A super quick and flavorful way to make shredded chicken—just toss everything into the slow cooker and let it go for 3 hours. Easy peasy!

Close up of a spoon with shredded honey garlic chicken in a crockpot

Recipe Overview

Here's a super easy way to cook up a big pot of chicken that's totally no-fuss and packed with flavor! I’m using boneless, skinless chicken thighs because they’re perfect for shredding and stay juicy—unlike chicken breasts that can dry out.

I love serving this chicken over rice or with pasta, but it’s also great on hamburger buns or wrapped up in a tortilla for a quick lunch or dinner. It’s the kind of recipe that’s perfect for busy weeknights, but also works for a summer barbecue, church potluck, or even meal prepping for the week ahead. So versatile and so delicious!

Bowls of honey, ketchup, soy sauce, minced garlic, grated ginger, red pepper flakes and cornstarch. And a container of boneless skinless chicken thighs.

Recipe Ingredients

2 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs

For the Sauce:

½ cup soy sauce
⅓ cup honey
¼ cup ketchup - or tomato sauce
4 cloves garlic - minced
2 tsp fresh ginger - grated
¼ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
2 Tbsp cornstarch - plus 2 Tbsp cold water

Two images of bowls with dark brown sauce ingredients. First unmixed then mixed together.

How To Make Crockpot Honey Garlic Chicken

Full ingredients and instructions are also in the recipe card at the bottom of this blog post.

STEP 1: In a medium bowl, combine the ½ cup soy sauce, ⅓ cup honey, ¼ cup ketchup, 4 minced garlic cloves, 2 tsp grated ginger, and ¼ tsp crushed red pepper flakes. Whisk it all together until it’s well mixed.

Two images of a crockpot. First with raw skinless chicken thighs added. Second with sauce poured on top.

STEP 2: Place the 2 lbs of boneless skinless chicken thighs in your crockpot in a single layer. Now, pour that sauce over the chicken thighs in the crockpot. Make sure they’re all nicely coated!

Looking into a crockpot with cooked chicken thighs in a red sauce.

STEP 3: Cover the crockpot with the lid and set it to cook on high for about 3 ½ hours or on low for about 6-7 hours.

3 images, first is bowl of liquid cornstarch, second is red sauce in bowl of crockpot, third is crockpot.

STEP 4: About 15 minutes before you’re ready to eat, remove the chicken from the pot and add to a large bowl.

STEP 5: Mix the 2 Tbsp of cornstarch with 2 Tbsp of cold water in a small bowl until there are no more lumps. Pour this mixture into the crockpot and stir it into the sauce. Cover and let it cook for another 15 minutes to thicken the sauce.

Three images, first is cooked chicken thighs in a bowl, second and third are shredded chicken in a bowl with a hand mixer.

STEP 6: While the sauce thickens, shred the Chicken. Use an electric mixer to shred it up quick and fast. Or take two forks and shred the chicken that way.

Two images of a crockpot, first is shredded chicken dumped back over sauce, second is chicken mixed together with sauce.

STEP 7: Once the sauce has thickened, add the shredded chicken back to the crockpot and cook another 5 minutes to heat through. Now it's ready to serve!

Slow cooker with shredded honey garlic chicken inside

What Can You Serve This With?

Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Shredded Chicken is super versatile, so you’ve got lots of delicious options for what to serve it with! Here are some ideas:

Rice – White rice or brown rice makes the perfect base to soak up all that honey garlic sauce.
Mashed Potatoes – If you’re craving comfort food, serve it over mashed potatoes. Yum, I want some now!
Pasta – Serve on top of a quick pasta like spaghetti or penne. Add a side of garlic bread for an easy, filling meal.
Roasted Veggies – For a healthier low carb option, serve with roasted veggies like carrots, broccoli, or sweet potatoes.
Buns or Wraps – You can also pile the shredded chicken on soft hamburger buns for a sandwich or use it in wraps for a more portable meal. The extra sauce will be absorbed into the bread and add more flavor.
Stir-fried Veggies and Noodles – Serve it with some quick stir-fried veggies and ramen noodles.

How To Store Leftovers

Refrigerate - Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container for about 3-4 days. Just reheat them in the microwave, and you're good to go!
To Freeze - Let the chicken cool completely before adding it to a freezer bag or airtight container. You can freeze it for up to 6 months! For the best results, try to squeeze out as much air as possible and use a good-quality freezer bag to keep it fresh and avoid freezer burn.

A crockpot and a plate with rice and shredded honey garlic chicken

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