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Crock-Pot Sesame Chicken Recipe: Simple, Flavorful, and Perfect for Busy Days

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Ingredients
  

  • Chicken Breasts boneless, skinless, about 4 breasts
  • Soy Sauce low-sodium is a good option if you're watching your salt intake
  • Honey you can also swap in maple syrup or agave syrup if you prefer
  • Garlic fresh minced garlic will give the best flavor, but garlic powder works too in a pinch
  • Sesame Oil this is what gives the dish that signature sesame flavor—don’t skip it!
  • Rice Vinegar adds a nice tang to balance the sweetness of the honey
  • Ginger fresh ginger is amazing, but ground ginger will work if that’s all you have
  • Cornstarch to thicken the sauce at the end
  • Sesame Seeds for garnish, adds a delightful crunch
  • Green Onions for garnish, adds a little fresh flavor and color

Instructions
 

Step 1: Prep the Chicken

  • Start by placing your chicken breasts in the Crock-Pot. You don’t need to do much here—just toss them in whole. If you’re using thick chicken breasts, feel free to slice them in half horizontally so they cook more evenly. That’s really the only prep work you need to do!

Step 2: Mix the Sauce

  • In a bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, honey, sesame oil, rice vinegar, garlic, and ginger. This is where all the magic happens—the sauce is the key to the deliciousness of this dish! Whisk everything together until it’s nice and smooth. Taste it and see if you need to adjust any of the flavors. Some people like their sesame chicken a little sweeter, while others prefer a bit more tang. Make it your own!

Step 3: Pour the Sauce Over the Chicken

  • Now, simply pour that beautiful sauce over the chicken in the Crock-Pot. Make sure the chicken is coated evenly. I like to give the chicken a little nudge to make sure it’s all submerged in the sauce, but it’s not necessary if you don’t want to mess with it too much. That’s the beauty of the slow cooker—it’ll take care of it all.

Step 4: Set It and Forget It

  • This is the easy part. Cover your Crock-Pot, set it to low for 6 hours or high for 3 hours, and go about your day. You could use this time to work, clean, run errands, or just relax. No need to stir the chicken or keep checking on it. The Crock-Pot does all the work for you. The chicken will become tender and juicy, and the sauce will infuse it with flavor.

Step 5: Thicken the Sauce

  • Once the chicken is cooked, take it out of the Crock-Pot and set it aside for a moment. In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch with a little bit of water to form a slurry. Add this mixture to the Crock-Pot and stir it into the sauce. Turn the heat to high and let it cook for another 10 minutes. The sauce will thicken up and become nice and glossy.

Step 6: Shred the Chicken

  • After the sauce has thickened, it’s time to shred the chicken. Use two forks to gently pull apart the chicken—it should shred easily since it’s been slow-cooked to perfection. Once it’s shredded, return the chicken to the Crock-Pot and stir it all together so the chicken is coated in that luscious, thick sauce.

Step 7: Serve It Up!

  • Now, the fun part—serving! This Crock-Pot Sesame Chicken goes perfectly over steamed rice, especially jasmine rice, which is my favorite. You can also sprinkle sesame seeds and chopped green onions on top for that extra touch of flavor and color. These little garnishes make the dish look more polished and just add a little crunch to the soft chicken.