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    Home > Easy Slow Cooker Recipes

    Published: Feb 7, 2022 by Denise Browning · "This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission." · 2 Comments

    Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs

    Gluten Free

    Jump to Recipe ↓
    close up of a plate with slow cooker chicken thighs and rice

    Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs prepared in just 10 minutes and cooked low and slow until tender. It is coated in a thick, rich honey garlic sauce, making one of those perfect easy dinner ideas for busy weekdays.

    chicken thighs in slow cooker

    Crock Pot Chicken Thighs Recipe

    This easy recipe makes one of the best family dinner meals. There are many other reasons why you should be making this recipe:

    1. Simple ingredients: It calls for staples such as bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, oil, ketchup, soy sauce, garlic, honey, a few seasonings, and a few seasonings and spices.
    2. Easy to make: You’ll need to season and sear the chicken in oil, mix the sauce ingredients, and then cook it in the slow cooker for 3-5 hours, or until the chicken thighs are tender and the sauce has thickened. It requires no cooking skills! Alternatively, you can make this recipe in the Instant Pot on High Pressure.
    3. Versatile: You can serve it for dinner with noodles, brown or white rice, steamed veggies, or more. Moreover, you can take care of the leftovers by shredding and making sandwiches with shredded chicken for a quick lunch.
    4. Time-saver: You prep this chicken recipe in just 10 minutes. The rest of the time is spent in the slow cooker which requires no supervision. You just press a button and let the crockpot do the job for you!
    5. Crowd-pleasing: It has a mildly sweet and savory flavor that pleases even the pickiest palates. Your whole family will love it!
    6. It can be gluten-free (if using gluten-free soy sauce) and low carb (if using keto ketchup and sugar-free honey/maple syrup).

    Ingredients and Substitutions

    This simple recipe calls for staple ingredients, making one of those easy dinners with an Asian flair that the entire family will love!

    • Chicken thighs: I used bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs but you can use boneless, skinless chicken thighs or other cuts of chicken such as chicken legs (drumsticks). I recommend still searing the boneless, skinless thighs to impart extra flavor before adding to the crockpot. All these cuts have similar cooking time! And no, the boneless chicken thighs won’t be dry because they will be cooked low and slow in sauce (wet cooking method). However, you must check whether the boneless thighs are fully cooked about 30-40 minutes before the set cooking time which is 3 hours on high or 5 hours on low. But no matter what chicken cut you use, make sure to remove the chicken out of the fridge at least 20-30 minutes before cooking to assure they cook evenly.
    • Oil: Skip if you are not searing the chicken. But the skin won’t be golden brown and will require a little more time cooking in the slow cooker. I used peanut oil but you can use any vegetable oil or olive oil.
    • Seasonings: Salt and pepper to taste! For every pound of chicken, use 1 teaspoon of salt and ½ teaspoon of pepper. Try to distribute them evenly when seasoning the chicken.
    • Spices: I used fresh garlic, onion powder, ground ginger, and dried green onions or chives. But you can use whatever spices you want such as garlic powder, Italian seasoning, paprika, chili powder, red pepper flakes, spice mix of choice, etc It depends on what cuisine or flavors you want to adapt to this recipe.
    • Sauce: The base is made from ketchup, honey, and soy sauce. But you can easily replace them with BBQ sauce (or a mixture of tomato sauce, lemon juice, and brown sugar), maple syrup, and tamari respectively. For a gluten-free recipe, use a gluten-free soy sauce. t is like making a slow cooker honey garlic chicken that tastes like this honey garlic butter shrimp, honey mustard chicken, and honey soy chicken.
    • Garnish: I used sesame seeds and fresh green onions, but you can use whatever you want to give the final dish a touch of freshness.

    close up picture of cooked poutry in a plate with rice

    How to make slow cooker chicken thighs

    Check out how to make this chicken recipe step-by-step:

    1. Prep the chicken: Remove the chicken out of the fridge 20-30 minutes before cooking. Pat dry with a paper towel and sprinkle with salt and pepper. SEE PIC. 1 Let it sit at room temperature.
    2. Gather the ingredients: Meanwhile, gather the other ingredients. In a cast-iron skillet or heavy-bottom frying pan, heat oil over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken, skin side down, until golden brown. SEE PICS. 2 & 3 Transfer the chicken to the crock pot, skin side up.
    3. Make the sauce: In a medium bowl, whisk together ketchup, soy sauce, honey, garlic, onion powder, dried green onion or chives, and ground ginger. SEE PIC. 4 Then pour the sticky sauce mixture over the chicken. SEE PICS. 5 & 6
    4. Cook the chicken: Lock the lid and cook on HIGH for 3 hours or LOW for 5 hours, or until the chicken thighs are tender and the sauce has thickened.
    5. Serve: Remove the tender chicken thighs from the slow cooker and place them on a serving plate. Spoon the sauce over the cooked chicken, and sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds and chopped fresh green onions. Serve over brown or white rice or noodles, or with steamed veggies like green beans!

    photo collage showing how to amke chicken thighs in slow cooker step-by-step

    How To Store Leftovers

    Store any leftover slow cooker chicken thighs and sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.

    It is one of those slow cooker recipes that you can freeze for up to 3 months.

    Reheat crockpot chicken thighs before serving.

    Frequent Asked Questions for Cooking Slow Cooker Chicken

    Do You Need to Sear the Chicken First?

    No, you don’t! But it will brown the chicken skin and provide depth of flavor. Make sure to sear it over medium-high heat after heating a cast-iron skillet. Do not overcrowd the skillet; otherwise, it will lower the temp. Instead, work in 2 batches!

    Can I Cook Frozen Chicken Thighs in the crock pot?

    The  USDA doesn’t recommend cooking frozen chicken in the slow cooker, but rather thaw chicken.

    To defrost the chicken safely, either thaw it in the fridge overnight or submerge the frozen chicken in a bowl of hot tap water (about 140 degrees F) for 30 minutes, stirring the water once and a while.

    But if you are in a rush, make sure to cook the frozen chicken in a single layer to bring the chicken thighs up temperature more quickly.

    How long to cook on High?

    Cook chicken thighs for 2 to 3 hours on High.

    How long to cook in the slow cooker on Low?

    Cook chicken thighs for 5 to 6 hours on Low. 

    cooked poultry over white rice with garnishes on the side

    How To Make Crispy Bone-In Chicken Thighs in the Slow Cooker?

    After the chicken thighs are cooked, place them onto a baking sheet and brush some of the sauce on top. Then broil them for 3-5 minutes, or until the skin starts to brown up and get crispy. Serve them with the sauce!

    What to Serve with Crock Pot Chicken?

    This is one of those versatile crock pot chicken recipes that goes well with many sides such as:

    • Basmati rice
    • Jasmine rice
    • Air fryer asparagus
    • Roasted Carrots and Parsnips
    • Roasted Delicata Squash
    • Popovers

    crock pot chicken thighs topped with sauce and served with rice

     

    More chicken thigh recipes to enjoy:

    • Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
    • Baked Chicken Thighs
    • Keto Cauliflower Mac and Cheese with Chicken Thighs
    • Keto Ranch Chicken Thighs
    • Galinhada Recipe

    PIN & ENJOY!

    cooked chicken thighs in crock pot

     

    slow cooker chicken thighs over white rice
    Print SAVE Saved Recipe! Pin
    5 from 6 votes

    Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs

    Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs prepared in just 10 minutes and cooked low and slow until tender. It is coated in a thick, rich hone garlic sauce, making one of those perfect easy dinner ideas for busy weekdays.
    Course:Main Course
    Cuisine:American
    Keywords:slow cooker chicken thighs, sticky sauce
    Prep Time 10 minutes
    Cook Time 5 hours
    Total Time 5 hours 10 minutes
    Servings 8 chicken thighs
    Calories393 kcal
    Author Denise Browning
    Cost $ 1.25 per serving

    Equipment

    • 1 slow cooker
    • 1 cast-iron pan
    • 1 Mixing bowl
    • 1 whisk

    Ingredients

    • 8 chicken thighs bone-in, skin-on (NOTE: Remove the chicken out of the fridge at least 20-30 minutes before cooking)
    • Salt and pepper to taste
    • 1-2 tablespoons peanut oil or other vegetable oil
    • ¾ cup ketchup Use keto ketchup if you are on a keto diet!
    • ⅓ cup soy sauce Use a gluten-free soy sauce, for making this recipe gluten-free.
    • ⅓ cup honey Use sugar-free honey or sugar-free maple syrup if you are on a keto diet!
    • 3 tablespoon minced garlic
    • ½ teaspoon onion powder
    • 1 teaspoon dried chives or dried green onions
    • ½ teaspoon ground ginger
    • 1 tablespoon toasted white sesame seeds OPTIONAL
    • 1-2 tablespoons fresh chopped green onions or scallions, finely sliced or chopped

    Instructions

    • Prep the chicken: Remove the chicken out of the fridge 20-30 minutes before cooking. Pat dry with a paper towel and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Let it sit at room temperature.
    • Gather the ingredients: Meanwhile, gather the other ingredients. In a cast-iron skillet or heavy-bottom pan, heat oil over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken, skin side down, until golden brown. Transfer the chicken to the crockpot, skin side up.
    • Make the sauce: In a medium bowl, whisk together ketchup, soy sauce, honey, garlic, onion powder, dried green onion or chives, and ground ginger. Then pour the sauce mixture over the chicken.
    • Cook the chicken: Lock the lid and cook on HIGH for 3 hours or LOW for 5 hours, or until the chicken thighs are tender and the sauce has thickened.
    • Serve: Remove chicken from the slow cooker and place on a serving plate. Spoon the sauce over, and sprinkle with toasted sesame seed and chopped fresh green onions. Serve over rice or noodles, or with steamed veggies!

    Recipe Video

    https://www.youtube.com/watch/LSI7boXFNmk

    Recipe Notes

    How To Store Leftovers
    Store any leftover slow cooker chicken thighs and sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.
    It is one of those slow cooker recipes that you can freeze for up to 3 months.
    Reheat crockpot chicken thighs before serving.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 393kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 142mg | Sodium: 874mg | Potassium: 428mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 657IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 39mg | Iron: 2mg

    ** Nutrition labels on easyanddelish.com are for educational purposes only. This info is provided as a courtesy and is only an estimate, since the nutrition content of recipes can vary based on ingredient brand or source, portion sizes, recipe changes/variations, and other factors. We suggest making your own calculations using your preferred calculator, based on which ingredients you use, or consulting with a registered dietitian to determine nutritional values more precisely.

    Please note that health-focused and diet information provided on easyanddelish.com is for educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice, nor is it intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. Consult with your doctor or other qualified health professional prior to initiating any significant change in your diet or exercise regimen, or for any other issue necessitating medical advice.

    DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?Comment and rate the recipe. Also follow us on Pinterest at @easyanddelish for more delish recipes.

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    Filed Under: American Recipes, Easy Dinner Recipes, Easy Gluten-Free Recipes, Easy Slow Cooker Recipes

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. John / Kitchen Riffs says

      February 09, 2022 at 9:36 am

      Wow, what wonderful looking chicken thighs! Such a tasty looking dish. Love this -- thanks.

      Reply
    2. Aditi Bhardwaj says

      February 23, 2022 at 5:34 am

      5 stars
      Chicken My fav!! I loved this such a amazing recipe it is. love to cook this at dinner tonight.

      Reply

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    I'm a professional Chef with an expertise in Brazilian food. I am also a busy mom of two girls, living in Texas. Here you will find budget-friendly, healthy Brazilian and Global Recipes made Easy and Delish! I'd love to help you feed your family healthy dinners (many low carb) with a few splurges because life is all about balance! Join our community and happy cooking!

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