Description

This Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Garlic Chicken is a deliciously sweet and savory dish made with tender chicken breasts or thighs slow-cooked in a flavorful sauce combining brown sugar, soy sauce, garlic, honey, and ketchup. Easy to prepare and perfect for a hands-off meal, it results in juicy, shreddable chicken with a thick, rich glaze, finished with fresh chopped green onions for a burst of freshness.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken

4–6 boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs

Sauce

1 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup soy sauce
6 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup ketchup
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)

Thickening Slurry

2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons water

Garnish

Chopped green onions

Instructions

Prepare the Sauce: In a medium bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, soy sauce, minced garlic, honey, ketchup, sesame oil, and red pepper flakes if using. This creates a flavorful sweet and savory sauce to coat the chicken.
Place Chicken in Slow Cooker: Arrange the chicken breasts or thighs evenly at the bottom of your slow cooker, avoiding too much overlap to ensure even cooking.
Pour Sauce Over Chicken: Pour the prepared sauce over the chicken, gently tucking it between pieces to coat each piece well and infuse flavor throughout the cooking time.
Cook the Chicken: Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 6-7 hours or high for 3-4 hours until the chicken is tender enough to shred easily with a fork.
Prepare Thickening Slurry: About 30 minutes before serving, mix the cornstarch and water in a small bowl until fully combined to create a slurry.
Thicken the Sauce: Stir the cornstarch slurry into the sauce in the slow cooker. Continue cooking on high for 30 minutes or until the sauce reaches your preferred thickness.
Garnish and Serve: Once the sauce has thickened, sprinkle chopped green onions over the chicken as a fresh, vibrant garnish before serving.

Notes

Use chicken breasts for leaner meat or thighs for more tender and juicy results.
Adjust the red pepper flakes to your preferred spice level or omit them for a milder dish.
If you prefer a thicker sauce, you can increase the cornstarch slurry slightly, adding it in small increments.
This dish pairs well with steamed rice or roasted vegetables to balance the sweetness.
Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and taste great reheated.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 6 hours
Category: Main Dish
Method: Slow Cooking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: slow cooker chicken, brown sugar chicken, garlic chicken, sweet and savory chicken, easy slow cooker meals