Sticky Hoisin Chicken | 5 Ingredient Slow Cooker Recipe
Sticky, sweet, and savory Hoisin Chicken is so delicious. It tastes like take-out at home! Only 5 simple ingredients cooked in the slow cooker, means this is a perfect weeknight dinner.
I tried a lot of slow cooker recipes like this one, and they always ended up having way too much watery sauce. I wanted a sticky sauce like the kind you get at a take-out joint without having to add a ton of cornstarch. After some experimenting, I think I found a recipe that worked! Using boneless skinless chicken thighs works well because they don’t dry out as easily as chicken breasts and they add so much flavor to this simple dish. The Hoisin and garlic add a punch of flavor and the honey adds a subtle sweetness. If you like spicy food, top it with some sriracha sauce to kick it up a notch.
What Does Hoisin Sauce Taste Like?
Hoisin Sauce is dark in color and has a thick consistency. It has a very salty and slightly sweet flavor. It is made with fermented soybeans (don’t let that scare you!) which adds the savory umami element. Hoisin sauce does taste a bit like an American-style barbecue sauce, but it is much saltier, richer, and has a unique flavor that is all its own.
Chicken Thighs
Boneless, skinless chicken thighs are the best choice for this recipe. They don’t dry out when slow-cooked, fall apart easily, and they have so much delicious flavor. Even if you are on team-chicken-breast, try the thighs just once and see what you think!
Toppings!
We like to top our Slow Cooker Hoisin Chicken with sliced green onion, sesame seeds, or sriracha sauce. Also try it with crispy onions, like the kind you put on green bean casserole. It may sound weird, but trust me it’s great…just try it!
We love to serve this with white sticky rice or brown rice but it also tastes great over cauliflower rice or quinoa. Add a green veggie on the side like roasted broccoli or garlic green beans and call it dinner!
Stovetop Garlic Greenbeans
Notes
Use the slow cooker. I’ve tried making this recipe in the Instant Pot and it never turned out as well. It carmelizes around the edges in the slow cooker which is what makes this recipe so good!
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RECIPE
Honey Hoisin Chicken
Equipment
- Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- 1-1.5 lbs Boneless, skinless, chicken thighs
- 1 large clove garlic
- 1/4 cup Hoisin Sauce
- 1/4 cup Honey
- 2 tbsp coconut aminos or low sodium soy sauce
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Place the chicken thighs in the center of your slow cooker.
- Pour the rest of the ingredients on top of the chicken.
- Cook covered on low for 4 to 5 hours.
- About a 1/2 hour before you want to serve, shred the chicken and mix it together with the sauce.
- Let it cook for the last 1/2 hour on high, this will carmelize the edges and create a wonderful flavor and texture.
- Serve over sticky white rice, brown rice, or cauliflower rice.
Thank you for sharing this, it look so easy and delicious. I have been looking for easy chicken recipes to add to the lineup!
This looks so delicious! Never tried hoisin sauce before so will see if I can find it at the store!
You had me at 5 ingredients, haha! This looks like the perfect, simple weeknight dinner. Thank you!
This looks so good! Pinning this for when we get all of our chickens done in a couple months!
Also, I love that you wrote about what you serve this with (sides and such). I wish all recipes had this!!