Certainly one of my go-to meal prep recipes is crockpot honey garlic hen. The preparation time is just 5 minutes, and the result’s an outrageously tender, savory hen that you’ll fall in love with.
This hen recipe is ideal year-round and goes on every little thing. Tuck it into wraps, pita, and sandwiches. Pile it over rice or steamed candy potatoes. Serve it chilly over salad….the record is infinite.
In case you’re after new methods to prepare dinner hen, do not skip previous my hen ramen bowls, this recipe for Campbells hen curry (really easy), or my balsamic hen.
Substances
You do not want a lot to make this better-then-takeaway pull-away hen. Take a look at the components right here:
- Hen breast: Tender and lean, hen breasts function the proper base.
- Lowered sodium soy sauce: This brings a savory, umami depth to the dish.
- Honey: Provides a pure sweetness and stability.
- Hoisin sauce: With its complicated taste profile of candy, salty, and barely tangy, it provides the dish an Asian-inspired depth.
- Rice vinegar: This presents a gentle tang that balances out the sweetness of the honey and hoisin.
- Toasted sesame oil: A small quantity provides a wealthy, nutty aroma and taste.
- Garlic: Recent garlic imparts a sturdy, savory kick.
- Scallions: These recent onions lend a gentle, barely candy taste, with the inexperienced tops providing a burst of coloration and freshness.
- Sesame seeds: Non-compulsory, however I really like including them.
See recipe card for portions.
Directions
When it comes to preparation, this recipe takes little to no talent or time. Here is the way to make it:
- Grate your garlic and place your hen within the crock pot.
- In your gradual cooker add the soy sauce, honey, hoisin sauce, garlic, rice vinegar, toasted sesame oil, and salt and pepper. Stir to mix.
- Step 3: Cook dinner the hen within the gradual cooker for 3-4 hours on excessive or 6-7 hours on low. When cooked midway, flip the hen breast over. As soon as totally cooked, shred the hen.
To save lots of time, I exploit and hand mixer for shredding the hen. By this stage, the hen is so buttery comfortable that it shreds in seconds.
Substitutions
You can also make a few ingredient substitutions relying on what you’ve gotten and the flavors you like:
- Hen breast: In case you desire darkish meat, boneless hen thighs will work properly. They’re extra flavorful and keep moist throughout gradual cooking.
- Lowered sodium soy sauce: Coconut aminos is a gluten-free different with an identical taste. You possibly can additionally use tamari.
- Honey: Use maple or agave syrup. Simply observe the extent of sweetness is completely different.
- Hoisin sauce: Attempt plum sauce for the same candy and tangy taste.
- Rice vinegar: You possibly can use apple cider or white wine vinegar as an alternative.
- Toasted sesame oil: Olive oil is a impartial substitute, and peanut oil is scrumptious, too.
Variations
Make your individual model of this recipe by taking part in round with it. I really like mixing different components collectively to make new taste creations.
Listed here are a number of variations that work very well:
- Spicy crockpot hen: Add 1-2 tablespoons of sriracha or your favourite sizzling sauce to the sauce combination. Use common soy sauce as an alternative of diminished sodium for a deeper, saltier taste.
- Citrusy: Add the zest and juice of 1 orange or lime to the sauce. You’ll be able to swap lime juice for the rice vinegar. Garnish with freshly chopped cilantro.
- Candy and tangy: To stability the sweetness of the honey and hoisin sauce, add 1-2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and 1 tablespoon of brown sugar for a tangy profile. Substitute apple cider vinegar and orange juice for an additional layer of taste.
- Garlic butter: Substitute the sesame oil with unsalted butter for a creamy, wealthy taste. Add 8-10 cloves of garlic and embody recent thyme. After cooking, toss the hen in melted garlic butter and garnish with recent parsley.
For a pulled pork recipe, try my gradual cooker balsamic pork recipe!
Gear
You may just about simply want a crock pot! That, and a grater to get the ginger wonderful.
Storage
Retailer leftover crockpot hen in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3-4 days. Make certain to let the hen cool to room temperature earlier than storing to forestall condensation.
To freeze, permit the hen to chill utterly and switch it to a freezer-safe container or zip-top bag. It may be saved within the freezer for as much as 3 months for highest quality.
Thawing notes
To thaw frozen crockpot hen, switch it to the fridge for twenty-four hours earlier than reheating.
For faster thawing, place the bag in a bowl of chilly water, altering the water each half-hour.
Reheating notes
Reheat the hen on the stovetop over low warmth, including a splash of broth or water to maintain it moist. You may as well reheat it within the microwave.
High tip
For additional taste, marinate the hen within the sauce combination for at the least half-hour earlier than putting it within the crockpot. This lets the hen take up the seasonings and will get a extra flavorful and tender outcome.
FAQ
Sure, you’ll be able to prepare dinner the hen on excessive warmth for about 3-4 hours. Nevertheless, for essentially the most tender and flavorful outcomes, it is best to prepare dinner it on low for 6-7 hours.
Completely! You’ll be able to double the components, however ensure your crockpot is giant sufficient to accommodate the extra hen and sauce. You could have to barely regulate the cooking time relying on the dimensions of the batch.
Positively! In case you desire a much less candy sauce, scale back the honey or add extra soy sauce for a saltier taste. Style the sauce earlier than cooking and regulate as wanted to fit your preferences.
Searching for different recipes like this? Attempt these:
Crockpot Soy Honey Garlic Hen
Make collapse Crockpot Honey Garlic Hen as the proper filling, rice or salad topper
Servings: 6 folks
Substances
- 2 lbs 4 items of hen breast
- 1 cup diminished sodium soy sauce
- ½ cup honey
- ¼ cup hoisin sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
- 6-8 cloves of garlic
- 2 scallions
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
- ¼ teaspoon salt or to style
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper or to style
Directions
-
Grate your garlic.
-
In your gradual cooker add the hen, soy sauce, honey, hoisin sauce, garlic, rice vinegar, toasted sesame oil, and salt and pepper. Stir till properly mixed.
-
Cook dinner within the gradual cooker for 3-4 hours on excessive or 6-7 hours on low. Make certain to flip the hen breast over when cooked midway.
-
As soon as totally cooked, shred the hen. I exploit a hand mixer for simple
