Description
This Crock Pot Teriyaki Chicken recipe offers a flavorful, easy-to-make meal perfect for busy days. Tender chicken breasts slow-cooked in a savory and sweet teriyaki sauce infused with ginger, garlic, and sesame oil create a delicious dish that can be served over rice or with your favorite sides.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken breasts
Teriyaki Sauce
- ½ cup honey
- ¾ cup soy sauce
- 2 Tablespoons rice vinegar
- ¼ cup mirin
- ½ teaspoon powdered ginger
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
Thickening Agent
- 1 Tablespoon cornstarch (for thickening)
- 2 Tablespoons cool water (to mix with cornstarch)
Instructions
- Prepare Slow Cooker: Grease the slow cooker lightly to prevent sticking and facilitate easy cleanup after cooking.
- Mix Sauce: Whisk together honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar, mirin, powdered ginger, garlic powder, onion powder, freshly ground black pepper, and sesame oil directly in the slow cooker. Do not add cornstarch at this stage.
- Add Chicken: Place the chicken breasts into the slow cooker, coating them thoroughly with the sauce mixture to ensure even flavor throughout the cooking process.
- Cook Chicken: Cover and cook the chicken on low for 6 hours or on high for 3 hours, until the chicken is tender and can be easily shredded with a fork.
- Remove Chicken and Strain Sauce: Remove the chicken breasts from the slow cooker and transfer them to a plate. Strain the cooking liquid from the slow cooker into a saucepan, discarding any solids.
- Make Cornstarch Slurry: In a small bowl, mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of cool water until smooth to create a slurry. Add this to the strained sauce in the saucepan.
- Thicken Sauce: Bring the sauce to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly until the sauce thickens to a glossy consistency.
- Combine and Serve: Shred the cooked chicken using two forks. Mix half of the thickened sauce into the shredded chicken to infuse flavor. Reserve the remaining sauce for serving alongside or drizzling over the finished dish.
Notes
- For best results, use boneless, skinless chicken breasts for even cooking and easy shredding.
- You can substitute chicken thighs if preferred for a juicier texture.
- Adjust sweetness by varying the amount of honey according to taste.
- This dish pairs well with steamed rice or stir-fried vegetables.
- The reserved sauce makes a great dipping sauce or can be drizzled over rice.
- The slow cooker setting influences texture: low and slow cooking yields more tender chicken.
- To make it gluten-free, use gluten-free soy sauce.
