This Slow Cooker Sesame Honey Chicken is the answer to busy weeknight dinners. With just a few pantry staples, you can have a savory-sweet, sticky and satisfying meal waiting for you at the end of the day. Tender shredded chicken soaks up a flavorful sauce made with honey, soy, sesame oil, garlic, and ginger — no artificial ingredients, just real, wholesome flavor.
Perfect for meal prep or serving up hot with steamed rice, veggies, or wrapped in lettuce for a low-carb version, this dish is as versatile as it is crave-worthy. It brings together the depth of slow cooking and the vibrant punch of Asian-inspired seasonings in a simple, set-it-and-forget-it recipe. Once you try it, you’ll be making it on repeat.
Full Recipe
Ingredients:
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1½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
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½ cup low-sodium soy sauce
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½ cup honey
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¼ cup tomato paste
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2 tablespoons rice vinegar
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2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
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1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
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2 cloves garlic, minced
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1 tablespoon cornstarch
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2 tablespoons water
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1 tablespoon sesame seeds
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2 green onions, thinly sliced
Directions:
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In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, honey, tomato paste, rice vinegar, sesame oil, ginger, and garlic.
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Place chicken thighs in a crock pot and pour sauce mixture over the top.
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Cover and cook on LOW for 4 hours or HIGH for 2 hours, until chicken is tender.
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Remove chicken and shred with two forks.
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In a small bowl, whisk together cornstarch and water to make a slurry.
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Pour sauce from the crock pot into a saucepan over medium heat. Add slurry and stir until thickened, about 2–3 minutes.
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Return shredded chicken to the sauce, stir to coat evenly.
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Garnish with sesame seeds and green onions before serving.
Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cooking Time: 4 hours (on LOW) | Total Time: 4 hrs 10 min
Kcal: 275 kcal | Servings: 6 servings
Introduction to Crock Pot Sesame Honey Chicken
Crock Pot Sesame Honey Chicken is the epitome of flavor-meets-convenience. This deliciously sticky, sweet, and savory chicken dish brings together the rich umami of soy sauce, the natural sweetness of honey, the slight tang from rice vinegar, and the warm aromatic notes of sesame oil, garlic, and ginger. All these flavors are slow-cooked into tender, pull-apart chicken thighs that practically melt in your mouth. What makes this recipe so popular isn’t just its incredible taste—it’s the hands-off cooking method that makes it perfect for busy families, meal preppers, or anyone looking for a no-fuss way to enjoy bold flavors.
Whether you’re a seasoned home cook or someone who just got their first slow cooker, this dish offers a satisfying and flavorful result with minimal prep. It’s budget-friendly, widely adaptable to dietary needs, and kid-approved. From weeknight meals to potluck favorites, Crock Pot Sesame Honey Chicken is a reliable and mouthwatering option that works in almost every situation.
Origins and Culinary Influence
The flavor profile of Sesame Honey Chicken draws inspiration from East Asian cuisine, particularly Chinese-American takeout classics like sesame chicken and General Tso’s chicken. What distinguishes this dish is its simplified, healthier, home-cooked version—without deep frying or excessive sugar and sodium. The ingredients used reflect a careful balance between sweet, salty, tangy, and nutty flavors, a hallmark of Asian-inspired cooking.
Soy sauce and sesame oil are traditional staples in Asian kitchens, and when combined with garlic and ginger, they create a base that’s both aromatic and deeply flavorful. Honey not only sweetens the sauce but also helps thicken and caramelize it as it simmers. This recipe takes all those beloved elements and adapts them for slow cooking, allowing the ingredients to gradually infuse the chicken for maximum depth of flavor.
Why Use a Crock Pot?
Using a Crock Pot (or any slow cooker) for this recipe enhances the overall experience in several ways. First and foremost, it’s convenient—you can assemble the ingredients in the morning, turn it on, and come home hours later to a fully cooked, tender meal. There’s no need to hover over the stove or monitor timing too closely.
Slow cooking also breaks down the fibers in chicken thighs, resulting in meat that’s incredibly tender and easy to shred. The sauce has time to thicken and intensify, and the flavors meld together beautifully. For busy families, working professionals, or anyone trying to cut down on processed takeout food, the Crock Pot is a game changer.
Health Benefits and Nutritional Value
Crock Pot Sesame Honey Chicken is a healthier alternative to many restaurant or takeout versions of similar dishes. By using skinless, boneless chicken thighs, you get a protein-rich base that’s more flavorful and tender than chicken breasts. Honey provides a natural sweetener instead of relying on refined sugar, and using low-sodium soy sauce helps control salt intake.
Additionally, this dish is made with simple, whole ingredients and can be adjusted to suit various dietary needs. Want to make it gluten-free? Just switch the soy sauce for tamari or coconut aminos. Looking to reduce carbs? Serve it with cauliflower rice or steamed veggies. It’s also dairy-free and easily customizable for paleo or Whole30 lifestyles.
Pairing Suggestions
One of the reasons this dish is so well-loved is its versatility. You can serve Crock Pot Sesame Honey Chicken in many different ways depending on your preferences or what you have on hand. Here are some great options to round out your meal:
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With Steamed White or Brown Rice: A classic choice that absorbs the sweet-savory sauce perfectly.
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With Quinoa or Cauliflower Rice: For a more nutritious, low-carb twist.
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Lettuce Wraps: Spoon the shredded chicken into butter lettuce leaves for a fresh, low-carb presentation.
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Over Stir-Fried Veggies: Broccoli, bell peppers, snap peas, or bok choy make excellent companions.
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With Noodles: Soba, udon, or even spaghetti noodles can be tossed with the sauce for a heartier meal.
Adding sesame seeds and thinly sliced green onions on top not only enhances the flavor but also adds texture and a restaurant-quality presentation.
Meal Prep and Storage Tips
This recipe is a fantastic option for meal prepping. Once cooked, the chicken stores well in the fridge for up to four days and freezes beautifully for up to three months. Just portion it into airtight containers along with rice or veggies, and you have ready-to-go meals for the week.
To reheat, simply microwave or warm gently on the stovetop with a splash of water or broth to loosen the sauce. The flavor only gets better after sitting overnight, making it one of those rare dishes that actually improves as leftovers.
You can even double the batch if you have a larger slow cooker, ensuring that your effort goes twice as far. It’s perfect for batch cooking, especially if you’re feeding a family or hosting guests.
Common Variations
While the core of this recipe is incredibly flavorful on its own, it also invites customization. Here are a few popular variations:
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Add Vegetables: Bell peppers, carrots, and onions can be added during the last hour of cooking for a complete one-pot meal.
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Spice It Up: Add chili flakes, sriracha, or a dash of hot sauce for heat.
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Make It Tangy: Include a tablespoon of orange juice or fresh lime juice for a citrus kick.
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Switch the Protein: Substitute chicken thighs with chicken breasts, pork tenderloin, or even tofu for a vegetarian version.
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Add Crunch: Top with crushed peanuts or cashews before serving for extra texture.
Appeal for All Skill Levels
One of the strongest advantages of Crock Pot Sesame Honey Chicken is how approachable it is. You don’t need advanced cooking skills, expensive tools, or hours of free time. The preparation process is beginner-friendly, and the results are consistent every time. For novice cooks just starting to explore the kitchen, this dish is a confidence booster. For more experienced home chefs, it’s a reliable staple that’s easy to scale up or tweak for new flavor profiles.
Because the slow cooker handles most of the work, there’s very little risk of overcooking or burning. It’s an ideal recipe to set in the morning before work or school, leaving your home smelling incredible and your dinner ready when you walk in the door.
Serving Ideas for Different Occasions
This dish adapts well to a variety of dining contexts. For a casual family dinner, it’s comforting and nourishing. If you’re hosting a dinner party or potluck, it impresses with its glossy glaze and rich flavor. You can even use it for creative appetizers—serve the shredded chicken in small lettuce cups or slider buns for a fun twist.
For lunchboxes or meal prep containers, pair it with a grain and a vegetable, and you have a complete, balanced meal that reheats beautifully. It’s even great for holidays when you want a flavorful but low-effort dish among more labor-intensive recipes.
Conclusion
Crock Pot Sesame Honey Chicken is more than just a recipe—it’s a solution to the ongoing dilemma of how to make wholesome, flavorful meals without spending hours in the kitchen. With its balance of sweet and savory flavors, tender texture, and ease of preparation, it’s no wonder this dish has become a favorite in households everywhere.
Its appeal spans all types of cooks—from busy parents and students to meal preppers and flavor chasers. It’s highly customizable, budget-friendly, and yields a satisfying meal that works for both casual weeknights and special occasions. Once you try it, it’s almost guaranteed to earn a regular spot in your meal rotation.
Whether you’re serving it over rice, stuffing it in lettuce wraps, or enjoying it straight from the bowl, Crock Pot Sesame Honey Chicken delivers comfort and excitement in every bite. It’s proof that delicious doesn’t have to mean difficult, and that the slow cooker is still one of the most underrated tools in the modern kitchen.