Slow Cooker Honey Sesame Chicken

Tender chicken slowly cooked in a sweet, savory, and slightly tangy honey sesame sauce. This easy slow cooker meal is packed with Asian-inspired flavor and is delicious served over steamed rice with vegetables.

🍗 Ingredients

For the Chicken

• 2 lbs (900 g) boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch, optional

For the Honey Sesame Sauce

• ½ cup honey
• ⅓ cup low-sodium soy sauce
• ¼ cup ketchup
• 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
• ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
• 1 tablespoon sesame seeds

For Thickening

• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 3 tablespoons cold water

For Garnish

• 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
• 2 green onions, thinly sliced

👩‍🍳 Instructions

1. Prepare the Chicken

Pat the chicken dry and season lightly with salt and black pepper.

Place the chicken in the slow cooker.

2. Make the Honey Sesame Sauce

In a bowl, whisk together:

• Honey
• Soy sauce
• Ketchup
• Rice vinegar
• Sesame oil
• Garlic
• Ginger
• Red pepper flakes

Pour the sauce over the chicken.

3. Slow Cook

Cover and cook on:

• LOW: 4–5 hours
• HIGH: 2–3 hours

The chicken should be tender and reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).

4. Shred or Slice the Chicken

Remove the chicken from the slow cooker.

For pulled-style chicken, shred it with two forks. Alternatively, cut it into bite-sized pieces.

Return the chicken to the slow cooker and stir it into the sauce.

5. Thicken the Sauce

Mix 2 tablespoons cornstarch with 3 tablespoons cold water until smooth.

Stir the slurry into the sauce.

Cover and cook on HIGH for approximately 10–15 minutes, stirring once or twice, until the sauce thickens and becomes glossy.

6. Finish With Sesame

Stir in 1 tablespoon sesame seeds.

Garnish with additional sesame seeds and sliced green onions.

🍚 How to Serve

Serve the honey sesame chicken over:

• Steamed white rice
• Jasmine rice
• Brown rice
• Fried rice
• Chow mein noodles

Add steamed broccoli, snap peas, carrots, or bell peppers on the side for a complete meal.

⭐ Tips for the Best Honey Sesame Chicken

• Chicken thighs stay especially juicy during slow cooking, while chicken breasts provide a leaner option.
• Use low-sodium soy sauce to keep the dish from becoming too salty.
• Fresh ginger gives the sauce a much brighter flavor than powdered ginger.
• Add extra red pepper flakes if you enjoy spicy food.
• Don’t add the cornstarch slurry at the beginning—it works best near the end of cooking.
• For extra texture, sprinkle toasted sesame seeds over the finished chicken.

⏱️ Recipe Details

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 4–5 hours on LOW
Total Time: About 4½–5½ hours
Servings: 4–6
Cuisine: Asian-inspired
Method: Slow Cooker