This Slow Cooker Sesame Chicken delivers classic takeout flavor with minimal effort. Just five minutes of morning prep rewards you with tender chicken in a glossy, sweet-savory sesame sauce. It’s the ultimate set-and-forget meal for busy days.
Love Slow Cooker Sesame Chicken? So do we! If you're into Crockpot Recipes or curious about Chicken Breast Recipes, you'll find plenty of inspiration below.
Why You’ll Love This Slow Cooker Sesame Chicken
- Effortless cooking: A few minutes of prep rewards you with a stress-free dinner.
- Sticky perfection: The sauce thickens beautifully for a glossy, restaurant-quality finish.
- Versatile & forgiving: Easily adapts to ingredients you have on hand.
- Amazing aroma: Fills your kitchen with an irresistible savory-sweet scent all day.
Ingredients & Tools
- 1.5 kg boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 120 ml low-sodium soy sauce
- 80 ml honey
- 60 ml hoisin sauce
- 3 tbsp tomato ketchup
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp freshly grated ginger
- 2 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- 2 tbsp cornstarch
- 3 tbsp water
- 3 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- 3 spring onions, thinly sliced
Tools: A 4-6 litre slow cooker, a small whisk or fork for the cornstarch slurry.
Notes: Chicken thighs are recommended over breast for superior moisture and tenderness during slow cooking.
Nutrition (per serving)
| Calories: | 420 kcal |
| Protein: | 38 g |
| Fat: | 16 g |
| Carbs: | 28 g |
| Fiber: | 1 g |
Serves: 6 | Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cook Time: 4 hours (Low) | Total Time: 4 hours 10 minutes
Before You Start: Tips & Ingredient Notes
- Chicken thighs are non-negotiable, right? Well, almost. Breast can be used, but it will be less forgiving and can dry out more easily. Thighs have more fat, which translates to supremely juicy, pull-apart tender meat after hours in the slow cooker.
- Is low-sodium soy sauce really that important? Honestly, yes. Because the sauce reduces and concentrates, using regular soy sauce can make the final dish overwhelmingly salty. The low-sodium version gives you full control over the seasoning.
- What if my sauce isn’t thickening? Don’t panic! The cornstarch slurry is your best friend here. Just make sure you’re whisking it into the hot liquid in the slow cooker, and give it a good 15-20 minutes with the lid off to really activate and thicken up.
- Can I taste and adjust the sauce? Absolutely, and you should! Before adding the cornstarch, dip a spoon in and taste. Want more sweetness? Add a touch more honey. More tang? A splash of extra rice vinegar. This is your masterpiece—make it yours.
How to Make Slow Cooker Sesame Chicken
Step 1: First, get your chicken ready. Pat the chicken thighs dry with a paper towel—this helps the sauce cling better later. You can place them in the slow cooker whole, or if you prefer smaller, bite-sized pieces, cut them into 2-inch chunks. There’s no right or wrong here, it’s all about your preference.
Step 2: Now, let’s make that incredible sauce. In a medium bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, honey, hoisin sauce, ketchup, minced garlic, grated ginger, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and those optional red pepper flakes if you like a bit of heat. Whisk it until it’s completely smooth and well-combined. You’ll notice the aroma is already fantastic—that’s the promise of good things to come.
Step 3: Pour the sauce evenly over the chicken in the slow cooker. Use a pair of tongs to gently toss the chicken, ensuring every piece is lovingly coated in the marinade. This is where the flavor journey truly begins.
Step 4: Place the lid securely on your slow cooker and set it to cook on LOW for 4 hours. I don’t recommend the high setting for this, as the gentle, low heat is what makes the chicken so unbelievably tender. Resist the urge to peek too often—every time you lift the lid, you let out precious heat and steam, adding to the cooking time.
Step 5: When the cooking time is almost up, you’ll see the chicken is cooked through and tender. Now, it’s thickening time! In a small bowl, create a slurry by whisking the cornstarch with the 3 tablespoons of water until it’s completely smooth with no lumps.
Step 6: Remove the slow cooker lid and give the chicken and sauce a gentle stir. Slowly pour in the cornstarch slurry while stirring continuously. This will help the sauce go from thin and soupy to gloriously thick and sticky.
Step 7: Replace the lid and let the slow cooker continue to cook on LOW for another 20-30 minutes, but this time with the lid slightly ajar. This allows steam to escape and helps the sauce reduce and thicken even further. You’ll know it’s ready when the sauce coats the back of a spoon beautifully.
Step 8: Finally, stir in most of your toasted sesame seeds and sliced spring onions, reserving a little of each for a fresh garnish on top when serving. Give it one final stir, and your Slow Cooker Sesame Chicken is ready to devour over a bed of fluffy rice.
Storage & Freshness Guide
- Fridge: Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: Freeze for up to 3 months in a sealed container.
- Reviving: Reheat gently on the stovetop with a splash of water to restore sauce gloss.
Serving Suggestions
Complementary Dishes
- Steamed jasmine rice — The fluffy, fragrant grains are the perfect canvas to soak up every last drop of that incredible sesame sauce.
- Quick-pickled cucumber salad — Thinly sliced cucumbers with a splash of rice vinegar and a pinch of sugar provide a crisp, refreshing contrast to the rich, savory chicken.
- Simple steamed broccoli — Its mild flavor and bright green color make it a healthy and vibrant side that doesn’t compete with the main event.
Drinks
- Iced green tea — Its light, slightly grassy notes cleanse the palate between bites and complement the Asian-inspired flavors beautifully.
- A crisp lager — The carbonation and mild bitterness of a light beer cut through the sweetness of the sauce, creating a wonderfully balanced mouthful.
- Ginger ale — The spicy-sweet fizz echoes the ginger in the dish and adds a fun, non-alcoholic option for everyone.
Something Sweet
- Fortune cookies and vanilla ice cream — Crumble the cookies over a scoop of cold, creamy ice cream for a playful, textural dessert that continues the theme.
- Lychee sorbet — This light, floral sorbet is incredibly refreshing after a savory meal and feels like a sophisticated finish.
- Orange slices dusted with cinnamon — It’s simple, healthy, and the bright citrus with warm spice is a surprisingly delightful way to end the meal.
Top Mistakes to Avoid
- Using chicken breast instead of thighs. Breast meat has less fat, which means it’s much more prone to drying out and becoming stringy during the long, slow
Slow Cooker Sesame Chicken
Make easy Slow Cooker Sesame Chicken with minimal prep. Tender chicken in a sweet-savory sauce that tastes better than takeout. Get the simple recipe here!
Ingredients
For the Ingredients
-
1.5 kg boneless, skinless chicken thighs
-
120 ml low-sodium soy sauce
-
80 ml honey
-
60 ml hoisin sauce
-
3 tbsp tomato ketchup
-
4 cloves garlic (minced)
-
1 tbsp freshly grated ginger
-
2 tbsp rice vinegar
-
1 tbsp sesame oil
-
1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
-
2 tbsp cornstarch
-
3 tbsp water
-
3 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
-
3 spring onions (thinly sliced)
Instructions
-
First, get your chicken ready. Pat the chicken thighs dry with a paper towel—this helps the sauce cling better later. You can place them in the slow cooker whole, or if you prefer smaller, bite-sized pieces, cut them into 2-inch chunks. There’s no right or wrong here, it’s all about your preference.01
-
Now, let’s make that incredible sauce. In a medium bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, honey, hoisin sauce, ketchup, minced garlic, grated ginger, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and those optional red pepper flakes if you like a bit of heat. Whisk it until it’s completely smooth and well-combined. You’ll notice the aroma is already fantastic—that’s the promise of good things to come.02
-
Pour the sauce evenly over the chicken in the slow cooker. Use a pair of tongs to gently toss the chicken, ensuring every piece is lovingly coated in the marinade. This is where the flavor journey truly begins.03
-
Place the lid securely on your slow cooker and set it to cook on LOW for 4 hours. I don’t recommend the high setting for this, as the gentle, low heat is what makes the chicken so unbelievably tender. Resist the urge to peek too often—every time you lift the lid, you let out precious heat and steam, adding to the cooking time.04
-
When the cooking time is almost up, you’ll see the chicken is cooked through and tender. Now, it’s thickening time! In a small bowl, create a slurry by whisking the cornstarch with the 3 tablespoons of water until it’s completely smooth with no lumps.05
-
Remove the slow cooker lid and give the chicken and sauce a gentle stir. Slowly pour in the cornstarch slurry while stirring continuously. This will help the sauce go from thin and soupy to gloriously thick and sticky.06
-
Replace the lid and let the slow cooker continue to cook on LOW for another 20-30 minutes, but this time with the lid slightly ajar. This allows steam to escape and helps the sauce reduce and thicken even further. You’ll know it’s ready when the sauce coats the back of a spoon beautifully.07
-
Finally, stir in most of your toasted sesame seeds and sliced spring onions, reserving a little of each for a fresh garnish on top when serving. Give it one final stir, and your Slow Cooker Sesame Chicken is ready to devour over a bed of fluffy rice.08
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