Description
Pioneer woman slow cooker chicken thighs bring tender, juicy meat infused with rich, herbal flavors from herbs and spices. Simple ingredients create a comforting meal you’ll crave after one delicious bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 6 chicken thighs (bone-in or boneless, skin on or skinless)
- ½ cup soy sauce (low-sodium)
- ½ cup ketchup
- ¼ cup honey
- 2 tbsps sriracha
- 2 tsp ginger (freshly minced)
- 1 tbsp olive oil (extra-virgin)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- Juice of 1 lime
- Kosher salt
- Black pepper (freshly ground)
- Cooked rice (for serving)
Instructions
- Searing: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season chicken thighs with kosher salt and black pepper, then sear for 3-4 minutes per side until golden-brown, creating a flavorful caramelized exterior.
- Sauce Preparation: Whisk together soy sauce, ketchup, honey, minced garlic, grated ginger, Sriracha, and lime juice in a mixing bowl until the honey fully dissolves, forming a glossy, aromatic sauce.
- Slow Cooking: Transfer seared chicken thighs to the slow cooker, pour the prepared sauce over the meat, ensuring complete coverage. Cook on low for 5-6 hours (or high for 2 hours) until chicken becomes fork-tender and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Serving: Plate the succulent chicken over steamed rice, drizzle with additional cooking sauce, and garnish with fresh cilantro and a lime wedge to add brightness and complexity to the dish.
Notes
- Sear for Maximum Flavor: Brown chicken thighs before slow cooking to lock in rich, deep taste and create a caramelized exterior that enhances overall dish complexity.
- Sauce Consistency Matters: Whisk sauce ingredients thoroughly to ensure honey dissolves completely, creating a smooth, glossy coating that evenly distributes flavor across chicken.
- Temperature Check Essential: Always confirm chicken reaches 165°F internal temperature to guarantee safe, perfectly cooked meat that remains juicy and tender.
- Customize Your Kick: Adjust Sriracha sauce quantity to control spice level, allowing personalization for different heat preferences without compromising the recipe’s core flavors.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 24 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 43 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 23 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg