Description

This Crockpot Teriyaki Chicken recipe offers tender, juicy chicken thighs simmered in a flavorful homemade teriyaki sauce made from soy sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar, honey, garlic, and ginger. Slow-cooked to perfection, it’s easy to prepare and ideal for a comforting weeknight meal served over rice with garnishes of green onions and sesame seeds.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken

2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs

Teriyaki Sauce

1/2 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup rice vinegar
2 tablespoons honey
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
1 tablespoon sesame oil

Thickening & Garnish

1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 tablespoons water
2 green onions, chopped
1 tablespoon sesame seeds

Instructions

Prepare the chicken: Place the boneless, skinless chicken thighs in a single layer inside your crockpot to ensure even cooking and better absorption of the sauce.
Make the teriyaki sauce: In a separate bowl, whisk together soy sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar, honey, minced garlic, grated ginger, and sesame oil until the sugar completely dissolves, creating a smooth sweet and savory sauce.
Combine chicken and sauce: Pour the prepared teriyaki sauce over the chicken in the crockpot, making sure each piece is fully coated with the sauce to maximize flavor infusion during cooking.
Cook the chicken: Cover the crockpot and cook on low heat for 3 to 4 hours until the chicken becomes tender and can be easily shredded with a fork.
Thicken the sauce: Approximately 30 minutes before serving, mix the cornstarch with water in a small bowl to create a slurry, then stir this mixture into the crockpot. This will thicken the sauce as it finishes cooking.
Serve and garnish: Once cooked and sauce thickened, serve the teriyaki chicken over rice. Garnish with chopped green onions and sesame seeds for authentic flavor and a visually appealing presentation.

Notes

For a gluten-free version, substitute soy sauce with tamari.
Using chicken thighs keeps the meat moist and flavorful, but chicken breasts can be substituted for a leaner option.
Adjust sweetness and acidity by modifying the amount of brown sugar and rice vinegar according to taste preference.
If you want a thicker sauce, you can add more cornstarch slurry as needed during the last 30 minutes of cooking.
Serve with steamed vegetables or a side salad to complete the meal.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 3 hours 30 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Slow Cooking
Cuisine: Asian

Keywords: Crockpot teriyaki chicken, slow cooker chicken recipe, easy teriyaki chicken, slow cooker dinner, chicken thighs teriyaki