Description
A hands-off slow cooker recipe featuring tender chicken thighs glazed in a honey garlic sauce, paired with fragrant sesame ginger jasmine rice. Perfect for busy weeknights or lazy weekends.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 1/4 cup honey (85g)
- 1/3 cup soy sauce (80ml), low-sodium preferred or tamari for gluten-free
- 6 cloves garlic, minced (about 2 tablespoons)
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar (30ml)
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil (15ml)
- 1/4 cup water (60ml)
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1.5 cups jasmine rice (270g)
- 2.5 cups water or chicken broth (600ml)
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, finely grated
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil (15ml) for rice
- 2 green onions, thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce for rice
Instructions
- Mince garlic cloves and measure honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and sesame oil.
- Place chicken thighs in the slow cooker and pour honey garlic sauce ingredients over them. Stir gently to coat.
- Cook on low for 4-5 hours or on high for 2-3 hours. Stir sauce halfway through cooking.
- Toast sesame seeds in a dry skillet over medium heat until golden and fragrant, about 2-3 minutes. Set aside.
- Rinse jasmine rice under cold water until water runs clear.
- Combine rice, broth or water, grated ginger, and sesame oil in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes.
- Remove from heat and let rice rest covered for 10 minutes.
- Fluff rice with a fork, then stir in sliced green onions, toasted sesame seeds, and soy sauce. Adjust seasoning to taste.
- Serve chicken over the sesame ginger rice, drizzle with extra sauce from the slow cooker, and garnish with additional toasted sesame seeds and green onions.
Notes
[‘Use chicken thighs for juicier, tender results; breasts tend to dry out.’, ‘Toast sesame seeds fresh for best flavor and crunch.’, ‘Cook on low for 4-5 hours for melt-in-your-mouth chicken.’, ‘Fresh ginger is essential for bright, spicy zing; avoid ground ginger.’, ‘Save extra sauce from the slow cooker to drizzle over rice and chicken.’, ‘The sauce can be prepared a day ahead and refrigerated for deeper flavor.’, ‘Add vegetables like bell peppers or snap peas in the last hour of cooking for added nutrition.’, ‘For gluten-free, substitute soy sauce with tamari or coconut aminos.’, ‘To fix watery sauce, simmer on stove to thicken or add a cornstarch slurry.’, ‘Reheat chicken gently with a splash of water or broth to keep moist.’]
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 4-5 hours
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Asian-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approxima
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 12
- Sodium: 550
- Fat: 10
- Saturated Fat: 2
- Carbohydrates: 42
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 28
Keywords: slow cooker, honey garlic chicken, sesame ginger rice, easy dinner, weeknight meal, gluten-free option, family-friendly