Description
Succulent honey garlic chicken legs emerge as comfort cuisine perfection from your slow cooker. Tender meat glazed with sweet-savory sauce promises a delightful meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1.5 kg (3 lbs) chicken legs (drumsticks)
Sauce and Liquid Ingredients:
- ½ cup honey
- ½ cup low-sodium soy sauce
- ¼ cup ketchup
- ¼ cup chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil (optional)
Seasoning and Aromatics:
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic (about 3 cloves)
- 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger (or 1 teaspoon ground ginger)
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Thickening and Garnish:
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
- 2 green onions, sliced
Instructions
- Thoroughly cleanse the chicken legs, eliminating excess moisture with paper towels. Massage each piece with a harmonious blend of salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika, ensuring complete coverage.
- Craft a vibrant sauce by whisking together honey, soy sauce, ketchup, finely chopped garlic, vinegar, ginger, and red pepper flakes in a mixing bowl until smooth and well-integrated.
- Arrange the seasoned chicken legs in the slow cooker’s interior, creating a single layer. Cascade the prepared honey garlic sauce over the meat, meticulously coating each piece to guarantee maximum flavor infusion.
- Secure the slow cooker lid and set the temperature to low for 5-6 hours or high for 3-4 hours. Monitor until the chicken reaches a tender consistency and internal temperature hits 165°F, signaling complete cooking.
- For those desiring a more luxurious sauce texture, extract the chicken from the cooking liquid. Prepare a cornstarch slurry by blending cornstarch with water, then gently incorporate into the remaining sauce. Allow the mixture to simmer and thicken for 10-15 minutes on high heat.
- To achieve a tantalizingly crisp exterior, transfer the cooked chicken to a foil-lined baking sheet. Lavish with additional sauce, then broil for 3-5 minutes until the skin transforms into a golden, caramelized masterpiece.
- Present the chicken adorned with a sprinkle of chopped green onions and sesame seeds. Accompany with steamed rice, noodles, or a medley of roasted vegetables for a complete culinary experience.
Notes
- Use paper towels to thoroughly pat chicken legs dry, which helps seasonings stick better and promotes crispy skin when broiling.
- Adjust heat levels by increasing or decreasing red pepper flakes for spice sensitivity, ensuring everyone enjoys the dish.
- Consider using low-sodium soy sauce for a healthier version without compromising the rich flavor profile of the recipe.
- For a gluten-free alternative, replace traditional soy sauce with tamari or coconut aminos to maintain the same umami depth.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 22 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg