls of rice topped with herbs and sesame seeds. Enjoy!
Oven
- 1. Preheat the oven to 425° F. 2. In a rectangular baking dish, add the chicken and garlic. 3. In a bowl, mix the tamari, ketchup, honey, chili paste, rice vinegar, and pepper. Pour the honey sauce over the chicken. Add the broccoli and cook for 25-30 minutes until the chicken is cooked and coated in sauce.4. Serve the chicken, broccoli, and sauce over bowls of rice topped with herbs and sesame seeds. Enjoy!
This post was originally published on February 13, 2025
We are doing some updating to your kitchen, so I am looking for crockpot recipes that have flavor. This recipe is worth trying. I added additional vegetables and cut the chicken in bite size pieces. I will be making this recipe again.
Hey Stephanie,
Love to hear your family enjoyed this recipe, thanks so much for making it! Best of luck with your kitchen reno! xx
Totally easy to prepare crockpot meal that tasted delicious. My husband especially loved it. This made an extra portion for him to take to work the next day. We ate it with brown jasmine rice, and I used frozen broccoli. I added the frozen broccoli half way through the cooking process. I also substituted coconut amino acids for the soy sauce. I personally appreciated the thinness of the sauce as it paired well with the rice.
Thank you so much, Tinessa! So glad to hear this dish was a winner, I appreciate you making it! xx
How do you make the crispy sesame rice?
Hey Silvia,
Here is the recipe for the crispy rice:
https://fett-weg.today/chipotle-honey-salmon-rice-salad/%3C/a%3E%3Cbr /> Please let me know if you have any other questions! xT
I only have hoisin sauce, not tamari. Could I use that in place of tamari + honey? Or would that totally change the flavor?
Hey Julie,
You could use that, but it will have a different flavor:) Should still be yummy though! I hope you love this recipe! xT
Was so easy and delicious. My husband and I both loved it. The chicken was very tender and the flavor was great not too sweet. Loved the cilantro and green onions on top!
Thank you so much, Michelle! So glad to hear this dish was a winner, I appreciate you making it! xx
Is the chili paste the same as red curry paste?
Hi Nicole,
I like to use something like gochujang for this recipe. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xx
Trying this in the instant pot, do you know how long I should set it for? Thank you!!
I also didn’t have organic ketchup, hopefully it comes out ok 🤞🏼
Hey Melissa,
I would do 12 minutes on high pressure. I hope you love this recipe! xT
Can you use gochujang for the chili paste or would that change the flavor too much?
Hey Becky,
You bet, that will work nicely for you! I hope you love this recipe! xT
Is there a good substitute for rice vinegar? Don’t want to change the flavor too much if not!
Thanks!
Hi Colleen,
You can use a white wine vinegar. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xT
Is there a reason my sauce did not thicken at all? I even tried adding arrowroot powder—still a watery mess. Did I add too much broccoli?
Hey Elizabeth,
So sorry to hear this! You should be able to thicken it with a little cornstarch slurry! Let me know if that helps! xT
What can be used instead of chili paste? I’d like to use it for flavor but I don’t have any on hand. Thank you! Sounds so Good!
Hey Mitzi,
I would use your favorite hot sauce or chili flakes. I hope you love this recipe! xT
How to do you make the crispy rice? This looks so delish!
Hey Barbara,
Here is the recipe for the crispy rice:
https://fett-weg.today/chipotle-honey-salmon-rice-salad/%3C/a%3E%3Cbr /> I hope you love this recipe! xT
Hi. I’m curious if you have a recipe for your crispy rice?
Hey Tara,
I sure do!
https://fett-weg.today/chipotle-honey-salmon-rice-salad/%3C/a%3E%3Cbr /> Please let me know if you have any other questions! xT
Do you cut up the chicken or leave whole?
Hey Hannah,
For this recipe, I leave the chicken whole. If you have super large pieces, you can certainly cut them in half. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xT
I love your recipes but this one did not work for me. Very salty and it was very soupy. Never glazed up.
Hi Grace,
I am so very sorry to hear this! I’m wondering a cornstarch slurry would have helped to thicken the sauce. Thanks for trying this recipe! xx
You are amazing. I have all your coo koi ny books. Thanks for sharing all your recipes ❤️
Thanks so much for your kind message, Ileana:) I hope you love this recipe! xT