The Best Crockpot Honey Sesame Chicken Recipe

There are few dinners more satisfying than cracking open a container of hot, sticky sesame chicken, but let’s be honest: takeout can be expensive, messy, and sometimes leaves you feeling sluggish. For years, I struggled to replicate that perfect restaurant-style sweet-and-savory glaze at home without making a huge mess or spending an hour over a hot wok.

My solution arrived, as many of my best solutions do, in the humble appliance that sits on my counter: the crockpot.

This Crockpot Honey Sesame Chicken recipe isn’t just a recipe; it’s a superior, takeout fakeout alternative. It requires minimal prep, uses simple ingredients you likely already have, and results in the most tender, flavor-saturated chicken imaginable. The slow cooker transforms simple sauce components—honey, soy sauce, and a touch of chili—into a thick, glossy, sticky glaze that clings beautifully to every piece of meat.

This recipe is a cornerstone for anyone building a strong crockpot recipes arsenal. If you’re searching for an easy Asian recipe that delights the whole family and makes your weeknights effortless, you can stop scrolling. This is the meal that brought peace back to my busy kitchen, and I’m confident it will do the same for yours.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This recipe is a high-traffic pin because it targets the intersection of convenience and craving. It’s what Pinterest users want when they search for a weeknight dinner that feels special but requires zero effort.

The Ultimate “Dump and Go” Prep

Like the best slow cooker chicken recipes, this one is ridiculously hands-off. You can prep the chicken and sauce in the crockpot in less than ten minutes before work. The slow, gentle cooking process ensures the chicken remains moist and tender, meaning you don’t have to worry about overcooking or babysitting the stove. It truly is the ideal easy crockpot recipe.

Superior to Takeout (and Healthier!)

When you make this dish at home, you control the ingredients. You can opt for low-sodium soy sauce, use less sugar, and skip the deep-fryer entirely. The chicken is simply simmered in the sauce, making this a much healthier dinner option without sacrificing the irresistible sticky texture. The flavor is clean, vibrant, and perfectly balanced between sweet and savory.

The Magic of the Sticky Sauce

The star of the show is the sauce. The unique feature of crockpot cooking is that the sauce reduces slowly, creating a concentrated, syrupy glaze that coats the chicken beautifully. We use a simple cornstarch slurry at the end to thicken it just enough to achieve that signature sticky chicken texture that everyone loves. This trick guarantees a professional-level finish every time.

Meal Prep Excellence

This recipe yields a generous amount, which means planned leftovers! The Crockpot Honey Sesame Chicken is excellent for meal prep ideas. The chicken freezes well, reheats perfectly for lunch bowls, or can be repurposed into spring rolls or sandwiches later in the week.

Ingredients and Instructions: Building the Perfect Glaze

The success of this Crockpot Honey Sesame Chicken lies entirely in the sauce. It needs to be the right balance of salty, sweet, sour, and spicy. Here are the exact ingredients you need to achieve takeout perfection.

The Basic Instructions:

1. Prep & Mix: Combine all sauce ingredients (honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes) in the slow cooker bowl. Whisk until fully combined.
2. Add Chicken: Add the cubed chicken pieces and toss gently to coat completely.
3. Cook: Cover and cook on LOW for 3-4 hours or on HIGH for 1.5-2.5 hours. The chicken is done when it shreds easily or is cooked through.
4. Thicken: Switch the slow cooker to the “High” setting. In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and cold water (the slurry). Pour the slurry into the chicken mixture and stir continuously for 1-2 minutes until the sauce thickens into a glossy glaze.
5. Serve: Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes to allow the sauce to set. Serve hot over rice, garnished with sesame seeds and scallions.

The Best Crockpot Honey Sesame Chicken Recipe

Who needs takeout when you can make sticky, sweet, and savory Honey Sesame Chicken right in your slow cooker? This easy recipe creates tender chicken simmered in a flavorful honey-soy-garlic sauce — perfect over white rice for a comforting meal any night of the week.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 4 hours hrs

Total Time 4 hours hrs 5 minutes mins

Servings: 4 servings

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Asian, Chinese-Inspired

Calories: 550

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• 1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs (about 5 pieces)
• salt and pepper, to taste
• 1 cup honey
• 1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup diced onion
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
• 1 tbsp cornstarch (to thicken sauce)
• sesame seeds, for garnish
• cooked white rice, for serving (optional)

Equipment

• slow cooker / crockpot
• mixing bowl
• whisk
• knife and cutting board
• measuring cups and spoons

Method

 

1. Place the chicken thighs in the crockpot insert and season both sides with salt and pepper.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together honey, soy sauce, ketchup, vegetable oil, minced garlic, diced onion, and red pepper flakes until well combined.
3. Pour the sauce mixture evenly over the chicken in the crockpot.
4. Cover and cook on LOW for 3–4 hours or HIGH for 1½–2½ hours, until chicken is cooked through and tender.
5. Remove the chicken and cut it into chunks. In a small bowl, mix cornstarch with a little water and whisk it into the sauce to thicken. Return the chicken to the crockpot and stir to coat evenly.
6. Serve hot over a bed of white rice and sprinkle with sesame seeds before serving.

Notes

To store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in the microwave until warmed through. To freeze: Place the cooled chicken in a freezer-safe container or bag and freeze for up to 2 months. Reheat fully before serving. Source: Six Sisters’ Stuff.

Step by Step: Getting That Perfect Sticky Texture

Achieving the ideal sticky, glossy glaze is what separates an average slow cooker chicken from a truly shareable Crockpot Honey Sesame Chicken. My biggest learning curve with this recipe was mastering the timing of the cornstarch slurry. Too early, and the sauce breaks down; too late, and you’re serving watery chicken.

Here is my detailed, human-written process to guarantee success and save you from common pitfalls:

Step 1: Cubing the Chicken for Uniformity

While it’s tempting to leave the chicken breasts whole, I strongly advise cutting the chicken into 1-inch cubes before adding it to the pot. Why? Uniform cubes ensure every piece cooks evenly and, more importantly, every piece gets thoroughly coated in the sticky sauce. This small step significantly improves the visual appeal and taste, making your pin images more appetizing.

Step 2: The Importance of Fresh Aromatics

For a true takeout fakeout flavor, avoid using powdered garlic or dried ginger. The fresh minced garlic and grated ginger are what give the sauce that vibrant, authentic kick. They permeate the chicken during the slow cook process, lending depth that powdered alternatives simply cannot match. If you’re prepping this as a freezer meal, add the fresh garlic and ginger directly to the freezer bag with the sauce components.

Step 3: The Low-and-Slow Cook Time

Sticking to the LOW setting for the duration is ideal. On the HIGH setting, the honey-heavy sauce can sometimes scorch around the edges, particularly if your slow cooker runs hot. The key to the best slow cooker chicken is patience. If you must use HIGH, ensure you stir the sauce once or twice during the cook time to prevent sticking.

Step 4: Mastering the Cornstarch Slurry (The Secret)

This is the most critical step. Never add cornstarch directly to a hot liquid—it will clump instantly. The cornstarch slurry must be made with cold water and whisked until smooth before pouring it into the simmering sauce. Once added, turn the heat to HIGH and stir constantly for about 60-90 seconds. The sauce will rapidly transform from liquid to a thick, beautiful glaze. This thickening process is what gives the sticky chicken its name.

Step 5: The Final Rest and Garnish

Once the sauce is thick, switch the slow cooker off and let the chicken sit for five minutes. The sauce will continue to set up as it cools slightly. Garnish is not optional! The sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds and bright green scallions adds vital texture and color, transforming a simple chicken dish into a restaurant-quality meal that looks fantastic in your blog photos and Pinterest visuals.

Variations, Serving, and Storage FAQs

This core Crockpot Honey Sesame Chicken recipe is incredibly flexible, allowing you to use your batch for multiple meals, solidifying its place in the meal prep ideas category.¹

Delicious Variations to Try:

• Spicy Honey Sesame: Double the red pepper flakes or add a teaspoon of Sriracha directly to the sauce before cooking. This will satisfy the search for spicy Asian recipes.
• Veggies Added: For a complete, one-pot healthy dinner, add 1 cup of frozen broccoli florets, carrots, or snap peas during the last 30 minutes of cooking. This keeps the vegetables tender-crisp.
• Pineapple Glaze: Substitute $1/4$ cup of the water/broth with canned pineapple juice. Add $1/2$ cup of canned pineapple chunks to the slow cooker during the last hour for a tropical twist.
• Gluten-Free Honey Sesame Chicken: Simply replace the traditional soy sauce with Tamari or a certified gluten-free soy sauce alternative.² All other ingredients are naturally gluten-free.

Serving Suggestions:

This weeknight dinner is delicious served over:

1. Steamed Rice: White, brown, or jasmine rice is the classic accompaniment.
2. Noodles: Serve over pan-fried chow mein noodles for a true takeout fakeout feel.
3. Lettuce Wraps: Shred the chicken and serve it inside crisp butter lettuce cups, topped with slivered almonds and shredded carrots. This is an excellent healthy dinner option.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Conclusion: A Permanent Win for Your Weeknight Routine

The Crockpot Honey Sesame Chicken is the definitive answer to the question: “What should I make for dinner tonight that is easy, affordable, and delicious?” It is a recipe that works for the busiest schedules, requires no specialty skills, and delivers a sticky, savory-sweet flavor that rivals any restaurant.

By embracing the slow cooker chicken method, you’ve unlocked a secret weapon in your kitchen. This is the recipe that converts takeout money into savings and converts chaotic weeknights into calm, satisfying dinners.