Honey Garlic Chicken: When Cooking Needs to be Easy

Lately, I’ve been feeling a little down and out, so cooking hasn’t been at the forefront of my mind.  I often forget to eat or opt for something easy—something frozen.  But for me, frozen foods are incredibly dissatisfying.  I’m always still left hungry, and let’s be honest, they don’t compare to freshly made food.  Right now, my mind just needs comfort and ease.

So, I’ve been choosing foods where I don’t have to think too much.  I want something simple, something that doesn’t require much of my attention.  I don’t want to hover over the stove or check the clock every five minutes.

As m as I don’t like to admit this, my slow cooker has been gathering dust.  Honestly, I haven’t used it in years.  I usually reach for my Dutch oven instead—for roasts, sauces, and things that require a little more hands-on effort.  But recently, I found myself craving something made in the slow cooker.  The beauty of throwing a few ingredients into a pot, pushing a button, and letting the food take care of itself.

I also forgot how much a slow cooker changes the feel of a house.  The way warm aromas slowly fill the air.  The way it makes an ordinary weeknight feel like something special is happening, even when it’s just dinner.

It brought me back to those braising sauces from Williams Sonoma, the ones I used to love.  The pot roast one was incredible, and I swear their version of coq au vin tasted and looked like it took hours of effort, when in reality it took less than five minutes.  You’d pour in the sauce, let it simmer away, and suddenly you had a meal that felt fancy enough to celebrate.

But instead of a roast, I found myself wanting something different. Something sweet, savory, and with a little depth. I was craving an Asian-inspired flavor.

My best friend actually made this recipe for me when I was visiting her in Michigan.  She uses her slow cooker often and always comes up with the tastiest dishes.  That’s how I landed on honey garlic chicken.

This recipe reminded me why I loved slow cookers in the first place.  When it was done, the chicken was incredibly moist and tender, the sauce was rich and glossy, and the whole thing tasted exactly like what I needed in moments of burnout and heaviness.

Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken

This slow cooker honey garlic chicken is a sweet-savory, low-effort meal made for days when cooking needs to be easy. Chicken cooks gently in a honey-garlic sauce until tender and flavorful.

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Course: dinner, Main Course

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• 1½-2 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs
• ½ cup honey
• ⅓ cup soy sauce
• 4-5 garlic cloves minced
• 1 tbsp ketchup
• 2 tbsp rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar
• 1 tsp fresh ginger grated (or ½ tsp ground ginger)
• ½ tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp sesame oil optional

For Thickening (Optional)

• 2 tbsp cornstartch
• 2 tbsp water

Equipment

• Slow cooker

Method

 

1. Place the chicken in the slow cooker.
2. In a bowl, whisk together the honey, soy sauce, garlic, ketchup, vinegar, ginger, pepper, and sesame oil if using.
3. Pour the sauce over the chicken.
4. Cook on Low for 4–5 hours or High for 2½–3 hours.
5. If you want a thicker sauce, stir together cornstarch and water, add it to the slow cooker, and cook for another 15–20 minutes on High.
6. Shred the chicken or leave it whole—whatever feels easiest.

Notes

Usually over rice, sometimes with broccoli or green beans, and occasionally straight from the container the next day.

This meal reminds me that cooking doesn’t always have to be standing over a hot stove working away.  It doesn’t need to be complicated or impressive.  It just needs to be simple and delicious.  

The slow cooker does it’s work quietly in the background while I can rest or do leisurely activities while it works its magic. And when dinner rolls around, the food feels comforting and like I’m being a little extra cared for. 

Where in your life could you choose ease instead of effort today?

“Ease is a form of care, especially on days when everything feels like too much.”