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Why we love this recipe
Like so many other slow cooker recipes I love (I’m looking at you, slow cooker beef barley soup!) this easy sticky chicken recipe is one that looks like you spent all day slaving over a hot sticky stove.
When back in real life, you spent fifteen minutes tossing the ingredients into your trusty slow cooker, going about your day and then spent another ten minutes finishing up the sweet and tangy sauce.
And speaking of that sauce, it’s a scrumptious combo of sweet and savory that takes your chicken dinner to a whole new level.
What is sticky chicken?
There are lots of variations on this favorite chicken dinner, most of which combine honey and soy sauce with other ingredients to make a cross between a marinade and a sauce.
And while I have nothing against any kind of delicious chicken dinner cooked in a skillet, if there is an option to have the same scrumptiousness made in the slow cooker, I am ALL IN.
Chicken cooked low and slow for hours in the slow cooker is not only fall apart tender, but in this case the honey and soy sauce join forces with some orange juice and ginger and garlic to make a glorious marinade for the chicken to cook in…AND a delectable sticky sauce to serve it with!
Swoon.
Ingredients you need
Ingredient notes and substitutions
- Soy Sauce: We always recommend low sodium – you can always add more salt, but you can’t take it out.
- Chicken: Prefer chicken thighs? You can swap them in, just make sure they are boneless.
- Orange: Any variety is fine.
- Ground Ginger: You can find this in the spice aisle.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How to make this recipe
Step 1: Combine some honey, soy sauce, orange juice, orange peel and ground ginger in a bowl and mix well with a fork or a whisk.
Step 2: Add the chicken and toss until it’s well coated.
Step 3: Put the chicken and sauce into the slow cooker. Cook on low for 6 hours until the chicken is cooked through (you can test with an instant read thermometer – it should read 165 degrees). Take the chicken out and keep it warm under a piece of foil.
Step 4: Whisk a little cornstarch and water together and pour into the slow cooker. Turn the slow cooker to high and let the sauce cook until it thickens up just a little stirring frequently, about 10 minutes or so. Taste and add salt and pepper until it seasoned up the way you like it.
Step 5: Divide the chicken among plates, drizzle with sauce, sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve! (One note here – you can serve the chicken whole, or you can shred it and dunk it back in the sauce – we’ve tried it both ways and we like the shredded way best but you be you!)
Recipe FAQs
It can! And as with many slow cooker recipes, the flavors may even deepen and be MORE delicious. When you are ready to serve, simply turn your slow cooker on high until it is warmed up (keep in the fridge in the meantime).
Soy sauce is usually found in the International Foods section of your supermarket. I always advise using the low-sodium kind…you can always add salt if you need it, but you can’t take it out.
You can! You’ll want to use a little more though – about a tablespoon as opposed to the teaspoon of the ground dried version.
Pop your question in the comments section below and I will answer you pronto!
Want to round out your meal?
We like serving this flavorful chicken dinner with rice, and if you want to get extra fancy you can cook up this coconut rice pilaf for even MORE flavor!
And we wouldn’t say no to a side of whipped carrots. And maybe some banana brownies for dessert?
Other chicken slow cooker recipes we love
Looking for more slow cooker inspiration? Here is our complete collection of slow cooker recipes!
Three cheers for the slow cooker…and for sticky chicken!
Could you leave us a review?
If you try this recipe, we would love to hear how it came out for you! I’d be super grateful if you could leave a star rating (you pick how many stars! 🌟 ) and your thoughts in the Comments section.
Slow Cooker Sticky Chicken
This easy recipe for slow cooker sticky chicken cooks low and slow in a orange honey soy sauce that is super flavorful!
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 7 hours
- Total Time: 7 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 4
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: Asian
Ingredients
- 4 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- Juice and peel from one orange
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- 3 tablespoons water
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Sesame seeds for garnish
Instructions
- Spray a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray
- Combine the honey, soy sauce, orange juice and peel and ginger in a bowl and mix well with a fork. Add the chicken and toss until well coated, and then put the chicken and sauce in the slow cooker.
- Cook on low for 6 hours until the chicken is cooked through (you can test with an instant read thermometer – it should read 165 degrees). Take the chicken out and keep it warm under a piece of foil.
- Whisk the cornstarch and the water together and pour into the slow cooker. Turn the slow cooker to high and let the sauce cook until it thickens up just a little stirring frequently, about 10 minutes or so. Taste and add salt and pepper until it seasoned up the way you like it.
- Divide the chicken among plates, drizzle with sauce, sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve!
Notes
Chicken: You can serve the chicken in whole pieces, or you can shred it and dunk it back in the sauce – we’ve tried it both ways and we like the shredded way best but you be you!)
Soy Sauce: We prefer low-sodium soy sauce (always!) because while you can always add salt, you can’t take it out! You can find it right next to the regular soy sauce.
Carol Kezel says
Can I just use orange juice instead and how much?
Hi Carol – do you mean all orange juice instead of the soy sauce? You can – and I would use a cup of oj – but you will lose the savory/salty flavor that the soy sauce provides. Your chicken will be much sweeter tasting, so you might want to add some additional salt at the end. If this isn’t what you meant let me know and I will respond again! :)
Carol Kezel says
No, I meant as a replacement for the juice and peel of one orange.. so can I just use regular orange juice instead of that if I don’t have an orange in the house and how much juice
Aha! I would use a half cup of orange juice as a replacement for the peel and juiced orange. I’m so happy the soy sauce gets to stay! :)
Carol Kezel says
Thanks it sounds delicious and I love anything in the crockpot
I hope you love it as much as we do, and I 100% agree about the crockpot! :)
Jack says
Such nice flavor! I am a sucker for a recipe you can toss into the slow cooker. Will definitely be making again!
Aren’t slow cookers the best? I love mine for so many things. Glad you liked this one!
Debra Moore says
Not sure what to do with the peel from the orange?
Hi Debra! Pop the orange peel in when the orange juice goes in, and it will help bring out even more of the orange flavor in this recipe. When the chicken is ready you can scoop it out and toss it – its work has been done. :) Happy New Year!