Get ready for a taste sensation that surpasses takeout with our Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs! Tender, juicy, and bursting with the perfect blend of sweet and savory flavors, this recipe is a culinary masterpiece. Paired with lo mein noodles, it becomes a simple make-ahead meal that’s not only easy but also incredibly delicious. Say goodbye to takeout and hello to a homemade dish that will have everyone asking for seconds!
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Treating yourself to takeout can be a welcome departure from the norm, but there’s something truly special about recreating your favorite meals at home, just like this Honey Garlic Chicken. Here are a few reasons why it’s an irresistible go-to:
- Just as flavorful as your favorite restaurant and so easy to make on your own
- Sweet, savory, tangy, and unbelievably delicious
- Combined and cooked in the slow cooker with minimal prep work
- A complete meal on its own, and perfect for feeding a crowd
Ingredients You’ll Need
Our ultra-delicious Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs are crafted with simple Asian staples for a complex and satisfying flavor. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Soy Paste – Used to form the base of the sauce.
- Soy Sauce – We recommend using low-sodium varieties to be able to control the amount of salt in the dish.
- Honey – Just a dash helps sweeten the sauce, and allows it to cling to the chicken and noodles.
- Sriracha – Add as little or as much as you’d like to satisfy your taste.
- Chicken – For the best results, we recommend using boneless, skinless chicken thighs.
- Oyster Sauce – A thick, syrup-like sauce common in Asian cuisine.
- Sesame Oil – Adds a slightly nutty taste.
- Ginger – Contributes a refreshing, tangy flavor that levels out the rest of the flavors in the dish.
- Garlic – We use 6 cloves!
- Rice Wine Vinegar – The acidity helps allow the sweet flavors to come through without overpowering the recipe.
- Cornstarch and Water – Combined and mixed with the rest of the ingredients to help thicken the sauce.
- Lo mein rice noodles – These are added at the very end of cooking to transform this honey garlic chicken into a complete meal!
How to Make Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs
Get ready for the ultimate in ease and flavor with our Honey Garlic Chicken—it’s one of the easiest recipes you’ll ever make! This culinary gem is designed to be straightforward and stress-free, allowing you to enjoy a delicious meal without breaking a sweat.
- Combine the Ingredients. Add the chicken thighs to the slow cooker along with the remaining ingredients except for the noodles and cornstarch. In a separate small bowl, whisk the cornstarch and water together until smooth. Pour the mixture into the slow cooker. Stir to combine.
- Cook. Cover, and cook on high until the chicken is cooked.
- Shred. Use two forks to shred the chicken in the slow cooker.
- Add the Noodles. Stir in the cooked noodles, mixing until everything is tossed with the sauce. Garnish, and serve warm!
Honey Garlic Chicken Common Questions
It’s the best of both worlds! The honey adds a subtle sweetness, while the garlic, soy sauce, and sometimes ginger bring in those savory, umami-packed vibes. The result? A perfectly balanced sauce that’s rich without being too heavy.
Yes—they practically melt! Chicken thighs are naturally juicier than breasts, and slow cooking gives them plenty of time to soak up the sauce while staying incredibly moist and flavorful.
Absolutely! Bone-in thighs add even more flavor and richness. Just be sure to adjust the cooking time slightly to make sure they’re fall-apart tender.
Yes! Add red pepper flakes, sriracha, or a splash of hot sauce to the mix. It gives the sweet-savory combo a little kick, and you can dial the heat up or down depending on your mood.
More Easy Chicken Recipes
Discover more family favorites with our collection of simple chicken recipes! If you enjoyed the ease and deliciousness of our Honey Garlic Chicken, you won’t want to miss these:
- Crock Pot Chicken Fajitas
- Slow Cooker Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta
- Peri Peri Chicken Drumsticks
- Pizza Baked Chicken
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Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
- 2 pounds about 8 chicken thighs, boneless and skinless
- 1/3 cup soy paste
- 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 1/3 cup honey
- 4 Tablespoons sriracha or to taste
- 1 Tablespoon oyster sauce
- 2 teaspoons sesame oil
- 2 Tablespoons ginger
- 6 cloves garlic minced
- 2 Tablespoons rice wine vinegar
- 2 Tablespoons cornstarch + 1/4 cup water
- 16 ounces lo mein noodles cooked according to package instructions
- Optional: sesame seeds and scallions for garnish
Instructions
- In the slow cooker, add the chicken thighs, add the remaining ingredients except for the noodles and cornstarch.2 pounds about 8 chicken thighs, boneless and skinless, 1/3 cup soy paste, 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce, 1/3 cup honey, 4 Tablespoons sriracha or to taste, 1 Tablespoon oyster sauce, 2 teaspoons sesame oil, 2 Tablespoons ginger, 6 cloves garlic, 2 Tablespoons rice wine vinegar
- In a separate bowl, whisk the cornstarch and water together until smooth. Pour the mixture into the slow cooker.2 Tablespoons cornstarch + 1/4 cup water
- Cover, and cook on high for 3 hours.
- While the chicken cooks, prepare the noodles according to the package instructions. Set aside.16 ounces lo mein noodles
- Shred the chicken, and mix to combine the ingredients.
- Stir in the noodles, and toss to coat.
- Sprinkle garnishes on top, if desired. Serve warm.Optional: sesame seeds and scallions for garnish
- Store in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Equipment
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This looks great! Just ordered soy paste from Amazon. Thank you for all the amazing recipes you ladies share. My family will love this!
Thank you, Kelly! We’re so glad you and your family are enjoying the recipes. 😊
Xo,
Alia & Radwa
what is soya paste?
Love ALL your recipes…any tips for substitutions to accommodate soy and shellfish allergies? I use coconut aminos instead of soy sauce, but specifically what can be used instead of oyster sauce and soy paste? Thank you
Thank you, Judy! For oyster sauce you can try mushroom broth or coconut aminos. For soy paste try tamari. Hope this helps!
Xo,
Alia & Radwa
Can this be done in oven as I don’t have slow cooker?
Hi, Tammy! You could try baking the chicken in the oven, but it won’t have the fall apart tender texture that makes it easy to shred.
Xo,
Alia & Radwa
Is the nutrition value includes the noodles? What would it be without? It was delicious!
It does! We unfortunately don’t have the nutrition for the recipe without the noodles, but you could always plug the ingredients to an app like MyFitnessPal or Cronometer!
Xo,
Alia & Radwa
Happy Saturday!
Can you explain what ‘soy paste’ is…would it be miso paste by chance?
Looking forward to making this recipe…it looks AmaZinG!
Thank you
Janis
Hi Janis,
Soy paste is a thickened and sweetened soy sauce and is not quite the same as miso paste. This is a good option!
We hope you enjoy!
Xo,
Alia & Radwa
what is soya paste
What can you substitute soy paste
You can try miso paste or soy sauce but the taste and texture will vary slightly.
Xo,
Alia & Radwa
I am currently making this and instead of using soy paste i used hoisin sauce because our stores here don’t have soy paste. so we shall see how it turns out
We’d love to know how it goes!
Xo,
Alia & Radwa
Hi just finished making this recipe and man is it good. Not going to eat it right now, so I was wondering how I would heat it up later for my kids. I just don’t want the chicken to become rubbery in the microwave.
Just a tip- I used 3 tablespoons of Sriracha sauce and it was very spicy. I put 2 teaspoons of Greek yogurt in it and it definitely calm it down so it’s not too spicy for my kids.👍🏻
We’re so glad you enjoyed it and were able to adjust it to suit your needs! We recommend covering a baking dish with foil and reheating at 350 degrees. You can even add a bit of water to help keep the chicken moist.
Xo,
Alia & Radwa
Any instant pot conversion tips?! Especially the cornstarch…ok to put it in at the same time as recipe requests for slow cooker?
Hi Mira! Unfortunately, we haven’t tested this recipe in the Instant Pot and can’t guarantee your results. We think it should be fine if you add the cornstarch as normal. Please let us know how it goes if you give it a try!
Xo,
Alia & Radwa
What does the soy paste do for flavor? Just wondering if it can be omitted? Thanks!
It adds extra depth with a sweet and salty umami flavor. We don’t recommend omitting it!
Xo,
Alia & Radwa
Can I use miso paste in place of soy paste? Thx! 🙂
We would probably recommend using tamari or coconut aminos instead!
Xo,
Alia & Radwa
shoot! I just noticed I used the “white miso soy bean paste”. Will this not work? Should I add coconut aminos?
It will probably be okay. Miso paste is just slightly sweeter than soy paste. 🙂
Xo,
Alia & Radwa
Is ginger absolutely necessary?
You could omit it, but the flavor will be quite a bit different.
Xo,
Alia & Radwa
What can you be substituted for the Soy Paste? I cannot find it a local grocery store.
You can try hoisin sauce. It will have a slightly different taste but it pretty close to soy paste!
Xo,
Alia & Radwa
This is delicious! I add some shelled edamame at the end. Family loves it.
Thank you, Heather! We’re so glad you enjoyed it! 🥰
Xo,
Alia & Radwa
hi. this looks delicious. any way to make it a faster cooking meal instead of 3 hours? sorry if this is a basic question. I don’t really cook but would like to try to make this!
Hi! You could try baking the chicken in the oven, but it won’t have the fall apart tender texture that makes it easy to shred.
Xo,
Alia & Radwa
Just tried this with chicken breast and pad thai noodles. My husband and I are very happy with this recipe!
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Jeehye!
Xo,
Alia & Radwa
How many chicken breasts did you use?
I am always looking for a slow cooker recipe that I can make for my always hungry young adult boys. This is so easy and good. I did 1.5 times the recipe so it could feed a crowd. I now have the ingredients on hand in my pantry and the recipe is on heavy rotation!
We’re so happy to hear this, Ashley! Thank you for sharing. 😊
Xo,
Alia & Radwa
Delicious meal, and a keeper recipe. I used 3lbs of thighs and used 4 pkgs of ramen noodles instead. Just enough left over for one more meal.
So glad this was a hit! It’s always makes it even better when there is enough left for leftovers! xo, Alia & Radwa
Looks delicious! Is there a good substitute for oyster sauce? Will it affect the recipe too much if I leave it out? My son has a seafood allergy.
You can definitely omit all together!
I also have a seafood allergy and I substituted with hoisin sauce. It was delicious! A big hit with the whole family – I will definitely make this again!
This was seriously sooo good! It had the best flavor and was super easy to throw together for dinner!!
Amazing! We are so glad to hear that this was an easy dinner! <3 xo, Alia and Radwa
Is the ginger to be fresh or powdered?
fresh ginger!