Get ready to fall in love with the Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Teriyaki Recipe—a dish that brings together tender chicken and a glossy, homemade teriyaki sauce with almost no hassle. Imagine coming home after a long day to the irresistible aroma of savory soy, sweet honey, and a hint of ginger, all thanks to your trusty slow cooker. Each bite is juicy, flavorful, and deliciously sticky. Whether you’re feeding a family, meal prepping for the week, or just treating yourself, you’ll be amazed by how simple ingredients can deliver such bold taste.

Ingredients You’ll Need
You won’t believe how a handful of straightforward ingredients can create such a standout meal! Each item here serves a purpose—from rich umami, to subtle sweetness, to vibrant color in every scoop. It’s proof that sometimes, the basics really are best.
- Boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts (2 lbs): These stay wonderfully tender and soak up all that gorgeous sauce.
- Low-sodium soy sauce (1/2 cup): Delivers deep, savory flavor without overwhelming saltiness.
- Honey (1/3 cup): Brings sweetness and a beautiful shine to the sauce.
- Rice vinegar (1/4 cup): Adds brightness and a subtle tang to balance the dish.
- Water (1/4 cup): Helps thin the sauce to the perfect consistency for slow cooking.
- Brown sugar (2 tablespoons): Adds a touch of caramel-like sweetness and warmth.
- Cornstarch (2 tablespoons): Thickens the sauce for that sticky, luscious texture.
- Minced garlic (1 tablespoon): Packs in aromatic depth with every bite.
- Fresh grated ginger (1 tablespoon): Elevates the sauce with zesty, spicy freshness.
- Sesame oil (1 tablespoon): Infuses a toasty, nutty background note.
- Black pepper (1/4 teaspoon): Rounds out the flavors with mild heat.
- Cornstarch slurry (1 tablespoon cornstarch + 2 tablespoons water): Ensures the final sauce is the perfect thickness.
- For garnish: sliced green onions, sesame seeds: These give a burst of color and a satisfying crunch on top.
How to Make Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Teriyaki Recipe
Step 1: Prepare the Chicken
Start by placing your boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts directly into the bottom of your 5- or 6-quart slow cooker. Laying them in a single, even layer ensures they cook evenly and absorb every ounce of that flavorful sauce.
Step 2: Whisk Together the Sauce
In a medium bowl, add soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, water, brown sugar, cornstarch, minced garlic, grated ginger, sesame oil, and black pepper. Give everything a good whisk until it’s completely smooth and the sugar has dissolved. The aroma alone will get your mouth watering!
Step 3: Combine Everything in the Slow Cooker
Pour the gorgeously glossy sauce over the chicken in the slow cooker. Make sure every piece of chicken is coated well to guarantee maximum, melt-in-your-mouth flavor.
Step 4: Slow Cook to Perfection
Cover your slow cooker and set it on low for 4 to 5 hours, or on high for 2 to 3 hours. When the chicken becomes fork-tender and fully cooked, it’s ready for the next step. There’s nothing quite like the intoxicating smell filling your kitchen at this stage!
Step 5: Shred or Slice the Chicken
Lift the chicken out of the slow cooker and use two forks to shred or slice it into bite-sized pieces, depending on your preference. Don’t worry, it’s so tender it almost falls apart on its own.
Step 6: Thicken the Sauce
Turn your slow cooker to high. Stir in the prepared cornstarch slurry and let the sauce bubble away for 10 to 15 minutes, or until thick and silky. This last step takes the sauce from delicious to utterly irresistible.
Step 7: Combine and Serve
Return the shredded or sliced chicken to the slow cooker, tossing everything together so the meat is fully coated in that rich teriyaki sauce. Serve immediately—over fluffy rice, noodles, or crisp-tender vegetables, topped with green onions and sesame seeds for a pop of color and crunch.
How to Serve Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Teriyaki Recipe

Garnishes
The classic finishing touches—sliced green onions and a sprinkle of sesame seeds—do more than just make your dish look pretty. They bring a fresh, vibrant crunch and a subtle nutty flavor that beautifully balances the sweet-savory profile of the Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Teriyaki Recipe. Don’t skip this step!
Side Dishes
This dish is a star on its own, but it truly shines alongside a bowl of steaming jasmine rice or warm noodles. Try adding a medley of stir-fried vegetables or crisp cucumber salad to round out your plate. These simple sides soak up every drop of that glossy, homemade teriyaki sauce.
Creative Ways to Present
Why not turn the Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Teriyaki Recipe into something new? Load it up in lettuce wraps, stuff it in bao buns, pile it onto a grain bowl, or use as a filling for Asian-inspired tacos. Dinner doesn’t have to be boring when you can turn leftovers into a whole new meal!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Let any leftover chicken and sauce cool to room temperature before transferring to an airtight container. In the fridge, your Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Teriyaki Recipe will stay fresh for up to four days, making it an excellent choice for meal prep.
Freezing
Yes, you can freeze this recipe! Spoon chicken and sauce into freezer-safe bags or containers, making sure to squeeze out as much air as possible. Label your container and freeze for up to three months. Just one more reason to double up the batch.
Reheating
For best results, reheat gently on the stovetop over low heat or in a microwave, adding a splash of water if the sauce has thickened too much. The chicken will stay juicy, and the sauce will return to its glossy, delicious self in minutes.
FAQs
Can I use chicken breasts instead of thighs?
Absolutely! Both options work beautifully. Chicken thighs yield a richer, juicier result, but chicken breasts become perfectly tender in the slow cooker as well.
Is it possible to make the Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Teriyaki Recipe gluten-free?
Definitely. Swap the soy sauce for gluten-free tamari and confirm all your ingredients are gluten-free, and you’re good to go. The rest of the recipe stays just as easy and flavorful.
Can I add vegetables to the slow cooker?
This dish is quite versatile! You can add bell peppers, snap peas, or broccoli during the last hour of cooking so they remain crisp-tender and beautifully vibrant.
How spicy is this recipe?
The Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Teriyaki Recipe is mild and family-friendly as-is, but you can add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the sauce for an extra kick if you like a bit of spice.
What’s the best way to serve leftovers?
Try piling the warmed chicken on a salad, rolling it up in wraps, stuffing it into buns, or layering it over roasted veggies for a quick, satisfying lunch or dinner later in the week.
Final Thoughts
Give this Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Teriyaki Recipe a try and discover just how effortless and rewarding homemade takeout-style dinners can be. Packed with flavor, perfect for busy weeknights, and sure to delight everyone at the table—this is one recipe you’ll come back to again and again!
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Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Teriyaki Recipe
- Total Time: 4 hours 10 minutes to 5 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Diet: Non-Vegetarian
Description
This Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Teriyaki recipe is a delicious Asian-inspired dish that’s perfect for a simple weeknight meal. Tender chicken cooked in a flavorful homemade teriyaki sauce, served over rice or noodles, and garnished with green onions and sesame seeds.
Ingredients
Chicken:
- 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
Teryaki Sauce:
- 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1/4 cup rice vinegar
- 1/4 cup water
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water (slurry for thickening)
For garnish:
- sliced green onions
- sesame seeds
Instructions
- Place the chicken in the slow cooker: Arrange the chicken in the bottom of a 5- or 6-quart slow cooker.
- Prepare the teriyaki sauce: In a medium bowl, combine soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, water, brown sugar, cornstarch, garlic, ginger, sesame oil, and black pepper. Pour the sauce over the chicken.
- Cook the chicken: Cover and cook on low for 4–5 hours or high for 2–3 hours until the chicken is tender and fully cooked.
- Shred the chicken: Remove the chicken from the slow cooker, shred or slice as desired.
- Thicken the sauce: Turn the slow cooker to high, stir in the cornstarch slurry, and cook for 10–15 minutes until the sauce thickens.
- Coat the chicken: Return the chicken to the slow cooker, toss to coat in the teriyaki sauce.
- Serve: Serve the chicken over rice, noodles, or vegetables. Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds.
Notes
- For a spicier version, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the sauce.
- This recipe is great for meal prep and reheats well.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 4-5 hours on low or 2-3 hours on high
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: Asian-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 14g
- Sodium: 650mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 33g
- Cholesterol: 105mg