Crock Pot Sesame Chicken (Printer-friendly)
Tender slow-cooked chicken in savory-sweet sesame sauce, perfect for an easy dinner that tastes like takeout.
# What You'll Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
→ Sauce
02 - 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
03 - 1/3 cup honey
04 - 1/4 cup ketchup
05 - 2 tbsp rice vinegar
06 - 2 tbsp toasted sesame oil
07 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
08 - 1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
09 - 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
→ Thickener
10 - 2 tbsp cornstarch
11 - 2 tbsp water
→ Garnish
12 - 2 tbsp sesame seeds
13 - 2 green onions, sliced
# How To Make It:
01 - Place chicken thighs or breasts in the bottom of the slow cooker, ensuring even distribution for consistent cooking.
02 - Whisk together soy sauce, honey, ketchup, rice vinegar, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes in a medium bowl until fully incorporated.
03 - Pour sauce over chicken, covering all pieces. Cook on LOW for 4 hours or HIGH for 2 hours until tender and thoroughly cooked.
04 - Remove cooked chicken from slow cooker and shred or cut into bite-sized pieces. Set aside temporarily.
05 - Mix cornstarch and water in a small bowl to form slurry. Stir into sauce in slow cooker and return shredded chicken.
06 - Cook on HIGH for 20-30 minutes until sauce thickens and coats chicken evenly.
07 - Serve hot, garnished with sesame seeds and sliced green onions. Pair with steamed rice or stir-fried vegetables.
# Expert Hints:
01 -
- The sauce develops this incredible depth you cant get from stovetop cooking
- It genuinely tastes better than most takeout places I've tried
- Your house will smell amazing all afternoon
02 -
- The sauce will seem thin when you first add it, but it thickens beautifully after the cornstarch step
- Resist the urge to lift the lid too often, it lets heat escape and extends cooking time
03 -
- Pat the chicken dry before adding it for better browning on the pieces
- Let the sauce come to a full bubble after adding cornstarch to activate its thickening power