Slow cooker teriyaki chicken is chicken breasts cooked with garlic, ginger, soy sauce and honey, then shredded and drizzled with sauce. Serve over rice for an easy yet satisfying crock pot dinner!
I always order teriyaki chicken when I go to my local Japanese restaurant. This slow cooker recipe is SO simple to make at home and has all the same great flavors of the restaurant version.
Being able to throw a meal into my crock pot for dinner is something I have always been extremely thankful for. This slow cooker teriyaki chicken is one of my go-to dinner ideas because it’s quick and the entire family loves it. Plus, because it utilizes the slow cooker I can throw dinner on earlier in the day and forget about it.
HOW DO YOU MAKE SLOW COOKER CHICKEN TERIYAKI?
Thankfully, this teriyaki chicken is as easy as tossing all your ingredients in a crock pot and leaving it to cook. Chicken breasts are cooked with garlic, ginger, soy sauce, and honey, then shredded before being drizzled with sauce. Serve your crock pot teriyaki chicken over rice and you’ve got a satisfying dinner!
Depending on your preferences, chicken thighs or breasts can be used to make teriyaki chicken. One of the best parts about this recipe is that it can easily be doubled to feed a crowd if need be. Not to mention, it only takes about 5 minutes of prep time which makes for a quick meal all the way around.
You can eat crock pot teriyaki chicken as is, but it’s best when served over steamed rice. If you love this slow cooker chicken teriyaki, you’ll also love this chicken teriyaki stir fry which has similar flavors but is ready in 30 minutes.
IS CHICKEN TERIYAKI HEALTHY?
Chicken teriyaki is made with mostly healthy ingredients. That being said, soy sauce is salty, and too much sodium is not good for you. Be sure to use a low sodium soy sauce in this recipe!
CAN YOU COOK RICE IN THE CROCK POT?
Yes, you can cook most things in the crock pot. However, you would have to cook it separate from the teriyaki chicken. Cooking rice in a crock pot makes it take much longer than just making it on the stove, however, it can be done if desired.
CAN VEGETABLES BE ADDED TO SLOW COOKER TERIYAKI CHICKEN?
Vegetables can definitely be added to this recipe. Most popular stir fry vegetables such as broccoli, asparagus, snap peas, bell peppers, etc. can be added to this dish to personalize it. However, be aware, those most vegetables will need to be added later in the cooking process or they may get soggy.
If you’re dreading school because weeknight dinners are so stressful, I’m with you. However, I have started preparing for busy nights by pulling out as many slow cooker recipes as possible. I’m definitely adding this slow cooker teriyaki chicken to the weeknight dinner rotation!
MORE CHICKEN SLOW COOKER RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE
- Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore
- Slow Cooker Orange Chicken
- Slow Cooker Chicken Tortellini Soup
- Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos
- Slow Cooker Chicken Marsala
Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken Video
Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 2 teaspoons garlic minced
- 2 teaspoons ginger minced
- 1/4 cup honey
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1/4 cup cold water
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
- 2 tablespoons sliced green onions
Instructions
- Place the chicken breasts in a slow cooker.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the garlic, ginger, honey, brown sugar, soy sauce sesame oil and rice vinegar.
- Pour the soy sauce mixture over the chicken.
- Cover and cook on HIGH for 3-4 hours or LOW for 6-7 hours.
- Remove the chicken from the slow cooker and shred with two forks.
- Pour the teriyaki sauce from the slow cooker through a strainer into a saucepan.
- Place the saucepan on the stove over medium high heat and bring to a simmer.
- In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch with the water until dissolved.
- Pour the cornstarch into the pan and bring a boil. Cook for 1-2 minutes or until sauce has just thickened.
- Pour the sauce over the shredded chicken and toss to coat the chicken. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and green onions, then serve.
We have made this twice now and really like it!
Can I make the mixture the night before and put in ziploc with chicken and throw in crockpot in morning? I know it is not a ton of prep time, but mornings are chaotic with littles in the house.
Can you add zucchini and broccoli to the crockpot with it 🤗
Trying this recipe for the first time!
I’d add veggies during the last 30-45 minutes!
Can you use ginger paste or ginger powder for this recipe? If so, how much would you suggest?
Ginger paste would be the same amount as fresh ginger. Ginger powder would be 1/3 of the amount!
Tips on how to freeze after it’s cooked and to reheat it again?
You could freeze it in an airtight container for 2 months, then thaw it in the fridge overnight and reheat on the stove over low heat.
10 out of 10. I’m definitely going to make this again. Even my picky eater loved it.
slow cooker
I don’t have rice vinegar or sesame oil. Do I need these two ingredients or are there substitutes?
You could try using half the amount of apple cider vinegar in place of the rice vinegar. I would be concerned that omitting both the rice vinegar and sesame oil would produce a dish with a totally different flavor.
how long/what heat should i cook this for if im making it on a gas stovetop?
You could simmer it over low heat for 30-45 minuts in a covered pan, then proceed with the sauce thickening step. This is just an estimate as to how I think it could work, I have not personally tested this recipe on the stove.
Can the teriyaki chicken be made with a different oil? Family member has a sesame allergy.
I would just omit the sesame oil as there is not a good substitute!
Super easy and very tasty. Two of us ate it and froze 2 more dinners
I am making this tomorrow but only have chicken thighs. Do you need to make any changes with thighs?
Thighs will work with no changes!
Can I freeze leftovers?
That should be fine!
Making this for dinner tonight. I was just wondering about the 2 tablespoons of vinegar. That sounds like it would be a very strong taste for us. Would it be okay to add less?
It’s fine to add less, rice vinegar is not as strong of a vinegar as other types, but adding less shouldn’t hurt anything.
Well my fiancé said this is a five out of five with zero hesitation and that it was better than Panda Express (he adores Panda Express)! I thought it was delicious too! I added some sliced red bell pepper and broccoli around the 30 minute remaining mark and made some jasmine rice to go with the meal. Thank you so much for sharing, this meal is definitely a part of the rotation now!
This is an amazing recipe. The family loved it and requested I put it on our rotation list! The chicken was juicy and flavorful. Thank you for the recipe.
Easy & best teriyaki chicken I’ve made
Sounds so yummy. Can you use chicken thighs?
Yes that will work!
Can I put the chicken in frozen?
That should be fine!
Made this with boneless skinless thighs. I made the sauce separate in a pan *because my husband can’t read directions :)* and sauce was waaaayyy better than anything I buy in a bottle. Only used half a cup of honey and reduced the brown sugar for a double batch because 8tbsp sounded nuts and it turned out super well. Will be on my rotation from now on for sure. *next time I will do it ALL in the crockpot instead of leaving it up to him*
This is an amazing recipe! I had skin-on, bone-in thighs, which I broiled in the oven for about 20 minutes. Then followed the recipe from there. Rave reviews from dinner guests!! Will definitely make this regularly!
Could I cook this in a Dutch oven on 275 or 300? I am tripling it and think my large Dutch is a better fit.
Yes that should work fine, just make sure to cover it in the oven!