Description
This easy Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken comes together with just minutes of prep. Tender shredded chicken is cooked in a homemade sweet and savory teriyaki sauce, making it perfect for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken breasts
Sauce:
- ½ cup honey
- ¾ cup soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- ¼ cup mirin
- ½ teaspoon powdered ginger (or minced fresh ginger)
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder (or minced garlic)
- ½ teaspoon onion powder (or ½ cup finely diced onion)
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
To Thicken:
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon water
Instructions
1. Grease the insert of a large slow cooker.
2. Whisk together the honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar, mirin, ginger, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and sesame oil in the slow cooker. Do not add the cornstarch mixture yet.
3. Add the chicken breasts and turn to coat in the sauce.
4. Cook on LOW for 6 hours or HIGH for 3 hours, turning once halfway through if possible, until the chicken shreds easily.
5. Remove the chicken and shred with two forks. Reserve the cooking sauce.
6. Strain the sauce into a saucepan using a fine mesh strainer.
7. Whisk together the cornstarch and water, then stir into the sauce.
8. Bring the sauce to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly until thickened.
9. Mix half of the thickened sauce with the shredded chicken and reserve the remaining sauce for serving.
10. Serve over rice with stir-fried vegetables or your favorite Asian-inspired side dishes.
Notes
Chicken thighs can be substituted for chicken breasts.
For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free soy sauce.
Brown sugar or granulated sugar may be substituted for honey.
Arrowroot powder or tapioca starch can replace cornstarch.
Fresh garlic, ginger, and onion may be used instead of powdered versions.
Mirin is essential for authentic teriyaki flavor and is not recommended to be omitted.
Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 2 months.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/2 cup
- Calories: 228
- Sugar: 20g
- Sodium: 1404mg
- Fat: 3g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 23g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 26g
- Cholesterol: 73mg