Craving a delicious and healthy meal that practically cooks itself? This easy slow cooker teriyaki chicken thighs recipe is about to become your new weeknight hero. Imagine tender, juicy chicken infused with a savory teriyaki glaze, alongside perfectly cooked vegetables, all with minimal effort on your part.
This crockpot chicken teriyaki is designed for busy families and anyone who loves a flavorful meal without the fuss. It’s a healthy option that doesn’t compromise on taste, making it ideal for a satisfying dinner any day of the week.
Table of Contents
- What You’ll Love About This Quick And Easy Recipe
- Everything You Need To Make This Recipe Without Stress
- Time Needed From Start To Finish
- How To Make It Step By Step With Visual Cues
- Easy Variations And Serving Ideas That Fit Real Life
- Common Slip-Ups And How To Avoid Them
- How To Store It And Make It Ahead Without Ruining Texture
Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken Thighs
- Total Time: 3 hours 15 minutes to 8 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Description
Craving a delicious and healthy meal that practically cooks itself? This easy slow cooker teriyaki chicken thighs recipe is about to become your new weeknight hero. Imagine tender, juicy chicken infused with a savory teriyaki glaze, alongside perfectly cooked vegetables, all with minimal effort on your part. This crockpot chicken teriyaki is designed for busy families and anyone who loves a flavorful meal without the fuss. It’s a healthy option that doesn’t compromise on taste, making it ideal for a satisfying dinner any day of the week.
Ingredients
Instructions
1. Place the boneless, skinless chicken thighs in the bottom of your slow cooker. In a medium bowl, whisk together the low-sodium soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, grated fresh ginger, minced garlic, sesame oil, and black pepper until well combined. This is your flavorful teriyaki sauce.
2. Pour the prepared teriyaki sauce evenly over the chicken thighs in the slow cooker. Ensure the chicken is mostly submerged or coated by the sauce.
3. Cover the slow cooker with its lid. Cook on the LOW setting for 6-8 hours or on the HIGH setting for 3-4 hours. The chicken should be very tender and easily shreddable with a fork when done.
4. About 30 minutes before the end of the cooking time, in a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and cold water until a smooth slurry forms. This will be used to thicken your sauce.
5. Stir the cornstarch slurry into the slow cooker with the chicken and sauce. Add the broccoli florets, sliced carrots, and sliced red bell pepper to the slow cooker. Gently stir to combine, ensuring the vegetables are somewhat submerged in the sauce.
6. Recover the slow cooker and continue to cook for another 20-30 minutes on HIGH, or until the sauce has thickened to your desired consistency and the vegetables are tender-crisp. The chicken should be fall-apart tender.
7. Once cooked, use tongs or a slotted spoon to remove the chicken and vegetables. You can shred the chicken directly in the slow cooker or on a cutting board if desired. Serve hot over rice or noodles, garnished with sliced green onions and sesame seeds.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 3-8 hours
- Category: main dish
- Method: slow cooker
- Cuisine: asian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of recipe
Keywords: teriyaki, chicken, slow cooker, crockpot, easy, healthy, weeknight, meal prep, asian, dinner
What You’ll Love About This Quick And Easy Recipe
This recipe is a true win for anyone looking to simplify their dinner routine without sacrificing flavor or nutrition. It’s perfect for busy weeknights when you want a homemade meal but don’t have hours to spend in the kitchen. The slow cooker does most of the heavy lifting, allowing you to set it and forget it until dinner time. It’s incredibly forgiving, making it ideal for beginner cooks, and the combination of tender chicken and vibrant vegetables makes for a balanced and satisfying plate. This dish is also fantastic for meal prepping, as it reheats beautifully, providing delicious lunches or dinners throughout the week. Serve it when you need a comforting, healthy, and utterly delicious meal that requires very little active cooking time.
Everything You Need To Make This Recipe Without Stress
Gathering your ingredients ahead of time makes the cooking process smooth and enjoyable. You’ll find that most of these items are likely already in your pantry or easily accessible at any grocery store. We’re focusing on fresh, wholesome ingredients to create a rich and authentic teriyaki flavor profile, complemented by colorful, nutritious vegetables.
INGREDIENTS:
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 1/4 cup honey
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 1/4 cup cold water
- 1 head broccoli, cut into florets
- 2 carrots, peeled and sliced
- 1 red bell pepper, cored and sliced
- 1/2 cup sliced green onions, for garnish
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds, for garnish
For the chicken, boneless, skinless thighs are recommended for their tenderness and ability to stay moist during slow cooking, but you can use boneless, skinless chicken breasts if you prefer, though they may be slightly less forgiving and could dry out if overcooked. When choosing soy sauce, opting for a low-sodium variety helps control the overall saltiness of the dish, allowing the other flavors to shine. If you don’t have fresh ginger, you can use 1 teaspoon of ground ginger as a substitute, though fresh offers a brighter flavor. Similarly, garlic powder can replace fresh minced garlic if needed, using about 1 teaspoon. Feel free to adjust the amount of honey to your sweetness preference; maple syrup can also be used as an alternative. For the vegetables, this recipe uses a classic combination of broccoli, carrots, and bell pepper, but feel free to swap in other quick-cooking vegetables like snap peas, zucchini, or mushrooms during the last hour of cooking.
Time Needed From Start To Finish
The beauty of slow cooker recipes is their minimal hands-on time, and this teriyaki chicken is no exception.
- Prep time: 15 minutes
- Cook time: 3-4 hours on high or 6-8 hours on low
- Total time: 3 hours 15 minutes to 8 hours 15 minutes (depending on cook setting)
While the total time seems long, the active preparation is very quick, making it ideal for busy mornings when you want to set dinner up before heading out for the day.
How To Make It Step By Step With Visual Cues
Creating this delicious slow cooker teriyaki chicken is incredibly straightforward. Follow these simple steps to achieve a perfectly tender and flavorful meal.
- Prepare the Chicken and Sauce: Place the boneless, skinless chicken thighs in the bottom of your slow cooker. In a medium bowl, whisk together the low-sodium soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, grated fresh ginger, minced garlic, sesame oil, and black pepper until well combined. This is your flavorful teriyaki sauce.
- Add Sauce to Slow Cooker: Pour the prepared teriyaki sauce evenly over the chicken thighs in the slow cooker. Ensure the chicken is mostly submerged or coated by the sauce.
- Slow Cook the Chicken: Cover the slow cooker with its lid. Cook on the LOW setting for 6-8 hours or on the HIGH setting for 3-4 hours. The chicken should be very tender and easily shreddable with a fork when done.
- Prepare the Slurry: About 30 minutes before the end of the cooking time, in a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and cold water until a smooth slurry forms. This will be used to thicken your sauce.
- Add Vegetables and Thicken Sauce: Stir the cornstarch slurry into the slow cooker with the chicken and sauce. Add the broccoli florets, sliced carrots, and sliced red bell pepper to the slow cooker. Gently stir to combine, ensuring the vegetables are somewhat submerged in the sauce.
- Finish Cooking: Recover the slow cooker and continue to cook for another 20-30 minutes on HIGH, or until the sauce has thickened to your desired consistency and the vegetables are tender-crisp. The chicken should be fall-apart tender.
- Serve and Garnish: Once cooked, use tongs or a slotted spoon to remove the chicken and vegetables. You can shred the chicken directly in the slow cooker or on a cutting board if desired. Serve hot over rice or noodles, garnished with sliced green onions and sesame seeds.
Easy Variations And Serving Ideas That Fit Real Life
This slow cooker teriyaki chicken is wonderfully versatile and can be adapted to suit various tastes and occasions.
For a spicier kick, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the sauce mixture at the beginning of cooking. If you prefer a sweeter sauce, increase the amount of honey slightly. To make it gluten-free, use tamari instead of soy sauce and ensure all other ingredients are certified gluten-free.
When it comes to kid-friendly adaptations, you can shred the chicken finely and mix it with a little extra sauce to serve over plain rice, which is usually a hit. You can also offer the vegetables on the side, or finely dice them before adding to the slow cooker so they blend in more.
This dish is fantastic served over fluffy white rice or brown rice for a complete meal. For a lower-carb option, serve it with cauliflower rice or spiralized zucchini noodles. It also pairs beautifully with a simple side salad or a sprinkle of additional steamed greens. For a party or buffet setting, keep the shredded chicken and sauce warm in the slow cooker and set out bowls of rice, noodles, and various toppings like extra green onions, sesame seeds, and perhaps a drizzle of sriracha for those who like heat. You can also serve it in lettuce cups for a fresh, lighter appetizer.
Common Slip-Ups And How To Avoid Them
Even with a straightforward recipe like this, a few common mistakes can impact the final outcome. Knowing how to avoid them will ensure your slow cooker teriyaki chicken turns out perfectly every time.
One frequent issue is overcooking the chicken, especially if using chicken breasts. While thighs are more forgiving, cooking for too long on high can still lead to dry, stringy meat. To avoid this, stick to the recommended cooking times and check for doneness by seeing if the chicken shreds easily with a fork. If you’re using breasts, err on the side of the shorter cooking time.
Another common mistake is adding the vegetables too early. If you add them at the beginning of the cooking cycle, they will become mushy and lose their vibrant color and texture. Adding them in the last 20-30 minutes ensures they are tender-crisp and retain their nutritional value and appeal.
Not thickening the sauce enough is another pitfall. The cornstarch slurry is crucial for achieving that glossy, rich teriyaki sauce consistency. Ensure you whisk the cornstarch and cold water thoroughly to avoid lumps, and allow enough time (20-30 minutes) for the sauce to simmer and thicken after adding it. If it’s still too thin, you can add a little more slurry (1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 1 tablespoon cold water) and cook for another 10-15 minutes. Conversely, if the sauce becomes too thick, you can thin it out with a splash of hot water or chicken broth.
Finally, skimping on fresh aromatics like ginger and garlic can lead to a less flavorful dish. While dried alternatives can be used in a pinch, fresh ingredients provide a much more vibrant and authentic taste. Don’t be afraid to use a microplane for easy grating of ginger and garlic.
How To Store It And Make It Ahead Without Ruining Texture
This slow cooker teriyaki chicken is excellent for meal prepping and stores wonderfully, making your weeknights even easier.
To store leftovers, allow the chicken and vegetables to cool completely before transferring them to an airtight container. It will keep well in the refrigerator for up to 3-4
FAQs
- Can I make these ahead? Yes—prep ahead, refrigerate, then serve when ready.
- How long do leftovers last? Store covered in the fridge for 3–4 days for best texture.
- Can I adjust sweetness? Yes—add more or less sweetener to taste.
- Can I change the fruit? Yes—swap strawberries for blueberries, raspberries, or sliced banana.
