This easy slow cooker teriyaki chicken recipe combines tender chicken breasts or thighs with a savory sauce made from soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, and honey.
It’s a perfect family dinner option that requires minimal effort and delivers delicious results.
Simply toss the ingredients into your crock pot and let it cook for hours. The chicken becomes immersed in the thickened sauce, making it ideal for serving over rice. You can customize the sweetness to your liking, and the recipe is perfect for busy weeknights.
Understanding the Ingredients
The foundation of a delightful crock-pot teriyaki chicken lies in its ingredients.
Boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs are the stars of this dish, providing tender, juicy bites that soak up the savory sauce.
Key components of the sauce include low sodium soy sauce, brown sugar, minced garlic, fresh ginger, and honey. These ingredients blend together to create a rich flavor profile that elevates the chicken.
Rice vinegar adds a touch of acidity, balancing the sweetness of the brown sugar and honey, while cornstarch mixed with water serves to thicken the sauce, giving it a luscious texture.
Preparation Made Simple
Preparing this dish is straightforward and requires minimal effort.
Start by mixing the soy sauce, brown sugar, honey, minced garlic, grated ginger, and rice vinegar in a bowl. This mixture forms the savory sauce that will envelop the chicken.
Next, place the chicken in the crock pot and pour the sauce over it, ensuring the pieces are well coated.
Cover the pot and let it cook on low for about six hours. During this time, the chicken becomes tender and flavorful, perfect for shredding.
Cooking Process
As the chicken cooks, it becomes immersed in the thickened sauce, allowing the flavors to meld beautifully.
After the cooking time, remove the chicken and set it aside. Stir in the cornstarch mixture to the sauce in the crock pot and let it cook on high for an additional 10-15 minutes until it thickens.
This step is crucial for achieving that glossy, restaurant-quality finish.
Serving Suggestions
Once the chicken is shredded and returned to the pot, it’s time to serve.
Pair the teriyaki chicken with fluffy white rice, allowing the grains to soak up the delicious sauce. Garnish with sesame seeds and chopped green onions for a burst of color and flavor.
This dish not only looks appealing but also offers a satisfying meal that is perfect for family dinners.
Customizing Your Dish
One of the best aspects of this slow cooker teriyaki chicken is its versatility.
You can easily adjust the sweetness by modifying the amount of brown sugar or honey to suit your taste. Feel free to add vegetables like bell peppers or broccoli during the last hour of cooking for a complete meal.
This adaptability makes it a go-to recipe for busy weeknights or special occasions.
Creating the Perfect Atmosphere
To enhance your dining experience, consider the presentation.
Serve the teriyaki chicken on rustic wooden tables, accompanied by a bowl of extra sauce and chopsticks. This setup not only invites guests to enjoy the meal but also adds an authentic touch to your Asian dinner.
With its inviting appearance and mouthwatering flavors, this dish is sure to impress everyone at the table.
Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken
This teriyaki chicken features boneless skinless chicken cooked in a flavorful sauce that includes low sodium soy sauce, brown sugar, minced garlic, fresh ginger, and rice vinegar. The recipe takes about 6 hours in the slow cooker and serves 4 people.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 4 cloves minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds for garnish
- Chopped green onions for garnish
- Cooked rice for serving
Instructions
- Prepare the Sauce: In a bowl, stir together the soy sauce, brown sugar, honey, minced garlic, grated ginger, and rice vinegar.
- Add Chicken: Place the chicken breasts or thighs in the crock pot and pour the sauce over them, ensuring they are well coated.
- Cook: Cover and cook on low for 6 hours or until the chicken is tender and easily shredded.
- Thicken the Sauce: Once cooked, remove the chicken and set aside. Stir in the cornstarch mixture into the sauce in the crock pot and cook on high for an additional 10-15 minutes until thickened.
- Shred Chicken: Shred the chicken using two forks and return it to the crock pot, stirring to coat with the thickened sauce.
- Serve: Serve the teriyaki chicken over rice, garnished with sesame seeds and chopped green onions.
Cook and Prep Times
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours
- Total Time: 6 hours 10 minutes
Nutrition Information
- Servings: 4 servings
- Calories: 320kcal
- Fat: 5g
- Protein: 30g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
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