Honey sesame chicken made with chunks of slow-cooked chicken smothered in a sweet and savory honey garlic and soy sauce is garnished with sesame seeds and served hot over a bed of rice. This simple meal idea is basically a dump-and-set recipe that packs a ton of flavor into every bite!
Honey sesame chicken is a dish I turn to when I need a stress-free meal ready to serve at the end of a busy day. It’s one of my family’s favorite Chinese takeout dishes (hello, Panda Express!), but just like crock pot sweet and sour chicken, orange chicken rice bowl, and teriyaki chicken, making it at home is even better.
It’s made with chunks of juicy chicken slow-cooked in a crockpot smothered in a tasty sauce with plenty of Asian-inspired flavors like soy sauce, honey, and garlic. It’s sweet, savory, and saucy!
Garnished with nutty sesame seeds and green onions, all you need is a vegetable side dish and dinner is served!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- No frying involved. It’s a stir fry without the frying which makes it lighter and healthier!
- Fuss-free and hands-free! Once the chicken is in the slow cooker, it does the work for you.
- So much flavor. Sweet, sticky, savory, and umami flavors come together in this honey sesame chicken recipe.
- Makes great leftovers. If you’re lucky enough to have any left it reheats well for quick and easy lunches or dinner the next day.
Ingredients Needed
- Chicken: I usually use boneless skinless chicken breasts, but chicken thighs work just as well.
- Salt and pepper: For seasoning the meat before it gets coated in the sauce.
- Honey: Adds sweetness and sheen to the sauce. It’s what helps make it slightly sticky, which is a signature element in this kind of sauce!
- Soy sauce: For depth of flavor. It’s an umami element very popular in Asian dishes.
- Diced onion and minced garlic: Aromatics for plenty of flavor!
- Ketchup: Using ketchup gives the sauce a balance of sweetness and acidity and adds color.
- Olive oil: Helps disperse the sauce ingredients giving it a smoother, silkier texture.
- Cornstarch and water: We’ll add a cornstarch slurry at the end to help thicken the sauce.
- For garnish: Sesame seeds and chopped green onions.
- For serving: White rice, pasta, or your favorite sides.
How to Make Crockpot Honey Sesame Chicken
Step 1: Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper on both sides and place them into the basin of the crockpot.
Step 2: Whisk together the honey, soy sauce, onion, garlic, ketchup, and oil and pour it over the chicken. Cover with a lid.
Step 3: Cook on low for 3-4 hours. Once cooked all the way through, transfer the chicken to a clean cutting board.
Step 4: Dissolve the cornstarch into water and stir it into the slow cooker. Place the lid back on and cook the sauce on high for 10 minutes until it thickens up.
Step 5: Cut the chicken into bite-size pieces and add it back to the sauce. Toss to combine and spoon it over white or brown rice or noodles. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and green onions.
Recipe Tips
- If you’re out of honey, you can use granulated sugar, brown sugar, or maple syrup instead. They’ll all deliver different flavors (especially the maple syrup), but they’ll still add a delicious sweetness.
- Feel free to go the extra mile and toast the sesame seeds in a pan before garnishing.
- Chicken breast is leaner white meat which I prefer, but you can use chicken thighs instead.
- Add some red pepper flakes for heat!
- You can also shred the chicken rather than cutting it into bite-size pieces if you prefer.
FAQs
Sure you can. If you need to leave it in a little longer, cook the chicken on low heat for 4-6 hours.
Neither. Use the regular soy sauce otherwise, it’ll either be too salty, or the flavor will be too robust.
Keep any leftover slow cooker honey sesame chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
This chicken freezes well which is great for planning ahead! You can freeze this easy honey sesame chicken recipe in a freezer-safe container or freezer bag for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat in the microwave or skillet. Feel free to make a little extra sauce to add to the dish to loosen it up.
More Slow Cooker Recipes You’ll Love:
- Slow Cooker Ham
- Slow Cooker Vegetable Lasagna
- Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
- Crockpot Roast Beef Sandwich
Honey Sesame Chicken
Ingredients
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 cup honey
- ½ cup soy sauce
- ½ cup diced onion
- ¼ cup ketchup
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 teaspoons cornstarch
- 6 Tablespoons water
- sesame seeds, chopped green onions, for garnish
- cooked white rice or pasta, for serving
Instructions
- Season both sides of chicken with salt and pepper and place at the bottom of your crock pot.
- In a small bowl, combine honey, soy sauce, onion, ketchup, oil and garlic. Pour over chicken. Cook on low for 3-4 hours until chicken is cooked through. Remove chicken from the slow cooker.
- In a small bowl, dissolve cornstarch into water and then pour it into the slow cooker. Stir to combine with the sauce. Replace lid and cook sauce on high for ten minutes.
- Meanwhile, cut chicken into bite size pieces, then return to the crock pot and stir to combine.
- Spoon chicken and sauce over rice or pasta, then sprinkle with sesame seeds and green onions.
