If you’re looking for an easy, flavor-packed chicken recipe that practically cooks itself, this honey butter garlic chicken is going to be your new favorite. With a rich, buttery sauce infused with garlic, honey, and soy sauce, this dish delivers the perfect balance of sweet, savory, and slightly spicy. Serve it over rice with steamed green beans for a comforting meal the whole family will love.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Dump-and-go ease – Just mix the sauce, rub the chicken, and let the slow cooker do the rest!
- Flavorful and tender – The slow cooking process ensures the chicken stays juicy and absorbs all the delicious flavors.
- Perfect for meal prep – Make a big batch and enjoy leftovers throughout the week.
Ingredients You’ll Need
For the Chicken:
- 4 large chicken breasts
Dry Rub:
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1/4 tsp ginger powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp chili flakes
- 1/2 tbsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
Honey Garlic Butter Sauce:
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/2 cup butter, melted
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp rice wine vinegar
To Thicken the Sauce:
- 1/4 cup water
- 2 tbsp cornstarch
Optional: Steamed green beans for serving.
How to Make Honey Butter Garlic Chicken
Step 1: Prep the Sauce
In your slow cooker, whisk together the honey, melted butter, minced garlic, soy sauce, and rice wine vinegar until well combined.
Step 2: Season the Chicken
In a small bowl, mix the paprika, brown sugar, ginger powder, garlic powder, onion powder, chili flakes, salt, and pepper. Rub this seasoning mix all over the chicken breasts.
Step 3: Slow Cook
Place the seasoned chicken breasts into the slow cooker, coating them in the sauce. Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours or high for 2-3 hours, until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
Step 4: Thicken the Sauce
Once the chicken is done, remove it from the slow cooker and slice it. In a small bowl, whisk water and cornstarch together, then stir it into the slow cooker sauce. Cover and let it cook for another 5-10 minutes until thickened.
Step 5: Serve
Return the sliced chicken to the sauce, tossing to coat. Serve over rice with steamed green beans for a well-rounded meal.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop until warmed through.
Absolutely! Boneless, skinless chicken thighs will work great in this recipe and may even be more tender. Just adjust the cooking time slightly if needed.
This honey butter garlic chicken pairs perfectly with steamed rice, quinoa, mashed potatoes, or roasted vegetables.
Slow Cooker Honey Butter Garlic Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 large chicken breasts
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1/4 tsp ginger powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp chili flakes
- 1/2 tbsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/2 cup butter melted
- 6 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp rice wine vinegar
- 1/4 cup water
- 2 tbsp cornstarch
Instructions
- Mix honey, butter, garlic, soy sauce, and rice wine vinegar in a slow cooker.
- Combine the dry rub ingredients and coat the chicken evenly.
- Place chicken in the slow cooker, covering with sauce. Cook on low for 5-6 hours or high for 2-3 hours.
- Remove chicken and slice.
- Whisk water and cornstarch, add to slow cooker, and cook until thickened.
- Return chicken to the sauce, toss to coat, and serve with rice and green beans.
Notes
- For extra depth of flavor, sear the chicken in a skillet before adding it to the slow cooker.
- Prefer a spicier kick? Increase the chili flakes or add a dash of sriracha.
- If you want a thicker sauce, let it simmer uncovered for a few extra minutes after adding the cornstarch mixture.
- This recipe is great for meal prep – store leftovers in portions for easy reheating.
This honey butter garlic chicken is a must-try if you love easy slow cooker meals with bold flavors. Let me know in the comments if you made it, and don’t forget to check out my other slow cooker recipes for more inspiration!