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Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Garlic Chicken

Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Garlic Chicken delivers sweet-savory, tender chicken thighs with a glossy brown sugar garlic glaze. The slow-cooked sauce thickens after you stir in a quick cornstarch slurry for a sticky finish that clings to every bite.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Calories: 520
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Chicken and sauce
  • 2 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 6 clove garlic minced
  • 0.5 cup light brown sugar
  • 0.3333333333 cup low-sodium soy sauce
  • 0.25 cup chicken broth
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 0.5 tsp onion powder
  • 0.5 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch
  • 2 tbsp cold water
Garnish and serving
  • 1 chopped parsley
  • 1 green onions
  • 1 sesame seeds
  • 1 steamed rice
  • 1 mashed potatoes
  • 1 roasted broccoli
  • 1 green beans

Equipment

  • 1 slow cooker

Method
 

Prepare the slow cooker
  1. Lightly grease the slow cooker with olive oil for easy release and better browning-free flavor absorption.
Cook the chicken
  1. Arrange the chicken thighs in the slow cooker in a single layer so they cook evenly.
  2. Whisk together garlic, brown sugar, soy sauce, chicken broth, honey, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, smoked paprika, onion powder, and black pepper until smooth and combined, with no sugar clumps.
  3. Pour the sauce over the chicken so the thighs are mostly covered.
  4. Cover and cook on Low for 5–6 hours or High for 3–4 hours, until the chicken is very tender and easily pulls apart.
Thicken the glaze
  1. Remove the chicken and keep warm while you thicken the sauce.
  2. Mix the cornstarch with cold water and stir it into the slow cooker to prevent lumps.
  3. Cook on High for 10–15 minutes until the sauce thickens into a glossy glaze that coats the back of a spoon.
Serve
  1. Return the chicken to the slow cooker and coat well with the glossy sauce.
  2. Garnish with chopped parsley, green onions, and sesame seeds before serving.

Notes

Pro tip: When thickening, keep the lid off during the 10–15 minute High step so the sauce can reduce into a glossy glaze. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days; reheat gently until hot. Freezing is not recommended because the sauce can thin after thawing. For a lower-sugar swap, use an unsweetened brown sugar alternative that measures 1:1 (taste may vary).