Crock Pot Sesame Chicken (Print)

Tender chicken in savory-sweet sesame sauce, slow-cooked to perfection for an easy dinner that tastes like takeout.

# What You Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts

→ Sauce

02 - 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
03 - 1/3 cup honey
04 - 1/4 cup ketchup
05 - 2 tbsp rice vinegar
06 - 2 tbsp toasted sesame oil
07 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
08 - 1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
09 - 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

→ Thickener

10 - 2 tbsp cornstarch
11 - 2 tbsp water

→ Garnish

12 - 2 tbsp sesame seeds
13 - 2 green onions, sliced

# How to Make:

01 - Place the chicken thighs or breasts in the bottom of the slow cooker.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together soy sauce, honey, ketchup, rice vinegar, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes until well combined.
03 - Pour the sauce over the chicken, ensuring all pieces are evenly coated.
04 - Cover and cook on LOW for 4 hours or HIGH for 2 hours, until the chicken is tender and cooked through.
05 - Remove the chicken from the slow cooker and shred or cut into bite-sized pieces. Set aside.
06 - In a small bowl, mix cornstarch and water to form a slurry. Stir the mixture into the sauce in the slow cooker.
07 - Return the chicken to the slow cooker, stir to coat, and cook on HIGH for 20-30 minutes until the sauce has thickened.
08 - Serve hot, garnished with sesame seeds and sliced green onions. Excellent over steamed rice or with stir-fried vegetables.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The sauce achieves that perfect balance of sweet and savory that makes takeout so addictive
  • Your slow cooker does all the heavy lifting while you go about your day
  • Leftovers reheat beautifully for tomorrow's lunch
02 -
  • The sauce will look thin when you first add the cornstarch slurry, but give it time to bubble and thicken
  • Resist the urge to skip the cornstarch step, that thick glossy texture is what makes it feel like takeout
03 -
  • Use toasted sesame oil, not plain, for that authentic restaurant flavor
  • Let the sauce bubble uncovered during the final thickening step for the best texture

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