Crock Pot Sesame Chicken (Printer-friendly)
Tender, juicy chicken in a thick sesame garlic sauce. Minimal prep required for this effortless Asian-inspired main dish.
# What You'll Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs
→ Sauce
02 - 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
03 - 1/4 cup honey
04 - 1/4 cup ketchup
05 - 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
06 - 2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
07 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
08 - 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
09 - 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
→ Thickening & Garnish
10 - 2 tablespoons cornstarch
11 - 2 tablespoons water
12 - 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
13 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced
# How To Make It:
01 - Arrange chicken thighs in an even layer at the bottom of the slow cooker insert.
02 - Whisk together soy sauce, honey, ketchup, rice vinegar, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes in a medium bowl until well combined. Pour the sauce evenly over the chicken.
03 - Cover and cook on low heat for 4 hours until chicken is tender and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
04 - Transfer cooked chicken to a cutting board and shred using two forks or cut into bite-sized pieces.
05 - Whisk cornstarch and water in a small bowl until smooth. Stir into the sauce remaining in the slow cooker.
06 - Return shredded chicken to the slow cooker and stir to coat. Cook on high heat for 15-20 minutes until sauce bubbles and thickens.
07 - Serve chicken over steamed rice, generously garnished with sesame seeds and sliced green onions.
# Expert Hints:
01 -
- The sauce develops this deep, complex flavor that tastes like you spent hours simmering it, but your slow cooker does all the heavy lifting while you go about your day
- It reheats beautifully for lunch the next day, actually tasting even better as the flavors continue to meld together overnight
02 -
- The cornstarch needs to be whisked into cold water before adding to the hot sauce, or it will clump up instantly and ruin the texture
- Resist the urge to lift the lid during cooking, every time you do you add 15 to 20 minutes to the cooking time
03 -
- If the sauce tastes too salty at the end, add a teaspoon of honey or a splash more rice vinegar
- Line your slow cooker with a parchment paper sling for incredibly easy cleanup