This Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken is a flavorful and convenient dinner option, perfect for busy weeknights. With minimal preparation time, the slow cooker does the work, resulting in tender, juicy chicken infused with a sweet and savory teriyaki sauce. Serve it over rice with stir-fried vegetables for a complete meal.

Full Recipe:

Ingredients

• 2 pounds chicken breasts
• ½ cup honey
• ¾ cup soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
• ¼ cup mirin
• ½ teaspoon powdered ginger
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon cool water

Directions

1. Grease the container of a large slow cooker.
2. Add the sauce ingredients (excluding cornstarch and water) into the prepared slow cooker and whisk to combine.
3. Place chicken breasts into the slow cooker and turn to coat.
4. Cook on low for 6 hours or high for 3 hours, until chicken is easily shredded with a fork.
5. Remove chicken from the slow cooker and place into a medium serving dish.
6. Shred the chicken with two forks.
7. Set a fine mesh strainer over a saucepan and carefully pour the sauce through the strainer into the saucepan.
8. Mix cornstarch and water, then add to the sauce, stirring until fully incorporated.
9. Bring sauce to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until thickened.
10. Mix half of the sauce into the shredded chicken, reserving the other half for serving.
11. Serve with rice, stir-fried vegetables, or your favorite Asian salad.

Nutrients

Per serving (½ cup):

• Calories: 228 kcal
• Carbohydrates: 23 g
• Protein: 26 g
• Fat: 3 g
• Saturated Fat: 1 g
• Cholesterol: 73 mg
• Sodium: 1404 mg
• Potassium: 477 mg
• Fiber: 1 g
• Sugar: 20 g
• Vitamin A: 34 IU
• Vitamin C: 1 mg
• Calcium: 11 mg
• Iron: 1 mg

Why Choose Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken?

Slow cooker meals are incredibly convenient because they allow you to prepare a delicious dish with minimal effort. The beauty of slow cooking is that it does most of the work for you, leaving you with more time to relax or focus on other tasks while the meal simmers away. This is especially helpful on days when you’re pressed for time but still want to enjoy a homemade, flavorful meal.

Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken offers the perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors, which is characteristic of traditional teriyaki sauce. This sauce is typically made from soy sauce, sugar, ginger, garlic, and other seasonings. However, this slow cooker version elevates the dish by infusing the chicken with the sauce’s bold flavors over an extended period of time. The result is a dish where every bite is bursting with the savory goodness of the teriyaki sauce, and the chicken is so tender that it practically falls apart.

The Beauty of Slow Cooking

One of the main advantages of slow cooking is that it requires very little hands-on preparation. After you’ve added the chicken and sauce ingredients into the slow cooker, you can simply let it cook while you go about your day. This method helps preserve the natural flavors of the chicken while ensuring it remains moist and tender. The long, slow cook time also allows the teriyaki sauce to soak into the chicken, making each bite full of flavor.

Using a slow cooker also means that the meat will retain its juices, resulting in a moist, succulent texture. Unlike traditional cooking methods where the meat might dry out, slow cooking ensures that the chicken remains juicy and tender throughout the process. The slow cooker also helps the sauce thicken naturally as it cooks, allowing it to coat the chicken beautifully once the meal is ready to serve.

What Makes This Teriyaki Chicken Stand Out?

While there are many ways to prepare teriyaki chicken, using a slow cooker gives this recipe a unique advantage. The key feature of this dish is the way the flavors meld together as the chicken simmers for hours in the sauce. The long cooking time allows the chicken to absorb all the flavors of the sauce, creating a rich and well-rounded taste. The ingredients are simple, but the result is complex in flavor and deeply satisfying.

The sauce used in this recipe combines the classic ingredients of traditional teriyaki sauce, such as soy sauce, honey, and rice vinegar, with subtle nuances like sesame oil and mirin. These ingredients not only contribute to the rich flavor of the dish but also help create the perfect texture for the sauce. As it simmers, the sauce thickens, becoming the ideal consistency to coat the shredded chicken once it’s done cooking.

The slow cooker also ensures that the chicken becomes incredibly tender, making it easy to shred and mix into the sauce. This makes for a satisfying meal that can be served with a variety of sides, whether you prefer rice, noodles, or vegetables.

How to Make Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken Your Own

One of the best things about this recipe is its versatility. While it’s delicious as is, you can easily customize it to suit your tastes and dietary preferences. Here are a few ways to modify the recipe:

1. Make it Spicier: If you enjoy a bit of heat, you can easily add some red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce to the sauce mixture. This will give the dish a spicy kick without overpowering the rich, sweet flavor of the teriyaki sauce.

2. Add More Vegetables: While the recipe doesn’t call for vegetables, adding some to the slow cooker can enhance the flavor and texture of the dish. Consider adding sliced bell peppers, carrots, or snap peas to the slow cooker to give the dish more color and a nutritious boost.

3. Use Chicken Thighs: For those who prefer dark meat, chicken thighs are a great alternative to chicken breasts. Thighs tend to be more flavorful and tender, making them a good choice for slow cooking.

4. Serve Over Different Sides: While the dish is typically served with rice, you can also pair it with quinoa, cauliflower rice, or even noodles for a different twist. For a low-carb option, cauliflower rice is a fantastic substitute, providing the same satisfying texture without the carbs.

5. Gluten-Free Options: If you’re following a gluten-free diet, swapping regular soy sauce for tamari will allow you to make a gluten-free version of this dish. Tamari is a type of soy sauce that doesn’t contain wheat, making it a great alternative for those with gluten sensitivities.

How to Serve Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken

The beauty of Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken lies not only in its flavor but also in its versatility when it comes to serving. This dish can easily be paired with a variety of sides, making it suitable for a wide range of tastes. Here are a few ideas for serving this meal:

• With Steamed Rice: The most traditional way to serve teriyaki chicken is with steamed white or brown rice. The rice helps soak up the flavorful sauce, making each bite even more delicious.

• With Stir-Fried Vegetables: For a balanced meal, consider serving the teriyaki chicken with a side of stir-fried vegetables. Vegetables like broccoli, bell peppers, and snap peas pair wonderfully with the savory flavors of the chicken.

• As a Rice Bowl: If you’re looking for a quick, all-in-one meal, serve the teriyaki chicken over a rice bowl with your favorite toppings. You can add garnishes like sesame seeds, sliced green onions, or a drizzle of extra teriyaki sauce to enhance the flavor.

• In Lettuce Wraps: For a low-carb option, serve the teriyaki chicken in lettuce wraps instead of rice. This gives the dish a fresh crunch and makes for a healthy, light alternative.

Nutritional Benefits of Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken

This dish is not only delicious but also packed with nutrients. Chicken is a great source of lean protein, which is essential for muscle repair and growth. It’s also low in fat and contains essential vitamins and minerals like vitamin B6 and niacin, which are important for energy metabolism.

Conclusion

Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken is an easy-to-make, delicious dish that offers convenience, flavor, and nutritional benefits. By using a slow cooker, the chicken becomes tender and flavorful, while the sauce thickens and infuses the meat with a rich, sweet-savory taste. The simplicity of the ingredients makes it an accessible recipe, and the flexibility of the dish allows for customization based on personal tastes or dietary needs.