Crock Pot Chicken Thighs Recipe – Simple and Comforting

These crock pot chicken thighs are one of our favorite set and forget dinners, tender chicken in a sweet and savory glaze that simmers all day with almost no effort. For us that kind of easy, hands off comfort is exactly what real food for real life is about. They are the kind of dinner you can set and forget, tender chicken in a sweet and savory glaze that simmers all day with almost no effort on your part.

Boneless thighs slow cook in a glossy sauce of brown sugar, soy sauce, ginger, and garlic, then get finished with a quick cornstarch slurry to thicken. These crock pot chicken thighs taste like a takeout favorite made at home, perfect spooned over rice with green onions. Slow cooking boneless thighs in a glossy sauce of brown sugar, soy sauce, ginger, and garlic, then thickening with a quick cornstarch slurry, tastes like a takeout favorite made at home over rice.

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Slow cooked in a sweet and savory soy ginger glaze, these crock pot chicken thighs turn tender and glossy, ready to spoon over rice.

Why You Will Love These Crock Pot Chicken Thighs

• Set and forget. The slow cooker does the work, simmering the chicken until tender.
• Sweet and savory. Brown sugar, soy, and ginger make a glossy, takeout style glaze.
• Tender every time. Chicken thighs stay juicy and shred easily after slow cooking.
• Family favorite. The sweet, savory sauce is a hit served over rice.
• Simple pantry sauce. A few staples come together into a rich, glossy glaze.

What Makes These Crock Pot Chicken Thighs So Good

Great crock pot chicken thighs start with thighs, which stay tender and juicy through hours of slow cooking and never dry out the way leaner cuts can. They soak up the sauce beautifully as they cook. Thighs stay tender and juicy through hours of slow cooking and never dry out the way leaner cuts can, and they soak up the sauce beautifully as they cook.

A glaze of brown sugar, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and a little vinegar balances sweet, savory, and tangy. The slow cooker melds these flavors into the chicken over several hours with no stirring needed. A glaze of brown sugar, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and a little vinegar balances sweet, savory, and tangy, and the slow cooker melds those flavors into the chicken with no stirring.

The key to these crock pot chicken thighs is thickening the sauce at the end. A quick cornstarch slurry stirred in turns the cooking liquid into a glossy glaze that clings to every piece of chicken. A quick cornstarch slurry stirred in at the end turns the thin cooking liquid into a glossy glaze that clings to every piece of chicken.

Optional Pro Tip: Thicken at the End

Stir in a cornstarch slurry near the end of cooking to turn the thin cooking liquid into a glossy, clingy glaze. For the best crock pot chicken thighs, shred or chop the chicken and return it to the sauce for a few minutes so every piece soaks up that thickened glaze. Stirring in the cornstarch slurry near the end turns the cooking liquid glossy and clingy, and shredding or chopping the chicken and returning it to the sauce lets every piece soak up that glaze.

Tips for the Best Crock Pot Chicken Thighs

Use boneless thighs so the crock pot chicken thighs stay tender, and trim excess fat before cooking for a cleaner sauce. Using boneless thighs keeps the chicken tender, and trimming excess fat before cooking gives you a cleaner, less greasy sauce.

Thicken the sauce with a cornstarch slurry at the end, and taste before serving. Garnish with green onions for a fresh, bright finish. Thickening the sauce with a cornstarch slurry at the end gives it body, and a scatter of green onions adds a fresh, bright finish.

Variations and Add Ins

• Spicier. Add extra red pepper flakes or a drizzle of sriracha.
• Garlic ginger. Add more fresh ginger and garlic for a bolder kick.
• Sesame. Finish with sesame oil and toasted sesame seeds.
• Pineapple. Add pineapple chunks for a sweet, tangy twist.
• Honey garlic. Lean into honey and garlic for a stickier glaze.

How to Store and Make Ahead

Store leftover crock pot chicken thighs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. They reheat well and the flavor deepens. Stored airtight, they reheat well and the flavor deepens, making them a great choice to portion out for easy meals through the week.

Reheat gently on the stove or in the microwave, adding a splash of water or broth if the sauce has thickened too much. They also freeze well for up to three months. Reheating gently with a splash of water or broth loosens the glaze if it has thickened, and the chicken and sauce also freeze well for later.

Serving Suggestions for Crock Pot Chicken Thighs

Serve these over white rice, brown rice, or cauliflower rice, with steamed or stir fried vegetables on the side. Spoon extra glaze over the top and finish with green onions. Served over white, brown, or cauliflower rice with steamed or stir fried vegetables, extra glaze spooned over, and green onions, they make a satisfying, takeout style plate.

Much of the warm, aromatic flavor here comes from ginger, a pungent rhizome widely used as a spice, as described in this overview of ginger. That warmth is part of what gives these crock pot chicken thighs their cozy, takeout style taste.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use chicken breasts instead of thighs?

Yes, though thighs stay more tender through long cooking. If using breasts, check earlier so they do not dry out. Breasts work, though thighs stay more tender through long cooking, so if you use breasts, check earlier so they do not dry out.

How long do they cook in the crock pot?

About four hours on high or six hours on low, until the chicken is cooked through and tender. A few hours on high or longer on low both work, just cook until the chicken is tender and cooked through.

How do I thicken the sauce?

Stir in a slurry of cornstarch and water near the end and let it cook a few more minutes until glossy and thickened. Stirring a slurry of cornstarch and water in near the end and cooking a few more minutes is what turns the sauce glossy and thick.

Do I need to brown the chicken first?

No. The beauty of this dish is adding everything to the slow cooker without searing, though a quick brown adds extra depth if you like. There is no need to brown first, since the beauty of this dish is adding everything to the slow cooker, though a quick sear adds extra depth if you like.

Can I make it ahead?

Yes. It keeps for up to four days and reheats well, making it great for meal prep. Because they keep and reheat so well, they are great for meal prep, giving you a ready, flavorful protein for several days.

Can I freeze it?

Yes. Freeze the cooked chicken and sauce for up to three months, then thaw and reheat gently. They freeze nicely too, so cool the cooked chicken and sauce and seal them away, then thaw and reheat gently when you need them.

What should I serve it over?

White rice, brown rice, or cauliflower rice all work well, with a side of vegetables. White rice, brown rice, or cauliflower rice all work well as a base, with a side of vegetables to round out the plate.

How do I keep the chicken from drying out?

Use thighs and avoid overcooking. Thighs stay juicy far longer than breasts in a slow cooker. Using thighs and not overcooking is the key to juicy chicken, since thighs stay tender far longer than breasts in a slow cooker.

Can I double the recipe?

Yes, as long as it fits in your slow cooker. You may need to add a little cooking time. You can double the recipe as long as it fits in your slow cooker, just allow a little extra cooking time for the larger amount.

How spicy is it?

It is mild as written. Add more red pepper flakes or sriracha if you want more heat. It is mild as written, so a little more red pepper flakes or a drizzle of sriracha adds as much heat as you like.

An Easy Set and Forget Dinner

These crock pot chicken thighs prove that a deeply satisfying dinner can come together with almost no hands on time. Tender chicken in a glossy sweet and savory glaze is hard to beat.

Add everything in the morning and come home to a ready meal, then thicken the sauce and serve over rice. It is an easy, crowd pleasing favorite for busy nights.

If you love easy, comforting chicken dinners like this, you will also enjoy our slow cooker chicken stew, another favorite from our kitchen.