Slow Cooker Sticky Chicken By Kelly Miller • September7,2021 • 17 Comments 72.3K 1 Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Slow Cooker Sticky Chicken recipe made with bone in chicken thighs, brown sugar, soy sauce, garlic ginger, and tomato paste. Serve over hot rice for a great family dinner! If you’re looking for a great dinner recipe that a perfect dupe for Chinese food takeout, this easy Slow Cooker Sticky Chicken will be one you’re going to want to try ASAP! I’ve been making this dinner for my family for years and my husband and kids all can’t get enough of it. This one does take an extra step – broiling the chicken skin – but it’s WELL worth it. Don’t be intimidated if you’ve never broiled anything before. I’ll walk you through it step by step! What kind of chicken is used in this recipe? You’ll need bone in, skin on chicken thighs to make this. Can I used boneless skinless chicken thighs instead? I really recommend using the bone in and skin on thighs. The fat from the skin renders in the Crockpot and creates an amazingly flavorful broth for the chicken to cook with. Can chicken drumsticks or chicken legs be used? Sure! Just use the same amount as the chicken thighs. Slow cooker sticky chicken drumsticks or slow cooker sticky chicken legs both sound absolutely delicious to me! What’s in this recipe? How to make this recipe: In a small bowl, stir together brown sugar, soy sauce, garlic, and ginger. 2. Place chicken thighs in the bottom of a slow cooker and pour soy sauce mixture over chicken. Cover and cook on low. 3. Remove chicken thighs from the Crockpot and place on a cookie sheet or a baking dish. 4. To make this sticky chicken sauce: In a small bowl, stir together brown sugar, soy sauce, tomato paste, and water. 5. Brush sticky chicken sauce on all sides of chicken. Set your oven to BROIL setting and place baking sheet with chicken in the oven for 3 – 5 minutes or until sauce has caramelized on the chicken. 6. Serve over cooked hot rice. Does the skin get crispy? No, it just bakes the sauce on the skin to make it extra delicious! What can I do with the extra sauce? Heat up any extra sauce you have after basting the chicken, and serve it drizzled over the rice. The flavor of the sticky chicken sauce is top notch! Can I use a brown sugar substitute? Yes, that would probably work fine, but results may vary depending on the brand used. Help! I’ve never broiled before! Don’t worry, it’s easy to broil! Instead of the nice even bottom heat typical baking produces, the broil setting on your oven switches to really intense direct heat from above the food. My biggest tip is do not walk away from the oven while you’re broiling. The food can get too done or burn on top quickly, so keep a close eye on it! Can this recipe be frozen? You can freeze the raw chicken in the cooking sauce in a large gallon freezer bag, and then store the sticky chicken sauce in a separate freezer bag. This makes a fantastic ready to go freezer meal! Just be sure to label it with the cooking instructions! Recipe pro tips: Mix up the sauces ahead of time to make the actual cooking process go much quicker! Try a combination of chicken thighs and drumsticks instead of all thighs Don’t be alarmed at the low sauce to chicken ratio in the Crockpot – the chicken will render broth and fat as it cooks. It will be plenty! More recipes you’ll love: Tangy Grilled Chicken Drumsticks Pressure Cooker Drumsticks Cheesy Bacon Zucchini Skins Crockpot Shredded Chicken Honey Glazed Chicken Wings Pineapple Chicken If you liked this recipe, leave a rating and a comment below this post! Slow Cooker Sticky Chicken Slow Cooker Sticky Chicken thighs recipe made with brown sugar, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, tomato paste, and bone in skin on chicken thighs. 4.29 from 7 votes Print Pin Rate Course: DinnerCuisine: AmericanKeyword: recipe for slow cooker sticky chicken Prep Time: 15 minutesCook Time: 4 hours Servings: 6 servings Calories: 547kcal Author: Kelly Miller Ingredients▢ 3 lbs bone in skin on chicken thighs▢ 1/4 cup brown sugar▢ 2 tbsp soy sauce▢ 1 tsp ground ginger▢ 4 cloves garlic mincedFor sticky chicken sauce:▢ 1/2 cup brown sugar▢ 1/4 cup tomato paste▢ 1/4 cup water▢ 2 tbsp soy sauce▢ cooked rice InstructionsPlace chicken into a Crockpot.In a small bowl, stir together brown sugar, soy sauce, garlic, and ginger.Pour mixture over chicken.Cover and cook on low for 4 hours.Remove chicken from slow cooker and place on a baking sheet.In another small bowl, stir together sticky chicken sauce ingredients.Baste evenly over top and sides of chicken thighs.Place into the oven on broiler setting for 3 - 5 minutes or until most moisture has cooked off.Serve chicken over cooked rice with additional sauce drizzled on top, if desired. Video NutritionCalories: 547kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 189mg | Sodium: 914mg | Potassium: 580mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 28g | Vitamin A: 317IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 49mg | Iron: 2mg Tried this recipe?Follow me @mostlyhomemademom or tag #MostlyHomemadeMom! 72.3K 1
debbie says November 16, 2011 at 8:47 pm looks easy and very tasty! will be trying it!thanksdebbie Reply
Erica says December 3, 2011 at 6:30 pm This recipe is rally from America's Test Kitchen slow cooker cookbook, It is sooo good it's always in our menu rotation! I always use chicken thighs as well! Reply
Lesa says January 20, 2012 at 12:57 pm I've made this twice now and it's always a big hit at my house. I pinned it when you originally posted it, and it has received over 30 repins! Thanks for posting! Reply
Kenneth Johnson says September 11, 2012 at 8:05 pm Used this as a special at Jordans Sports Bar and cafe for a lunch special. I got the best compliments a chef could ask for…..Empty plates. Thanks for sharing this. Reply
Mary Neumann says October 31, 2012 at 3:53 pm Great crock-pot share! Pinned and I plan on making this on Saturday! Thanks for the yummy share! Reply
Christine says October 2, 2013 at 12:41 am Thank you so much for this recipe, it is so yummy, I have made it 5 times now. I had to double the sauce amount for the slow cooker, other then that it is awsome 🙂 Reply
Kelly Miller says October 2, 2013 at 12:46 am You're welcome, Christine! We love this recipe, too. 🙂 Reply
Rebecca says July 25, 2014 at 11:42 pm Diabetic over here could I sub a brown sugar substitute ? Reply
Teresa Driggers says October 7, 2019 at 8:47 pm Hi! ? I have a news feed on my phone that I scroll through everyday. One of your recipes (I’m sorry I forgot which one! I’ve been busy going through a Bunch of your recipes & can’t recall it!??) Anyway, I as a rule do Not sign myself up for emails – partly safety issues but Also because I somehow get a Ton of emails anyway that I never even take time to look at!! But I read your “bio” & thought, “Wow!” You sounded Really Nice!! I Loved the picture of you with your boys!! But it was in reading the extended version about you that Really Touched Me!! You said you Love Your Savior. How AWESOME that you would put that in there And to have listed Him First! I’m So Glad a Sweet Young Lady like you Are Sharing Him to those of us reading about You!! ? Then as I was going through the recipes I Just Fell in Love with You!! You sound like the kind of “girlfriend” Everyone wishes they had!! Though I’m much older than yourself, I just Wanted You to Know By That Addition to your “bio” & your “Fun” self that came shining through, I’m So Glad to have “met” You & You’re a Blessing to Me Today!! ? Yep, I Signed Up For Your Email Without a Moments Hesitation!!! Keep Jesus Close to You, First in Your Life as You Do & Know that Everytime you Mention Him Is Your Time to Shine Your Light for Him!!! Wish You Lived Nearby So We Could Meet!! Thank you for All the Incredible Recipes!! I Especially Fell in Love with your Crock-Pot Recipes!! That’s what brought me into your site!! I have Fibromyalgia & CRPS — an Awful Full body pain syndrome affecting me inside & out, Yukky!!! Your AWESOME RECIPES ARE FIXING TO CHANGE MY HUSBAND & MY LIFE!!! ? As Silly as this may sound I had No idea my Crock-Pot could Do All of What You’ve shown me it Can Do!! Now Even on Bad Pain Days, Awesome Food Will Be Made!! ☺️ I’ll go ahead & say my husband Thanks You Because I KNOW He Will !!! (I’m Also Super GLAD your Comment Section Here Gave Me ALL The Room to Say ALL I Wanted To!! God Bless & Happy Day to You!!!? Teresa Reply
Kelly Miller says October 8, 2019 at 5:56 pm Well how sweet are you, Teresa!! Thank you so much for a wonderful comment and your beautiful thoughts on my little site here. I’m so proud to say it’s all because of God that I get to run this recipe site! I very much appreciate your encouragement and I hope you enjoy the recipes – get ready for a bunch of Crockpot ones coming up in the next few weeks! Reply
Jodie says July 5, 2022 at 8:11 am My Nan has been making this for many years. She passed last year and I have just found some notes in one of her cook Books with the recipe! Tried it once, although not as good as nans, grandad happy with a taster of nans cooking. Always loved this recipe, will master it soon enough 🙂 Reply