Slow Cooker Chicken Teriyaki

Envisage a delicious homemade teriyaki chicken, tender, succulent, and oozing with sweet and pungency. This Slow-Cooker Teriyaki Chicken recipe is simply fabulous for those days when we’re just not in the mood to make an elaborate, time-consuming meal. Using some simple ingredients, you can garnish your slow-cooked dish to delight even the most discerning palate! Great for a busy weeknight meal prep, this simple recipe poses little effort but brings forth an array of viscerally satisfying tastes for a home meal. Serve it over steamed rice along with some vegetables, and you’ve got a complete dining affair, something to positively bring togetherness among family members and guests. Come on, let’s see how to make this ridiculously uncomplicated and tasty recipe!

Ingredients

For the Chicken Teriyaki:

• Boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs (2 lbs)
• Soy sauce (½ cup, low sodium)
• Honey (⅓ cup)
• Brown sugar (¼ cup, packed)
• Rice vinegar (2 tbsp)
• Garlic (3 cloves, minced)
• Ginger (1 tbsp, freshly grated or ½ tsp ground ginger)
• Sesame oil (1 tsp)
• Water (½ cup)
• Cornstarch (2 tbsp)
• Green onions (2, sliced, for garnish)
• Sesame seeds (1 tbsp, for garnish)

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the Slow Cooker
Place the boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs in the bottom of your slow cooker.

Step 2: Make the Teriyaki Sauce
In a mixing bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, honey, brown sugar, rice vinegar, minced garlic, grated ginger, sesame oil, and water until well combined.

Step 3: Cook the Chicken
Pour the teriyaki sauce mixture over the chicken in the slow cooker, ensuring the chicken is well-coated. Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours or on high for 2-3 hours, until the chicken is cooked through and tender.

Step 4: Thicken the Sauce
Once the chicken is done, remove it from the slow cooker and set it aside. In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water to create a slurry. Stir the cornstarch mixture into the sauce in the slow cooker.

Turn the slow cooker to high and cook for an additional 15-20 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened to your desired consistency.

Step 5: Shred or Slice the Chicken
Shred the cooked chicken with two forks or slice it into strips. Return the chicken to the slow cooker and stir it into the thickened teriyaki sauce.

Step 6: Serve and Garnish
Serve the chicken teriyaki over steamed rice, quinoa, or noodles. Garnish with sliced green onions and sesame seeds. Enjoy!

Serving and Storage Tips

Serve with winter vegetables steamed like broccoli, snap peas, or carrots for a full meal.
Store in an airtight container, in the refrigerator, up to 3 days.
To freeze, you can freeze the entire chicken and sauce in a freezer bag or another container, and then freeze it for up to 2 months. Thaw it overnight in the refrigerator, and reheat it on the stovetop or in the microwave.

Helpful Notes

For a gluten-free alternative, sub soy sauce in lieu of tamari.
Add more or less sugar or honey, depending on the desired sweetness.
Add crushed red pepper flakes or a squirt of Sriracha to the sauce for a hotter flavor.

Tips from Well-Known Chefs

Jamie Oliver boasts about the incorporation of fresh ginger and garlic for a flavor with the maximum pop.
Rachael Ray recommends serving the dish over a scoop of steamed jasmine rice or with stir-fried veggies to provide a needed textural contrast.
Similar to the approach in a final touch, Ina Garten mentions that a good drizzle of sesame oil before serving will give it a kick.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I replace chicken breasts with chicken thighs?
Certainly, utilizing chicken thighs will make for a tender and juicy kind of meat.

How can I make the sauce thicker?
Dilutely, if the sauce is too thin, perhaps adding additional slurry would do the trick. One can take a tbsp of cornstarch mixed with water… or adjust slurry measurements according to the degree of thickness that you desire.

Can I add vegetables into the slow cooker?
Totally! Just add some snap peas, broccoli, or red peppers about an hour prior to the end of cooking to give the dish some extra nutrition and taste.

Is there a substitute for honey?
Use maple syrup or agave as substitutes for honey.

Can I prepare this recipe in an Instant Pot?
Certainly, using an Instant Pot you can use the slow cook or pressure cook function for about 10 minutes on high, followed by a natural release.

How do I keep the chicken from being dry?
Low heat and using the darker, moister chicken thighs prevent a dry outcome. Cook in a loop to watch for doneness about 4 hours in, instead of cooking all the way.

Can I use frozen chicken?
We recommend thawing your chicken first for even cooking. If cooked straight from the freezer, you may need to add an additional 1-2 hours cook time.

How can I heat up the leftovers without making them appear dry?
Warm them using a warm setting on the microwave or stovetop alongside a bit of water or broth if they lack any moisture.

May I double the recipe?
Yes, feel free to double the ingredients in the recipe.

What goes well with Chicken Teriyaki?
Great accompaniments include steamed rice, egg noodles, quinoa, or even stir-fried or steamed veggies.

I hope you enjoy Slow Cooker Chicken Teriyaki. Truly, it is such an excellent, delicious, and satisfying meal you will cook again and again at home, bringing all the taste of your favorite takeout to your kitchen!

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