Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs Recipe Easy Comfort Dinner
A cozy and effortless slow cooker recipe featuring tender chicken thighs glazed in a sticky honey garlic sauce, served with creamy mashed potatoes for a comforting meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5-6 hours (slow cooker low) or 3-4 hours (slow cooker high)
- Total Time: 5 hours 10 minutes to 6 hours 10 minutes (slow cooker low) or 3 hours 10 minutes to 4 hours 10 minutes (slow cooker high)
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 4–6 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 2 pounds / 900g)
- ⅓ cup honey (113g)
- 4–5 garlic cloves, minced
- ¼ cup soy sauce (60ml), low-sodium preferred
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar (30ml)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (15ml)
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- Salt to taste
- 2 pounds russet potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks (900g)
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter (57g), softened
- ½ cup whole milk or cream (120ml), warm
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Optional: ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels. Season lightly with salt and freshly cracked black pepper on both sides. (5 minutes)
- Optional: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken thighs skin-side down and cook for 3-4 minutes until skin is golden brown and crispy. Flip and cook for another 2 minutes. (7-10 minutes)
- In a bowl, whisk together honey, minced garlic, soy sauce, and apple cider vinegar until combined. (3 minutes)
- Place chicken thighs in the slow cooker in a single layer. Pour the honey garlic sauce evenly over the chicken, coating each piece. (2 minutes)
- Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours or on high for 3-4 hours until chicken is tender and sauce is thickened and glossy. Avoid opening the lid too often. (3-6 hours)
- About 30 minutes before chicken is done, peel and cut potatoes into chunks. Place in a large pot, cover with cold water, add a pinch of salt, bring to a boil, then simmer until fork-tender, about 15-20 minutes. (25-30 minutes)
- Drain potatoes and return to pot. Add softened butter and warm milk or cream. Mash until smooth and creamy. Season with salt, pepper, and optional garlic powder to taste. (5-7 minutes)
- Serve the honey garlic chicken thighs over the creamy mashed potatoes. Spoon extra sauce from the slow cooker over the chicken and potatoes. (2 minutes)
Notes
Optional searing of chicken adds flavor and crispy skin but can be skipped. Use tamari or coconut aminos for gluten-free. Warm milk or cream before adding to mashed potatoes for best texture. If sauce is not thick enough, remove chicken and reduce sauce in a saucepan. Leftovers keep well for up to 3 days refrigerated. Reheat gently to avoid drying out chicken.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (includes
- Calories: 450
- Fat: 20
- Carbohydrates: 30
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 35
Keywords: slow cooker, honey garlic chicken, chicken thighs, comfort food, easy dinner, mashed potatoes, cozy meal, slow cooker chicken