Look no further for the BEST Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken recipe!Ā Hands off, fuss free, 10 minutes of prep time, and you’ll come home to a delicious, ready meal!
It’s after making meals like this that I ask myself why I don’t utilize my slow cooker more often. Ā I mean, what could be simpler than throwing in a handful of ingredients into the slow cooker in the morning and then coming home to a ready-made meal for dinner? Ā Well, I’ve renewed my commitment to making my weekday nights easier by getting more use out of my slow cooker.
Slow cooker meals are also a really easy and fuss-free way to get your kids involved in the kitchen – there’s no boiling pots of hot liquids, splattering oil or open flames. Ā It’s just adding ingredients to the slow cooker, closing the lid…and waiting.
Teriyaki chicken is something almost everyone loves. Ā That familiar combination of sweet and savory is a flavor practically anyone will enjoy. Ā This recipe is super easy to make with only 5 minutes of prep time. Ā And it also provides the perfect foundation for building upon – i.e., add some of your favorite veggies like broccoli, bell peppers, carrots or bean sprouts and make a complete meal out of it.
Depending on the veggies you’re adding, you’ll add them in during the last 20-30 minutes until they’re tender. Ā Bean sprouts will be added during the last 5-7 minutes so they retain some of their crunch. Ā Etc. Ā Or simply make a basic chicken teriyaki as shown here and serve it with your favorite steamed or stir-fried veggies and rice.
Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken Recipe
Let’s get started!
Combine the sauce ingredients in a bowl and stir until the brown sugar is mostly dissolved.
Place the chicken in the slow cooker. Ā I’m using chicken breasts but you can use any chicken pieces of your choice.
Pour the sauce over the chicken.
Cook the chicken on LOW for 5-6 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours. Ā Transfer the chicken to a plate and shred the meat. Ā Discard the bones if you’re using bone-in chicken.
Carefully pour the sauce into a saucepan. Ā Bring it to a boil and pour in the cornstarch mixture, stirring until slightly thickened, about a minute.
Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker and pour the sauce over it. Ā Stir to coat. Ā Cook on HIGH for a few minutes until heated through. Ā Add salt to taste.
Serve over steamed rice garnished with toasted sesame seeds and chopped green onions.
Enjoy!
For more great crock pot recipes be sure to try our:
- Crock Pot Beef Stroganoff
- Slow Cooker Pot Roast
- Slow Cooker Pineapple Orange BBQ Chicken
- Slow Cooker Greek Chicken
- Slow Cooker Peach Crisp
Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken breast or chicken pieces of choice
- (see "Note" below for adding vegetables)
- For the Sauce:
- 1/2 cup tamari or soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 3 tablespoons mirin (can substitute sherry or white wine)
- 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
- 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
- low sugar alternative: use brown sugar substitute
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon minced ginger
- 1 teaspoon salt
- For the Thickener:
- 1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch dissolved in 1/4 cup water
- For Serving:
- Toasted sesame seeds
- Chopped green onions
- NOTE: If you prefer more sauce simply double all the sauce ingredients including the thickener.
Instructions
- Place the chicken in the slow cooker. Combine the sauce ingredients in a bowl and stir until the brown sugar is mostly dissolved. Pour the sauce over the chicken. Cook the chicken on LOW for 5-7 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours.
- Transfer the chicken to a plate and shred the meat. Discard the bones if you're using bone-in chicken.
- Carefully pour the sauce into a saucepan. Bring it to a boil and pour in the cornstarch mixture, stirring until slightly thickened, about a minute.
- Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker and pour the sauce over it. Stir to coat. Cook on HIGH for a few minutes until heated through. Add salt to taste.Serve over steamed rice garnished with toasted sesame seeds and chopped green onions.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Originally published on The Daring Gourmet on March 28, 2017
Brandy | Nutmeg Nanny says
Always a great way to use the slow cooker!
Nathan Lombough says
Awesome, easy, delicious. I made this for my family yesterday and it got two thumbs up all around. This will become a regular.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Fantastic, Nathan, I’m thrilled to hear that, thank you!
Renee - Kudos Kitchen says
Looks like a winner. I like to use the slow cooker in the summer to keep the house cooler. This is going on my list of recipes I want to try.
Dorothy says
This was a winner at my house! Love the ease of slow cooker!
Jennifer says
I found my dinner for tonight! Yum!!
Cori Landon says
I made this for dinner last night and it was a huge hit, everyone in my family loved it and not a shred was left :)
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Awesome, Cori, I’m so happy to hear that, thank you!
Alyssa | EverydayMaven says
This would be such a good dish to come home to!
Ashley @ Wishes & Dishes says
I always wonder why I don’t use my slow cooker more! Love finding new ideas! Thank you.
Kelly @ Nosh and Nourish says
The thick sauce is key. YUMMATOLA as my dad would say!
Jessica @ Sprinkle Some Sugar says
This looks SO delicious!
Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes) says
This looks fantastic!
Des @ Life's Ambrosia says
Oh I know this will be a huge hit with my family!
Krista says
Wow! This looks amazing! I cannot wait to fill my house with these amazing smells!
Dee says
My family loves teriyaki chicken, and I love that you can make it in the slow cooker — looks perfect!
Jen says
This looks delicious! I’ve been getting my kids more involved in making our meals as I see them more excited about eating when they do but have never thought about the slow cooker process being easier for the little ones. Thanks!