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Tender Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs Recipe for Easy Healthy Dinner

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A comforting slow cooker recipe featuring juicy bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs cooked in a sweet and savory honey garlic sauce, served with creamy mashed cauliflower for a healthy, low-carb dinner.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 3 pounds / 1.4 kg)
  • 1/3 cup honey (raw or organic preferred)
  • 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free option)
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons ketchup
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano or Italian seasoning
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch (optional, for thickening the sauce)
  • 2 tablespoons water (for cornstarch slurry)
  • 1 large head of cauliflower (about 2 pounds / 900 g), chopped into florets
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter (or olive oil for dairy-free)
  • 1/4 cup heavy cream or full-fat coconut milk
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced (optional)
  • Salt and white pepper, to taste
  • Fresh chives or parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Instructions

  1. In a small bowl, whisk together honey, soy sauce, minced garlic, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, and dried oregano. Set aside.
  2. Pat chicken thighs dry with paper towels and season generously with salt and black pepper on both sides.
  3. Optional: Brown the chicken thighs skin-side down in a skillet with a tablespoon of oil over medium-high heat for 3-4 minutes until golden and crisp, then flip and brown the other side for 2 minutes.
  4. Place chicken thighs skin-side up in the slow cooker and pour the honey garlic sauce evenly over them.
  5. Cover and cook on low for 4 to 6 hours or on high for 2 to 3 hours until chicken is tender and cooked through.
  6. About 30 minutes before serving, mix cornstarch with water to make a slurry and stir into the slow cooker to thicken the sauce. Cook uncovered for the remaining time.
  7. While chicken cooks, steam cauliflower florets in a pot with a steaming basket over boiling water for 10-12 minutes until very tender. Drain well.
  8. Transfer steamed cauliflower to a bowl. Add butter, cream, minced garlic (if using), salt, and white pepper. Mash with a potato masher or blend with an immersion blender until creamy but still slightly textured. Adjust seasoning as needed.
  9. Serve mashed cauliflower topped with honey garlic chicken thighs and drizzle with thickened sauce. Garnish with fresh chopped chives or parsley.

Notes

If the sauce is too thin after slow cooking, simmer it on the stove to reduce and thicken. Browning the chicken before slow cooking adds extra flavor and crispy skin but is optional. Drain cauliflower thoroughly before mashing to avoid watery texture. Boneless, skinless thighs can be used but reduce cooking time by about 30 minutes. Cornstarch slurry can be substituted with arrowroot powder. The recipe can be adapted for dairy-free by using olive oil and coconut milk.

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker chicken, honey garlic chicken, chicken thighs, mashed cauliflower, healthy dinner, low carb, comfort food, easy recipe

Find it online: https://coracooks.com/tender-slow-cooker-honey-garlic-chicken-thighs-recipe-for-easy-healthy-dinner/