Gradual Cooker Honey Garlic Hen

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

These days, I’ve simply wanted easy, crowd-pleasing dinners. You understand, 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 purple pepper flakes improve the sauce, however I will share some simple swaps in case you haven’t any at house. It takes lower than 5 minutes to place the hen within the sluggish cooker, and in a couple of hours, dinner is prepared. Simple, 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 all the time delivers! Since this recipe is flexible, take into account doubling up for leftovers through the week for simple dinners.

For those who love this recipe, you may additionally get pleasure from my different sluggish 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 positive explanation why this scrumptious sluggish cooker hen recipe will probably be a household favourite:

• 8 Easy components: This simple crockpot hen recipe is right for days (or nights) if you simply wish 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 home made honey garlic sauce is one in every of my favorites. It is so flavorful, and it’s nice drizzled over rice, noodles, or veggies.
• Simple to prepare dinner: I like utilizing a sluggish 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 roughly 5 minutes of prep time. Positively one of many simple sluggish cooker recipes on the market!

Substances and Simple Swaps

Here is all the things you want for this sluggish cooker honey garlic hen recipe:

• Hen: I take advantage of boneless skinless hen breasts and minimize them into bite-sized chunks. You may also use hen thighs and even drumsticks however simply ensure 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’ll be able to swap in garlic powder, dehydrated garlic, or jarred minced garlic from the grocery retailer.
• Herbs: In relation to dried herbs, you need to use basil, oregano, parsley, or another dried herb you want. It can be not noted and will not change the flavour considerably.
• Purple pepper flakes: Add a little bit of purple pepper flakes for some warmth. You may 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 sluggish cooker because the sauce simmers.

Methods to Gradual Cook dinner Honey Garlic Hen

A sluggish 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 in order for you it candy and a few purple pepper flakes for a spicy kick.
2. Cook dinner all the things: Add the hen to the crockpot. Pour the sauce over and blend all the things collectively. Cook dinner on low for two.5-3 hours in most sluggish cookers till the hen breast is cooked via. Take away utilizing a slotted spoon. Word that cooking complete 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 sluggish cooker. Let prepare dinner for 15-20 minutes till it’s properly thickened. Add the hen again to the crockpot and serve. You may also 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 Possibility

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 effectively mixed. Add the hen breast chunks straight into the Prompt Pot, then pour the sauce excessive, stirring all the things to coat the hen evenly.

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

For those who want a thicker sauce, there are two choices. First, you need to use 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 case 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: For those who want shredded hen, prepare dinner the hen breasts complete 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 sluggish cooker previously, make it with hen thighs. You may even make the dish vegetarian by utilizing tofu as an alternative!
• Different cooking strategies: For those who don’t have a sluggish cooker or crockpot, you can even make garlic honey hen on the range prime 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 purple pepper flakes. I like utilizing Asian sizzling sauces like Sriracha and Gochujang as a result of they pair so effectively with the opposite flavors of the dish.
• Tomato paste: If you’re out of ketchup, you need to use two tablespoons of tomato paste blended with one tablespoon of rice vinegar.
• Toppings: You wouldn’t wish to skip the ending touches! Garnish with sesame seeds, chopped inexperienced onions, or contemporary cilantro for a pop of colour 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 below are some favorites we prefer to serve on the facet:

• Rice: Make a batch of steamed white or brown rice. Or if you’re craving fried rice, you could possibly do this Cauliflower Fried Rice or Healthy Fried Rice.
• Greens: You may possible desire a vegetable on the facet so as to add greens and vitamin. Many instances, I’ll simply rapidly stir fry some broccoli, inexperienced beans, or cauliflower with slightly soy or hoisin sauce and serve that on the facet. Once 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 possibility, 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 could possibly 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 a whole meal.

Recipe Ideas and Tips

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

• Gradual cooker temp: Ensure that to know your sluggish cooker. Many individuals assume hen breasts come out dry within the sluggish cooker, normally as a result of the hen is overcooked. Many sluggish cookers, even on low, prepare dinner fairly rapidly. For instance, this hen was completed cooking in simply 3 hours on low warmth in my sluggish cooker.
• Pressed for time: If pressed for time, you’ll be able to 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 colour.
• 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. Ensure that to retailer in particular person servings for simpler reheating.
• To reheat: Reheat on the range or microwave till warmed via. For a saucy hen, you can even make a brand new batch of sauce to make the dish saucier after reheating for the reason that 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 one in every of my favorites for meal prep since there are such a lot of alternative ways to serve leftovers. It tastes so a lot better the following day!

• Rice bowls: Contemplate 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 if 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 may also flip these salads into wraps.
• Fried rice: Make some fast fried rice with the leftover hen. You could possibly additionally make some honey garlic hen lo mein utilizing leftover cooked spaghetti.