Easy Slow Cooker Sesame Chicken takes less then 10 minutes to prep and makes a delicious weeknight dinner. An easy slow cooker recipe the whole family will love. Perfect for meal prep!
Seems like my search never ends for simple, quick and flavorful dinner ideas, and it probably is the same for you! Every day is busy in different ways, and my slow cooker comes to the rescue so many days of the week.
This chicken recipe meets all of what I’m searching for; it’s quick and easy, and most importantly super flavorful! We do love to splurge sometimes on take-out, but when you make something at home on your own, your copycat takeout version will end up being lighter, and with less sodium (so a little less guilt!).
If you're gluten-free, this recipe is gluten-free friendly! Just be sure to use tamari in place of the soy sauce.
Easy Slow Cooker Sesame Chicken is a no-fuss recipe with super results. All you do is saute’ the chicken for a couple of minutes, whisk together the flavorful sauce, then add it all together in your slow cooker. Go off on your day, and when you get back a few hours later, not only does the house smell so enticing, but your delicious dinner is all ready!
Now the sauce can be customized to how you like to to be. You could make it sweeter or even spice it up. Add more sesame flavor, if you like that!
This sesame chicken recipe is so loved and a favorite because…
- it’s super easy to put together
- the sauce flavors are slowly cooked, which makes it even more delectable
- the chicken is really tender and juicy
- the whole family loves this.
What ingredients are in slow cooker sesame chicken?
- Chicken breast halves- You can use skinless chicken breasts, boneless, skinless chicken thighs, or do a combo of them both.
- Honey-Honey gives a touch of sweetness, which balances the flavors of the soy sauce. Combined with the touch of garlic salt and other ingredients, it ends up tasting similar to a honey garlic sauce. .
- Soy sauce- When I use soy sauce, I always use low sodium. Use tamari for gluten-free or even coconut aminos (I usually like a combo of tamarin and coconut aminos).
- Ketchup (or tomato paste)-If you prefer, you could use tomato paste (just thin it out with some water), but we prefe the flavor from ketchup
- Onion-I used a sweet white onion, but use whatever onion you prefer.
- Sesame oil- There is a nice sesame flavor in the sauce from the sesame oil (it’s pretty strong, so a little goes a long way). But feel free to use a vegetable oil if you don’t have any on hand.
- Garlic powder-I use a dash of garlic powder, but you could use some fresh finely chopped garlic in its place. Either will add lovely flavor to the sauce. You could omit the garlic if you prefer.
- Cornstarch-A gluten-free thickener.
- Sesame seeds-lightly toasted sesame seeds, to garnish.
- Scallions-The scallions are a nice addition of flavor and also, the green looks nice as a garnish.
How to Make Sesame Chicken in the Slow Cooker
Here is a brief overview of what you'll need to do. The printable recipe with the ingredient list and the full instructions can be found below.
Gather all your ingredients.
Whisk together the sauce ingredients and pour over the chicken. The sauce is customizable. So feel free to adjust the sweetness or even make it spicy!
Stir to combine.
Place the chicken and sauce in the slow cooker and cover. Cook on low for 3 hours or high for 1 1/2-2 hours.Keep in mind that if you're using chicken thighs. they will take a little longer to cook through than chicken breasts. Check if the chicken is ready using an instant read thermometer and it should should have an internal temp of 165° F.
Serve with rice, or whatever grain you prefer. To stay low carb, serve with cauliflower rice or steamed veggies.
What do you serve Crockpot Sesame Chicken with?
Steamed white rice is popular in our family. It also goes great with brown rice or any other grain you enjoy. I really love it with cauliflower rice, to keep it more low carb. Garnish with toasted sesame seeds and scallions slices. As for a side dish of vegetables, roasted carrots, steamed broccoli or even green beans would go perfectly!
Is orange chicken the same as sesame chicken?
No, they are different recipes, but sort of similar. Similar in the cooking method, but different in the flavoring. The orange chicken is dipped in an orange sauce, so has distinct orange flavor. Sesame chicken is sweet, but not made with any orange juice.
Can I make this sesame chicken spicy?
Yes, of course! Spice it up to your liking! Use your favorite sauce or pepper flakes and adjust to your taste.
How to store sesame chicken leftovers?
As soon as the chicken and sauce has cooled, store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Freeze for up to 2-3 months.
Some other chicken recipes to try:
- Chicken with Preserved Meyer Lemons and Olives
- Slow Cooker Whole Chicken Soup
- Baked Pineapple Chicken
- Very Easy One Pot Chicken and Rice
Easy Slow Cooker Sesame Chicken
Ingredients
- 1½ pounds skinless boneless chicken breast halves, cut into bite-size pieces (or skinless chicken thighs)
- ½ cup honey
- ¼ cup soy sauce use tamari for gluten-free (or coconut aminos)
- 2 Tablespoons ketchup or 1 Tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 small onion diced
- 1 Tablespoon sesame oil
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder or 1 garlic clove minced
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- ½ cup cold water tablespoons water
- 2 Tablespoons sesame seeds or to taste
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together the cold water and corn starch until dissolved. Add honey, soy sauce, ketchup, onion, sesame oil, garlic powder and ice vinegar. Stir together to combine.
- Place the chicken in the bowl with the sauce and stir to combine. Add the chicken and sauce to a 3 1/2 or 4 qt slow cooker.
- Cover and cook on low 3 hours, or on high for 1 1/2-2 1/2 hours. Chicken is ready when the internal temperature measures 165° F on an instant read thermometer.
- Toast the sesame seeds: While the chicken is cooking, in a large skillet, add the sesame seeds and on medium heat, lightly toast them. Keep stirring them as they’re getting a little color, as you don’t want them to get too brown. Set aside in a small bowl until you’re ready to serve.
- Serve over cooked rice (or whatever you prefer) and garnish with toasted sesame seeds and chopped scallions; if desired.
Nutrition Disclaimer
Please keep in mind that the nutritional information presented below is an approximation and may vary depending on the exact ingredients used.
Notes
Reheat: To reheat the sesame chicken and sauce, place in a skillet on medium-low. You may need to add a bit of water to loosen the sauce a little, or reheat in the microwave.
Juju says
Just wanted you to know I make this slow cooker chicken recipe all the time. It's so wonderful! Delicious sauce!
Annie says
We love this recipe! Make it once a month for the kids!!