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I still remember the first time I made this Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Garlic Chicken. My kids had just started at a local elementary school. It was a hectic day, and I needed a dinner that would cook itself without fuss. This recipe became my quick fix, and over time, it morphed into a family favorite.
If you’re on the hunt for more ideas that make weeknight cooking straightforward, I’ve got you covered. One dish my family adores is my Chicken Asparagus Pasta – Easy & Tasty Dinner Recipe. It’s another simple yet flavorful option that makes any evening feel special. And if you crave a wholesome twist, my Chicken Power Bowl with Roasted Veggies – Healthy & Easy is perfect for busy weekdays when you want something nourishing without too much fuss.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- 5 chicken thighs, skin on, bone-in
- 2 tablespoons garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/3 cup brown sugar, packed
This recipe yields about 5 servings. And guess what? If you’re scaling up for a larger crowd, just double or triple everything. The cooking time might remain roughly the same, but keep an eye on the chicken to ensure it’s fully cooked. With more pieces, you may want to rearrange them halfway through so everything gets a good soak in that sweet, garlicky goodness.
Substitutions and Variations
Cuts of Chicken:
- Breasts: If you prefer brown sugar garlic chicken breast slow cooker style, swap in chicken breasts. They tend to be leaner, so consider draping a couple of slices of bacon on top to keep them moist.
- Wings: Try doubling the sauce and tossing in some chicken wings for a fun party snack. Cook them on low for about 6 hours, and you’re good to go.
Sweeteners:
- Honey: If you’d like to explore the honey garlic chicken crock pot slow cooker path, add 2 tablespoons of honey. This can pair well with some soy sauce for a sweet and tangy punch.
- Dark Brown Sugar: For a deeper caramel flavor, dark brown sugar is your friend.
Spice:
- Add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a squirt of Sriracha if you want a hint of heat.
Soy Sauce:
- Some folks love a crockpot chicken with brown sugar and soy sauce flavor. You can add a few tablespoons of soy sauce for a salty edge that balances the sweetness.
Extra Bacon:
- For a richer flair (like slow cooker bacon brown sugar garlic chicken), toss in a few crispy bacon bits during the last hour of cooking. It elevates the smoky factor.
How to Make Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Garlic Chicken
Cooking time should be about 4 hours on high or 8 hours on low. Here’s the play-by-play:
Prep Your Slow Cooker
- I usually give the slow cooker a quick spray of cooking oil. This step isn’t strictly necessary since the chicken skin releases plenty of its own oil, but it can help with cleanup.
Combine the Ingredients
- Place the chicken, minced garlic, salt, and pepper into the slow cooker. Mix it gently with a spoon or use your hands. Make sure each piece of chicken gets a little garlic on it.
Add the Brown Sugar
- Flip the chicken so it’s skin-side up. Sprinkle the brown sugar evenly across the top. Resist the urge to add liquid—trust me, the chicken juices will come out and create a sauce.
Set It and Cook
- Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours. If you’re like me and you like to peek, you can check halfway through to spoon some of the sauce over the chicken, but it’s not required.
Test for Doneness
- Chicken thighs are typically safe to eat at 165°F (74°C). But they taste best around 175°F (79°C). If you’re using bone-in thighs, the meat should be easy to pull off the bone.
Serve and Enjoy
- Plate your chicken and drizzle some extra sauce on top. I often serve it with steamed rice or roasted veggies. Sometimes, I just pull it apart and layer it in a sandwich with crunchy lettuce. Versatility is the name of the game here.
Feel free to store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. When you reheat it, the sauce gets even thicker and sweeter, so you might find day-two chicken just as tasty (if not more) than the first round.
Helpful Cooking Tips
- Pat the Chicken Dry: If you have time, pat the chicken dry before seasoning. This helps the skin render more effectively, so it’s less rubbery.
- Use Foil in the Oven: If you want to switch to the oven route, place the chicken on a foil-lined sheet pan for easier cleanup. Roast at 400°F (200°C) for about 25–30 minutes.
- Don’t Overcrowd: Make sure each piece of chicken sits mostly in a single layer in the slow cooker, especially if you double the recipe. Overcrowding can lead to uneven cooking.
- Check Salt Levels: Different brands of salt can vary in intensity. Start with the recommended amount and adjust to taste if needed. Remember, you can always add more, but you can’t take it away once it’s in there!
Serving Suggestions
In my home, the standard sides for slow cooker brown sugar garlic chicken are fluffy white rice and a crisp salad. My kids love the sweet sauce drizzled on top of the rice. You can also enjoy it with:
- Roasted Vegetables: Broccoli, carrots, bell peppers, or zucchini.
- Mashed Potatoes: For a hearty American classic pairing.
- Egg Noodles: The sauce coats the noodles beautifully, creating a sort of sweet-savory nest for your chicken.
If you want more chicken-based inspiration, check out my Chicken Asparagus Pasta – Easy & Tasty Dinner Recipe next time you’re planning your weekly meals. It’s simple, delicious, and full of fresh flavors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely! Brown sugar garlic chicken breast slow cooker versions are popular if you prefer leaner meat. Just be cautious with the cooking time. Breasts tend to dry out faster than thighs, so you might want to check around the 3-hour mark on high (or 6-hour mark on low). If you’re concerned about dryness, you can lay a strip of bacon on top of each breast to help retain moisture. The flavor combination of slow cooker bacon brown sugar garlic chicken is delightful!
It’s not required. One of the main perks of this recipe is how hands-off it is. You can throw everything straight into the slow cooker without any pre-browning. If you have an extra 5 minutes and want a bit more color on the chicken skin, feel free to sear it in a skillet before adding it in. But I promise, it’ll still be delicious if you skip that step.
Yes, you can. If you’re sensitive to sweetness, reduce the brown sugar to a quarter cup or add more garlic and salt to balance things out. Alternatively, substitute half of the brown sugar with a tangy sauce like soy sauce to create a sweet-savory blend, similar to crockpot chicken with brown sugar and soy sauce. It’s all about adjusting to suit your taste buds.
Store your leftover slow cooker brown sugar garlic chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. Reheat it in the microwave or on the stovetop over medium heat. If the sauce has thickened too much, splash in a bit of water or chicken broth to loosen it. Some folks even enjoy shredding the leftover chicken for sandwiches or wraps, which is a convenient lunch for busy weekdays.
Certainly! If you’d like a one-pot meal, throw in some peeled carrots, potatoes, or onions. They’ll absorb the sweet, garlicky sauce and turn out wonderfully tender. For a minimal-effort dinner, I love tossing in carrot chunks and baby potatoes. Just make sure the vegetables are cut into larger pieces so they don’t get too mushy after hours of slow cooking.
My personal favorites include rice, mashed potatoes, or roasted vegetables. If you want to keep it light, a green salad with a tangy dressing balances the sweetness. For those who want something a bit fancy, pair it with homemade cornbread or savory dinner rolls. And, for extra inspiration, try out my Chicken Power Bowl with Roasted Veggies – Healthy & Easy if you’re looking for more ways to incorporate chicken into nutritious meals.
Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Garlic Chicken
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours
- Total Time: 8 hours 5 minutes
- Yield: 5 servings
- Category: Mains
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American
Description
A flavorful and easy slow cooker chicken recipe made with brown sugar, garlic, and pantry staples. Perfect for busy nights with minimal prep!
Ingredients
- 5 chicken thighs, skin on, bone-in
- 2 tablespoons garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/3 cup brown sugar, packed
Instructions
- Add the chicken thighs, salt, pepper, and garlic to the slow cooker.
- Mix everything, ensuring the chicken is well coated.
- Flip the chicken so the skin side is up.
- Sprinkle brown sugar evenly over the chicken.
- Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours until tender.
- Serve hot with rice, potatoes, or vegetables.
Notes
- You can use chicken breasts instead of thighs but reduce the cooking time to prevent drying out.
- If you like a spicier kick, add red pepper flakes or a dash of Sriracha.
- Try dark brown sugar for a deeper caramelized flavor.
- No need to add liquid—the chicken releases plenty of juices!
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken thigh
- Calories: 308 kcal
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 324 mg
- Fat: 19 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Fiber: 0.1 g
- Protein: 19 g
- Cholesterol: 111 mg
Keywords: slow cooker brown sugar garlic chicken, crockpot chicken with brown sugar and soy sauce, slow cooker garlic and brown sugar chicken, slow cooker brown sugar chicken
Spice Up Your Meal with Extra Flavor
If you adore the sweet-and-salty combo and want to experiment further, here are some ideas:
- Add Ginger: A teaspoon of fresh grated ginger goes amazingly well with garlic and brown sugar, giving it a hint of Asian flair.
- Toss in Pineapple: For a tropical vibe, add pineapple chunks during the final hour. They’ll soak up the sauce and bring a fruity brightness to the dish.
- Use Maple Syrup: Swap out half the brown sugar with pure maple syrup for a deeper, richer sweetness that will remind you of breezy autumn days in the U.S.
Troubleshooting and Common Mistakes
- Overly Sticky Sauce: If your sauce becomes too thick or starts to burn around the edges, your slow cooker may run hotter than average. Add a little chicken broth or water to thin it out.
- Chicken Isn’t Fully Cooked: If you discover that the chicken is still pink in the center at the end of the recommended time, give it another 30 minutes on high. Different slow cookers can vary in temperature.
- Too Much Liquid: If your chicken releases more liquid than you’d like, remove the lid for the last 30 minutes and let some of it evaporate. Alternatively, carefully ladle some out.
Extra Tips for the Best Results
- Taste the Sauce: You can always sample the sauce halfway through cooking. If you find it lacking in sweetness, add a tablespoon of brown sugar or honey. If it’s too sweet, balance it with more salt, a sprinkle of chili flakes, or a splash of soy sauce.
- Play with Aromatics: Minced onions, shallots, or diced bell peppers can add more texture and flavor. Sauté them briefly before adding them to the slow cooker if you want a richer taste.
- Consider a Thicker Sauce: If you love a glaze-like finish, you can remove the chicken once it’s done and simmer the leftover liquid on the stovetop with a cornstarch slurry (1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons cold water). Cook until thickened, then pour over the chicken.
A Quick Look at Nutrition
Each serving is roughly 308 calories, with 19g of protein and 16g of carbohydrates. While I’m not a strict calorie counter, I like to keep an eye on nutritional balance. Pairing this dish with vegetables and whole grains can round out the meal so you get enough fiber and vitamins. If you’d like to lighten it up a bit, use skinless thighs or breasts, or skim off excess oil from the sauce before serving.
Saving and Sharing
If you fall in love with this recipe, don’t forget to keep it handy. You can bookmark it or pin it on Pinterest, just like I do when I stumble upon must-try dishes. I’ll be posting two pins for this article myself—feel free to browse my boards and see what else I’m cooking up:
- Easy Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Garlic Chicken – Tender & Flavorful!
- Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Garlic Chicken – Easy & Flavorful!
I love seeing your spins on this recipe, so feel free to share your dinner pics!
Let’s Talk About 3-Ingredient or 4-Ingredient Brown Sugar Chicken
Sometimes, people ask if they can trim this down to even fewer ingredients—like a 3-ingredient brown sugar chicken slow cooker or 4 ingredient brown sugar chicken. Technically, yes. If you’re in a pinch, you can skip the salt and pepper, focusing on just the chicken, garlic, and brown sugar. But I find a dash of salt and pepper to be crucial for enhancing the natural flavors. Think of them as the quiet best friends who make the star ingredients shine brighter.
More Recipes You’ll Enjoy
If you love easy meals, here are more ideas to keep you inspired:
- Chicken Asparagus Pasta – Easy & Tasty Dinner Recipe: Perfect for busy nights when you crave something light yet filling.
- Chicken Power Bowl with Roasted Veggies – Healthy & Easy: A balanced, veggie-packed option that’s satisfying and colorful.
These dishes let chicken stand out while keeping your routine manageable. And if you’re looking for a different protein, you might explore a slow cooker pork recipe—something like slow cooker brown sugar garlic pork—or even a slow cooker beef dish. The principle remains the same: combine, cook low and slow, then enjoy a hearty meal at the end of the day.