Slow Cooker Honey Sriracha Chicken Recipe - Sweet, Spicy, and Healthy! (2024)

This Slow Cooker Honey Sriracha Chicken is easy, healthy, and the perfect combination of sweet and spicy! With very little active time required, this recipe is perfect for when you want a healthy AND delicious meal without spending tons of time in the kitchen!

Holy. Moly. This slow cooker honey sriracha chicken is gonna blow your sweet and spicy loving mind.

Sweet and spicy is such a classic combo. It just…works! This recipe is particularly amazing because you literally just throw everything into your crockpot and let it do its thing. Then before you know it, it’s ready to go and you barely had to do anything!Yep, I’m in!

Ingredients

This recipe is made up of three parts: the sauce, the chicken, and the serving/pairing suggestions. The sauce is definitely the MVP here, because the sauce is what gives this dish that amazing sweet and spicy flavor.

Sweet & Spicy Sauce

• Chicken Broth– thins out and flavors the sauce.
• Sriracha– adds heat to the dish. Use as much or as little as you like depending on your heat tolerance. Remember: you can always add more, but it’s harder to take it out. 😉
• Honey– offsets the spice from the sriracha. Feel free to add more if the end result is still a little too spicy.
• Rice Vinegar– gives a mildly tangy flavor to the sauce.DO NOT SUBSTITUTE WITH ANOTHER VINEGAR.Seasoned rice vinegar is not as potent as other vinegars (white, apple cider, etc.) If you absolutely must use another vinegar, start with a quarter of the amount listed and add more to taste after cooking, if necessary.
• Soy Sauce– provides a salty, umami, Asian inspired flavor.
• Garlic– rounds out the sauce with a subtle nuttiness.
• Ground Ginger and Black Pepper – adds a little extra heat and spice.

Other Ingredients

• Chicken Breast– some lean protein to fill out your meal. The chicken really soaks up the flavor of the sauce and becomes incredibly fork tender.
• Cornstarch– thickens the sauce. Flour may be used, but you’ll need to use twice the amount listed (*not tested).
• Green Onion (optional)– a fresh, yet subtle onion flavor.
• Cilantro (optional)– gives the meal a fresh, herbaceous taste.
• Sesame Seeds (optional)– adds some extra texture and a subtle sesame flavor.
• Carb of choice (optional) – rice, quinoa, cauliflower “rice”, mashed potatoes . . . the choice is yours!

I love how customizable sauce is! You can really make it as sweet or as spicy as you like. Making this for the kiddos? Reduce the amount of sriracha. Like it sweeter? Add more honey!

How to make slow cooker honey sriracha chicken

Can i use chicken thighs?

You can use boneless, skinless chicken thighs to replace the boneless, skinless chicken breasts in this recipe. I do not recommend using bone in and/or skin on chicken thighs.The cook time should not be affected (*not tested). Many people like using chicken thighs, because they’re often cheaper, more tender, and more flavorful than chicken breasts.

Can i use frozen chicken?

According to the USDA, you’re not supposed to cook frozen chicken in the crockpot for food safety reasons. The slow cooker can take hours to reach a hot enough temperature to kill bacteria. That being said, some sources are now saying that that’s an antiquated statement. I suggest doing some own research and using your best judgment. To quickly thaw frozen chicken, place frozen chicken breasts in a sealed ziplock baggie, then submerge the bag in a bowl of cool water. Change the water every 30 minutes to prevent it from getting too cold or too warm. This should only take about an hour.

What to serve with slow cooker honey sriracha chicken

To keep this meal ultra-healthy and delicious, I decided to serve it over a bed of quinoa. Quinoa adds additional protein and I personally love the grittier texture. If quinoa isn’t your jam, feel free to serve this with:

• Rice – white or brown
• Chicken Cauliflower Fried Rice(just omit the chicken)
• Quinoa Fried Rice
• Asian Roasted Broccoli
• Roasted Green Beans

What’s YOUR favorite thing to serve with this honey sriracha chicken? Let me know in the comments below!

How to store

After it’s completely cooked and cooled, this recipe can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months! Store the grains and side dishes separately. To reheat, pop it in the microwave or in a pan on the stove until warm!

Tender chicken, a thick, sweet, spicy, tangy sauce, all served over fluffy quinoa. Yeah, I think I totally nailed it with this one. 😉

– Jennifer

This post was originally published May 10, 2016 and has been updated to provide more detailed content.