Sluggish Cooker Honey Garlic Hen

This Crockpot Honey Garlic Hen with a candy and savory Asian sauce could not be simpler to make. It is at all times an enormous hit. It tastes like your favourite candy and sticky Chinese language hen, however it’s made with just some easy components you in all probability have already got at dwelling.

These days, I’ve simply wanted easy, crowd-pleasing dinners. You already know, the type of recipes that may be thrown collectively in a few minutes with issues I have already got in the home, recipes that everybody will eat and even return for seconds.

This honey garlic hen recipe is that type of recipe. All you want is hen, soy sauce, honey, and ketchup. Garlic, dried basil, and pink pepper flakes improve the sauce, however I will share some simple swaps in case you have no at dwelling. It takes lower than 5 minutes to place the hen within the gradual cooker, and in just a few hours, dinner is prepared. Straightforward, peasy!

Serve it over white rice, stuff it right into a sandwich, toss it on a salad, wrap it up in some lettuce, or add it to stir-fried greens. I am telling you, this scrumptious sauce at all times delivers! Since this recipe is flexible, contemplate doubling up for leftovers throughout the week for straightforward dinners.

In the event you love this recipe, you may additionally take pleasure in my different gradual cooker diced hen recipes, resembling Slow Cooker Chicken and Cauliflower Tikka Masala and Slow Cooker Chicken Burrito Bowls.

Why You’ll Love Crockpot Honey Garlic Hen

Listed below are certain explanation why this scrumptious gradual cooker hen recipe will likely be a household favourite:

• 8 Easy components: This simple crockpot hen recipe is good for days (or nights) while you simply need to whip up a fast and yummy meal with the issues you have already got in your fridge and pantry.
• Thick and candy sauce: This do-it-yourself honey garlic sauce is certainly one of my favorites. It is so flavorful, and it’s nice drizzled over rice, noodles, or veggies.
• Straightforward to prepare dinner: I like utilizing a gradual cooker as a result of all I actually need to do is put all my components in there and let it do its job. That is kind of 5 minutes of prep time. Undoubtedly one of many simple gradual cooker recipes on the market!

Substances and Straightforward Swaps

Here is all the pieces you want for this gradual cooker honey garlic hen recipe:

• Hen: I exploit boneless skinless hen breasts and lower them into bite-sized chunks. You can even use hen thighs and even drumsticks however simply be certain that to regulate the temperature and cooking time accordingly.
• Honey garlic sauce: The star of the dish! It combines all of the goodness of freshly minced garlic, dried basil, soy sauce, ketchup, and honey in a single sticky, candy, and savory sauce. If you do not have garlic readily available, you possibly can swap in garlic powder, dehydrated garlic, or jarred minced garlic from the grocery retailer.
• Herbs: With regards to dried herbs, you should utilize basil, oregano, parsley, or some other dried herb you want. It can be not noted and will not change the flavour considerably.
• Crimson pepper flakes: Add a little bit of pink pepper flakes for some warmth. You’ll be able to even use sriracha or garlic chili paste like sambal olek as an alternative for extra distinctive flavors.
• Cornstarch: If you wish to thicken the sauce extra, make a cornstarch slurry and add it to the gradual cooker because the sauce simmers.

How one can Sluggish Cook dinner Honey Garlic Hen

A gradual cooker could make your life a lot simpler! Use it to show an already easy hen recipe into one thing less complicated with these steps:

1. Combine the sauce components: Whisk collectively the garlic, basil, soy sauce, ketchup, and honey. Add extra honey if you need it candy and a few pink pepper flakes for a spicy kick.
2. Cook dinner all the pieces: Add the hen to the crockpot. Pour the sauce over and blend all the pieces collectively. Cook dinner on low for two.5-3 hours in most gradual cookers till the hen breast is cooked by. Take away utilizing a slotted spoon. Notice that cooking entire hen breasts could take a bit longer. Keep away from lifting the lid an excessive amount of whereas cooking to maintain all of the moisture inside.
3. Thicken the sauce: Combine the cornstarch with a contact of water (about 1 tablespoon) and add it to the gradual cooker. Let prepare dinner for 15-20 minutes till it’s properly thickened. Add the hen again to the crockpot and serve. You can even combine the cornstarch with an equal quantity of water. Pour the leftover cooking liquid right into a small saucepan. Add the cornstarch slurry and produce to a boil. Cook dinner for 4-5 minutes till thickened.

Prompt Pot Choice

To make this dish in an Prompt Pot, begin by making ready the sauce. In a small bowl, whisk collectively the garlic, basil, soy sauce, ketchup, and honey till properly mixed. Add the hen breast chunks straight into the Prompt Pot, then pour the sauce excessive, stirring all the pieces to coat the hen evenly.

Safe the Prompt Pot lid, set the valve to “Sealing,” and prepare dinner on Excessive Strain for 10 minutes. As soon as completed, enable the stress to launch naturally for five minutes, then fastidiously flip the valve to “Venting” to launch any remaining stress.

In the event you want a thicker sauce, there are two choices. First, you should utilize the Prompt Pot’s Sauté perform. Make a slurry by mixing 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of water, then add it to the sauce within the pot. Stir the sauce, letting it prepare dinner on Sauté mode for 3-5 minutes till thickened, then return the hen to the pot in the event you eliminated it.

Alternatively, pour the cooking liquid right into a small saucepan and produce it to a boil on the stovetop. Add the cornstarch slurry and prepare dinner for 4-5 minutes till the sauce thickens. Lastly, pour the thickened sauce over the hen within the Prompt Pot, and it’s able to serve.

Recipe Variations

This weeknight favourite is about to get a scrumptious improve! Choose any of those concepts to maintain your dinners thrilling:

• Shredded hen: In the event you want shredded hen, prepare dinner the hen breasts entire after which shred within the sauce with two forks.
• Totally different protein: Make this recipe with boneless skinless hen thighs and even pork tenderloin and lean pork roast. You probably have struggled with dry hen within the gradual cooker up to now, make it with hen thighs. You’ll be able to even make the dish vegetarian through the use of tofu as an alternative!
• Different cooking strategies: In the event you don’t have a gradual cooker or crockpot, you may as well make garlic honey hen on the range high and even higher, grill the hen for additional taste. Make the sauce on a pan and drizzle it over the cooked hen.
• Spicy: Boost the sauce by including pink pepper flakes. I like utilizing Asian scorching sauces like Sriracha and Gochujang as a result of they pair so properly with the opposite flavors of the dish.
• Tomato paste: In case you are out of ketchup, you should utilize two tablespoons of tomato paste blended with one tablespoon of rice vinegar.
• Toppings: You wouldn’t need to skip the ending touches! Garnish with sesame seeds, chopped inexperienced onions, or contemporary cilantro for a pop of coloration and taste.

What to Serve with Crockpot Honey Garlic Hen

This takeout-style dish will certainly have you ever craving different Asian-style dishes, so listed here are some favorites we prefer to serve on the aspect:

• Rice: Make a batch of steamed white or brown rice. Or in case you are craving fried rice, you possibly can do that Cauliflower Fried Rice or Healthy Fried Rice.
• Greens: You may seemingly desire a vegetable on the aspect so as to add greens and vitamin. Many instances, I’ll simply shortly stir fry some broccoli, inexperienced beans, or cauliflower with slightly soy or hoisin sauce and serve that on the aspect. After I need one thing slightly extra distinctive, I make this Roasted Asian Broccoli or 10 Minute Cabbage Stir Fry, which makes use of bagged coleslaw combine.
• Lettuce wraps: For a lighter choice, this honey garlic hen is scrumptious, wrapped up in some butter lettuce with shredded carrots and bean sprouts. For a heartier lettuce wrap, add some skinny rice noodles.
• Noodle bowls: You might additionally flip this right into a noodle bowl with cooked pasta tossed with slightly soy sauce and sesame oil. Or make some Lo Mein or Chow Mein for an entire meal.

Recipe Ideas and Tips

My entire household loves an excellent do-it-yourself meal, and this honey-garlic hen matches the invoice completely. Here is how to ensure your hen dinner seems nice each time:

• Sluggish cooker temp: Be sure that to know your gradual cooker. Many individuals suppose hen breasts come out dry within the gradual cooker, normally as a result of the hen is overcooked. Many gradual cookers, even on low, prepare dinner fairly shortly. For instance, this hen was completed cooking in simply 3 hours on low warmth in my gradual cooker.
• Pressed for time: If pressed for time, you possibly can skip thickening the sauce. The hen will nonetheless be scrumptious and will not have a thick, sticky sauce.
• Sear the hen: For an additional layer of taste sear the hen for an additional layer of taste and a pleasant caramelized coloration.
• Style as you go: Tasting the sauce because it cooks will not damage. Alter the flavour profile to your liking—if it wants extra sweetness, add a contact of honey. A splash of vinegar can do the trick if it wants a little bit of tang.

Storage and Reheating

This honey garlic hen is so versatile, and it is nice to pair with nearly something: rice, greens, noodles—you identify it!

• To retailer: Put leftovers in an hermetic container and refrigerate for 4-5 days. Be sure that to retailer in particular person servings for simpler reheating.
• To reheat: Reheat on the range or microwave till warmed by. For a saucy hen, you may as well make a brand new batch of sauce to make the dish saucier after reheating because the hen can lose a little bit of moisture the longer it’s saved.

Meal Prep and Leftover Concepts

This crock pot honey garlic hen recipe is certainly one of my favorites for meal prep since there are such a lot of alternative ways to serve leftovers. It tastes so significantly better the subsequent day!

• Rice bowls: Think about packing some leftovers as rice bowls with cooked cauliflower rice and steamed greens. For tremendous simple prep, use frozen rice and frozen stir fry veggies. They’ll defrost within the fridge after which prepare dinner while you reheat the dish within the microwave.
• Salad: Use leftover hen to make an Asian-style chicken salad with Romaine lettuce, mandarin oranges, bean sprouts, cucumbers, and crushed peanuts. You can even flip these salads into wraps.
• Fried rice: Make some fast fried rice with the leftover hen. You might additionally make some honey garlic hen lo mein utilizing leftover cooked spaghetti.