Crockpot Teriyaki Chicken

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By: Ashley Wilson | Published: August 26, 2025 | Updated: November 26, 2025

Bowl of teriyaki chicken over rice with sesame seeds and green onions

Sweet, savory, and melt-in-your-mouth tender — with only 5 minutes of prep.

Busy weeknights call for recipes that practically cook themselves. That’s where this Crockpot Teriyaki Chicken comes in: juicy chicken slow-cooked in a sticky-sweet garlic soy sauce until it’s fall-apart tender. With just a handful of ingredients and a few minutes of prep, you’ll have a dish that tastes like takeout but is healthier, cheaper, and family-approved.

This is one of those easy meals that quickly becomes a permanent rotation — perfect for quick dinner ideas, easy weeknight dinners, or even cheap dinners for a family.


⭐ Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Effortless: 5 minutes of prep, then let the slow cooker do the work.
  • Family-Friendly: Picky eaters can’t resist sticky-sweet chicken.
  • Versatile: Serve over rice, noodles, or in lettuce wraps.
  • Budget-Friendly: Simple pantry ingredients, big flavor.
  • Healthy Swap: Make it with low-sodium soy sauce and honey for a lighter option.

🧄 Ingredients You’ll Need

Raw chicken, soy sauce, garlic, honey, and ginger arranged on table
Crockpot Teriyaki Chicken 12
  • 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
  • ½ cup low-sodium soy sauce
  • ⅓ cup honey or brown sugar
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp fresh ginger, grated (or ½ tsp ground ginger)
  • 2 tbsp rice vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch (for thickening sauce)
  • 2 tbsp water (for slurry)
  • Garnish: sesame seeds, sliced green onions

🍳 How to Make Crockpot Teriyaki Chicken

Raw chicken in Crockpot with soy garlic sauce before cooking
Crockpot Teriyaki Chicken 13

Step 1: Combine the sauce
In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, honey, garlic, ginger, and vinegar.

Step 2: Add to slow cooker
Place chicken in the Crockpot and pour the sauce over it. Cover and cook on low 4–5 hours or high 2–3 hours until chicken is tender.

Step 3: Shred and thicken
Remove chicken, shred with two forks, and return to the slow cooker. Mix cornstarch and water, stir into sauce, and let cook 10–15 minutes until thickened.

Step 4: Serve and enjoy
Serve chicken over rice, noodles, or in lettuce wraps. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and green onions for that restaurant-style finish.


🍽️ How to Serve Crockpot Teriyaki Chicken

Platter of teriyaki chicken with rice and toppings on dinner table
Crockpot Teriyaki Chicken 14
  • Over rice (classic comfort)
  • With noodles for a takeout-inspired twist
  • In lettuce wraps for a lighter option
  • As meal prep — store in containers with veggies and rice for grab-and-go lunches

💡 Tips & Variations

  • Use chicken thighs for extra juiciness.
  • Add bell peppers, broccoli, or snap peas in the last hour of cooking for a complete dinner.
  • Make it spicy with sriracha or red pepper flakes.
  • Double the recipe for freezer-friendly leftovers.

🧡 Reader Love

“My kids beg for this every week. It’s better than takeout and so easy!” – @BusyMomEats
“Made this for meal prep — stayed juicy and flavorful all week. Total keeper.” – @MealPrepPro


🔗 Related Recipes

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Bowl of teriyaki chicken over rice with sesame seeds and green onions

Crockpot Teriyaki Chicken


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  • Author: Ashley Wilson
  • Total Time: 5 hours 5 minutes
  • Yield: 6 servings 1x

Description

Sweet, savory, and melt-in-your-mouth tender with only 5 minutes of prep. This Crockpot Teriyaki Chicken is slow-cooked in a sticky garlic soy sauce until fall-apart tender. A healthier, budget-friendly alternative to takeout.


Ingredients

Scale

2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs

½ cup low-sodium soy sauce

⅓ cup honey or brown sugar

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp fresh ginger, grated (or ½ tsp ground ginger)

2 tbsp rice vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)

1 tbsp cornstarch (for thickening sauce)

2 tbsp water (for slurry)

Garnish: sesame seeds, sliced green onions


Instructions

1. In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, honey, garlic, ginger, and vinegar.

2. Place chicken in the Crockpot and pour sauce over it. Cover and cook on low for 4–5 hours or high for 2–3 hours until chicken is tender.

3. Remove chicken, shred with two forks, and return to the slow cooker.

4. Mix cornstarch and water in a small bowl, stir slurry into the sauce, and cook for 10–15 minutes until thickened.

5. Serve over rice, noodles, or in lettuce wraps. Garnish with sesame seeds and green onions.

Notes

Use chicken thighs for maximum juiciness.

Add bell peppers, broccoli, or snap peas in the last hour of cooking for a complete dinner.

Spice it up with sriracha or red pepper flakes.

Double the recipe for meal prep or freezer-friendly leftovers.

  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 5 hours
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Slow Cooker, Crockpot
  • Cuisine: Asian-Inspired, American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 cup chicken with sauce
  • Calories: 310
  • Sugar: 14g
  • Sodium: 720mg
  • Fat: 7g
  • Saturated Fat: 2g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 5g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 15g
  • Fiber: 0g
  • Protein: 38g
  • Cholesterol: 85mg

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