A Slow Cooker Chicken recipe is an easy way to get dinner on the table and you can't beat the fantastic hoisin sauce that flavors this crockpot recipe. 176 calories and 4 Weight Watchers Freestyle SP
Slow Cooker Hoisin Chicken Recipe {Crockpot}
You can't beat a great slow cooker chicken recipe for an easy dinner that doesn't require much thought. Plus, it involves hoisin sauce, which is always a good thing. Actually, a friend recently asked me what hoisin sauce tasted like because she wasn't sure she had tried it. Once I got over my initial mock horror (haven't tried hoisin sauce, the best condiment ever to be siphoned into a glass jar?!), I told her that it is a thick, rich Chinese barbecue sauce with the saltiness of soy sauce and a slight sweetness.
Just good all-around.
When I pulled out my crockpot that day, I had hoisin sauce on the brain and chicken in the fridge. This slow cooker chicken recipe practically made itself from there. I love it when that happens!
Try my pressure cooker version of this recipe, Hoisin Instant Pot Chicken Breasts.
I'm not kidding when I say that it just doesn't get any easier than this recipe. Just pour the 6-ingredient sauce over the boneless, skinless chicken thighs in the slow cooker, and cook for an hour and a half.
Once the chicken is cooked, all that's left to do is shred the meat and boil the sauce with some cornstarch to make it rich and thick.
So, how do you serve this slow cooker chicken?
- Serve it over rice with stir-fried veggies, such as Stir Fried Green Beans or Spicy Stir Fried Cabbage.
- Wrap it in a tortilla with vegetables for an easy lunch.
- Tuck it in corn tortillas with Spicy Asian Slaw with Carrots & Ginger Dressing for a fun take on tacos
- Toss it with cooked soba noodles and vegetables. Use the remaining sauce to coat the noodles.
Tip: Both hoisin sauce and chili-garlic sauce can be found in the international aisle of most grocery stores.
Other healthy slow cooker recipes:
Slow Cooker Italian Chickpeas {Cookin' Canuck}
Slow Cooker Turkey & Potato Soup {Cookin' Canuck}
Pineapple Chicken (Crockpot) {Well Plated}
Slow Cooker Butternut Squash Chili {Spend with Pennies}
Printable Recipe
Slow Cooker Hoisin Chicken Recipe {Crockpot}
Ingredients
- â…“ cup low-sodium soy sauce
- â…“ cup hoisin sauce
- â…“ cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons honey or agave nectar
- 2 tablespoons minced ginger
- ½ teaspoons chili-garlic sauce or to taste
- 2 ¼ pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs, trimmed of fat
- 1 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water
- sliced green onions for garnish
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, hoisin sauce, chicken broth, honey (or agave nectar), ginger and chili-garlic sauce.
- Place the trimmed chicken thighs in the bottom of a slow cooker. Pour the sauce over the chicken.
- Cook the chicken on HIGH for 1 ½ to 2 hours or on LOW for 4 hours, or until cooked through.
- Transfer the chicken to a cutting board, let cool slightly, then shred with two forks or your hands.
- Pour the sauce into a small saucepan. In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and water, then add to the sauce.
- Bring to a boil over medium heat, whisking frequently. Cook until the sauce is slightly thickened, 4 to 5 minutes.
- Place the shredded chicken in a bowl or into the slow cooker to keep warm, and pour ¾ cup of the sauce over top. (Reserve remaining sauce for serving over rice or stir-fried vegetables.) Toss to coat. Serve and garnish with green onions.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
This post was originally published on September 29, 2014, and has been updated.
Disclosure: This post contains links to my Amazon affiliate page. Any revenue made from sales through these links helps to support this blog. Thank you!
Kristina
I made this and it was awesome! I added a squeeze of lime juice at the end and sprinkled some sesame seeds on top for texture and it was sooooo good. Thanks for the recipe, simple and will definitely be making it again!
Cindy
Could you make this with a pork tenderloin?
Megan
Excellent recipe and SUPER easy to make. This will become a staple in our home 🙂 Thanks for the recipe!!!
Dara
I'm so glad that you liked it, Megan! I've made it four times since posting it, so I know what you mean by it becoming a staple. 🙂
polly
How big of a crock pot did you use?
Kirsten
Dara,
When this post popped up in my feed it burrowed into my brain and took root. I made it last night, adding turnips and turnip greens from the farm share for a braised stew, and it was delicious.
Thanks!
Elaine
This combination looks so great and yummy. I am a big fan of Hoisin sauce.
Thalia @ butter and brioche
This slow cooked chicken recipe is totally perfect for me when I don't feel like cooking at all. Great recipe and it looks so delicious and packed full of yummy flavour!
Jamie
This looks delicious. I've never had hoisin sauce and was wondering if it is spicy? I have 2 1/2 and 4 year olds and like to feed them the same thing we eat. Would this be something they could handle or would you recommend waiting on it? Thanks!!
Deborah
Love, love, love this!! We are hoisin addicts, and every flavor in this dish sounds like a home run!!
Dara
Thanks, Deb. It's a great recipe for those busy days when there are a million activities happening.
Pink+guava
P.S. Gorgeous photos!
Dara
Thank you!
Rachel+@+Baked+by+Rachel
I honestly wasn't sure what hoisin sauce was either, but after you gave that perfect description, I want to run into my kitchen and make this immediately!
Dara
You need to run out and buy some hoisin immediately, Rachel. I promise that you'll be hooked!
Pink+guava
Hoisin is always one of those standards in my frig. Along with several other items. A little bit or more always gives a lovely, full flavour. Ahhh, the cooler weather has arrived and a perfect time to put the slow cooker to use again. In locations with seasons we tend to hide the slow cooker in the Summer in place of the barbeque. Dara, this sounds like a perfect way to start the cooler season - I can even smell the good fragrance of your recipe already.
Dara
Thanks, Pink Guava (love the name!) If you love hoisin, you'll love this recipe. It's perfect for the cooler weather.
Liz
I love this recipe and my slow cooker. A great tool in the kitchen. Thank you.
Dara
I agree, Liz. I don't use my slow cooker nearly enough!
Jenny+@+The+Peachy+Pair
Always looking for slow cooker recipes. Even better that it's made with dark meat. So much tastier than chicken breast!
Dara
I completely agree, Jenny! I use chicken thighs as much as possible because of their flavor and extra moisture.
KalynsKitchen
Wow, this sounds easy and delicious. And thanks for the shout-out for my slow cooker frittata.
Dara
Thanks, Kalyn. Your frittata is something I've been meaning to try for a long time.
Liz+@+The+Lemon+Bowl
So funny - I one time was out of hoisin and had to make my own version. It was not easy to capture that flavor - it is simply irreplaceable!!
Dara
You're so right, Liz! Every time I go to the Asian market, I make sure to stock up on their extra-large bottles of hoisin.
Kelli @ The Corner Kitchen
My boyfriend introduced me to hoisin last year. It's so delicious, and I love cooking with it now! This is such a great weeknight dinner, Dara!!
Dara
Thanks, Kelli. It's hard for me to resist adding hoisin to everything I cook. It's that good.
Ali+|+Gimme+Some+Oven
Hoisin is one of my all-time favorite kitchen ingredients. This looks awesome, Dara!!
Dara
I feel the same way about hoisin. We just can't get enough of it here.
Heidi+@foodiecrush
Wow. Not only does the recipe look perfect for any night of the week, but your photos are simply gorgeous! Hoisin is one of my favorites too, and the slow cooker is where it's at.
Dara
Thank you, my friend. The comment about my photos means a lot coming from you!
Christine at Cook the Story
I love how healthy this is!
Dara
Thanks, Christine! Yep, I love when healthy food tastes great.