Slow Cooker Chicken Teriyaki

For someone like me, who’s always on the go, being able to drop all the ingredients in the crockpot is a lifesaver. Yes, slow-cooked meals take longer to prepare, but ultimately, it’s less of a hassle because you don’t have to do a thing but wait for deliciousness once your meal is ready. If you’re searching for a chicken crockpot meal that’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser at home or at a potluck dinner gathering, this slow cooker chicken teriyaki delivers!

If you prefer intense flavor combinations that balance savory meat with sweetness, you won’t want to pass this recipe up. Not only is this dish simple to prepare, but it’s packed with so much flavor you’ll wonder why you’ve never tried it before (if that’s the case).

Even if you have picky eaters in the home, there’s a good chance you can persuade them to give this recipe a try. This best slow cooker chicken teriyaki recipe is one for the books. Whether you’ve been searching for an easy slow cooker chicken teriyaki for beginners meal or you’re preparing a new menu for the week at home, don’t skip this one!

Take my favorite slow-cooker recipe, slow cooker chicken teriyaki. It’s so easy to make, and it’s a crowd-pleaser too. Everyone in my family loves it, from the kids to Grandma.

If you love the sweetness of chicken teriyaki and want to enjoy a complete meal with the use of your slow-cooker, this recipe is the perfect fit!

Scroll to bottom for printable recipe card.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• This recipe includes mostly healthy, wholesome ingredients like chicken broth and honey. The teriyaki sauce adds some flavorful sweetness without adding too many extra calories.
• This recipe is great for kids and adults alike. The sweetness from the teriyaki sauce and the savoriness of the chicken are the perfect combination.
• There are plenty of variations to try to suit your family’s tastes.
• You’ll only need approximately 10 minutes of prep time and you’re on your way to a delicious, simple slow cooker chicken teriyaki meal.

Ingredient Notes & Substitutions

Feel free to mix it up a bit. You can replace the teriyaki sauce with your favorite BBQ sauce.

You can also swap the chicken broth for vegetable broth. I’ve tried it with maple syrup once, and it was tasty too.

If you’re not a fan of chicken thighs or if you’re looking for a way to reduce the fat of this meal, opt for chicken breasts. While chicken breasts may not be as juicy or tender, they’re a great way to make this a healthy slow cooker chicken teriyaki version.

You can eliminate the green onions altogether if you have picky eaters in the home. Or, you can simply add the green onions to the top of your chicken teriyaki by doing so with individual servings. This allows you to maximize the taste of the entire recipe, even if you have eaters that are hard to please in your household!

Ingredients:

• Boneless skinless chicken thighs
• Teriyaki sauce
• Chicken broth
• Brown sugar
• Honey
• Minced garlic
• Green onions for garnish

How to Make It

Step 1. Place the chicken broth, teriyaki sauce, brown sugar, honey, and minced garlic in the slow cooker, and stir to combine.

Start by adding chicken broth.

Then, add the teriyaki sauce.

Next, add the brown sugar.

Then, add the honey.

Lastly, add your minced garlic. You can add as much or as little garlic as you prefer, depending on your garlic tolerance!

Step 2. Cut the chicken thighs into bite-sized pieces and add them to the slow cooker. Toss to coat them in the sauce.

Step 3. Place the lid on the slow cooker, and cook on high for four hours. If you prefer to cook your chicken dinners low and slow, you can do so by turning your slow cooker on low and cooking this dish for 6 to 8 hours. Cooking this dish on low will result in chicken thighs that are juicy and fall apart!

Step 4. Garnish with green onions before serving if desired.

Serve warm!

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Tips for Success

Add additional veggies, such as sliced bell peppers and mushrooms. They give a nice crunch and are great homemade slow cooker chicken teriyaki ideas that add plenty of nutrients to this dish. Add sliced veggies later on in the cooking process while using your slow cooker. This will prevent them from becoming too soggy.

Add green onions once the meal is ready. This ensures your family friendly slow cooker chicken teriyaki remains kid-approved!

Storage & Reheating

You can make this dish up to 24 hours in advance. Marinate everything, cover it, and put it in the fridge. When you’re ready to cook, just take it out of the fridge and pop it into the slow cooker.

Make sure to store any leftovers in an airtight container and put it in the fridge. It should keep for up to 4 days. If you’re freezing it, please use a freezer-safe box. You can keep it there for about 3 months in an airtight container.

To reheat this quick slow cooker chicken teriyaki recipe, thaw or remove your servings from your freezer or refrigerator. Reheat on the stove over medium heat for 10 minutes (once thawed) or microwave your leftovers for 2 to 3 minutes per serving.

Serving Suggestions

I like to serve it with some stir-fried veggies and rice if it’s for a weeknight dinner. You can also try our Italian green beans, country style green beans, or classic yellow rice for a healthy, robust meal!

As for the drinks, a nice cold beer always works for us. The kids get their favorite fruit juice.

Notes

This recipe is delicious all-year round. The use of the slow cooker reduces prep time (to only 10 minutes) and allows for a scrumptious meal to cook without all the hassle of standing over a hot stove!