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This single serving Slow Cooker Sesame Chicken is a lighter take on the popular takeout dish, made with tender chicken thighs simmered in a flavorful honey-soy sauce. Perfectly portioned for one and cooked in a mini slow cooker, it’s an easy and satisfying meal.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy to Make: Simple ingredients and minimal prep.
- Lighter Option: No breading or frying, but still full of flavor.
- Adaptable: Easy to adjust for dietary needs or preferences.
I love this recipe so much and couldn’t wait to share it with you. It’s our lighter take on classic sesame chicken—no breading, no frying, just tender, flavorful chicken in a sweet and tangy sauce made right in the slow cooker. It’s the kind of meal that feels special but couldn’t be easier to make.
Looking for more mini slow cooker recipes? We’ve got plenty! Try our Ropa Vieja, Italian Wedding Soup, Pot Roast, Chickpeas and Sausage, and Ribs.
Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this easy sesame chicken recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder.
- Chicken: Use 1 or 2 boneless, skinless chicken thighs for the best flavor and tenderness. A chicken breast can also be used if you prefer a leaner option. Got extra thighs? Use them in Chicken Cacciatore or a Chicken Burrito Bowl.
- Seasonings: Salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes add just the right amount of flavor. Adjust the red pepper flakes to match your preferred spice level.
- Sauce Ingredients: A mix of honey, soy sauce, ketchup, olive oil, garlic, and dried onions creates a thick, flavorful sauce. For a gluten-free option, use Tamari or coconut aminos instead of soy sauce. To make it vegan, substitute honey with agave or maple syrup.
- Cornstarch: Helps thicken the sauce so it clings to the chicken.
- Sesame seeds (optional): Adds a little crunch and a nutty finish. A great final touch if you have them on hand.
How To Make Sesame Chicken In A Slow Cooker
See the recipe box below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.
Place one or two chicken thighs in the base of a 1.5-quart slow cooker and season with a pinch of salt and pepper.
In a bowl, whisk together honey, soy sauce, ketchup, olive oil, dried onions, garlic, and red pepper flakes. Pour the sauce over the chicken, cover, and cook on low for 4 hours, or until the chicken is tender. Remove the chicken and set it aside.
In a small bowl, mix cornstarch with water, then stir it into the sauce. Cover and cook on high for 10 minutes, until the sauce thickens. Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces, return to the slow cooker, and stir to coat with the sauce. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve with rice, if desired.
For rice, try our single serving recipes for baked white rice or baked brown rice.
Single Serving Rice Tip:
Make a batch of rice, portion it into a muffin pan, and freeze. Transfer the frozen rice portions to a freezer bag, then reheat individual servings as needed.
Expert Tips
- Adjust the Heat: Add more or less red pepper flakes to suit your taste.
- Thin the Sauce: If the sauce is too thick, stir in a little water or chicken broth.
- Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Double It: To make more, double the ingredients and use a 3-quart slow cooker instead of a mini one.
RELATED: How To Cook Small Meals In A Large Slow Cooker
Serving Suggestions
Pair your Sesame Chicken with a simple vegetable side or a lighter grain to round out the meal. Here are a few recipes from our site that go well with it:
Frequently Asked Questions
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
A 1.5-quart slow cooker is ideal for this single serving recipe.
Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this small crock pot recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder or you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:
If you’ve tried this small batch slow cooker sesame chicken or any recipe on One Dish Kitchen please let me know how you liked it by rating the recipe and telling me about it in the comment section below.
If you take a picture please tag us on Instagram (@onedishkitchen) we’d love to see it!
Mini Slow Cooker Sesame Chicken
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 (6 to 7 ounce) boneless skinless chicken thigh
- ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt
- ⅛ teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
- ¼ cup honey
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons ketchup
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon dried onions
- 1 clove garlic -minced
- ⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 3 tablespoons water
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- ½ tablespoon sesame seeds
- 1 cup cooked rice (optional)
Instructions
- Place the chicken thigh in the base of a 1.5-quart slow cooker and season with salt and pepper.
- In a bowl, whisk together the honey, soy sauce, ketchup, olive oil, dried onions, garlic, and red pepper flakes.
- Pour the sauce over the chicken. Cover and cook on low for 3 to 4 hours, until the chicken is tender.
- Remove the chicken and place it on a cutting board.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and water. Stir the mixture into the sauce, cover, and cook on high for 10 minutes to thicken.
- Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces and return to the slow cooker. Stir to coat with the sauce.
- Top with sesame seeds and serve over rice, if desired. (See notes for single serving rice instructions.)
Notes
- Adjust the Heat: Add more or less red pepper flakes to suit your taste.
- Thin the Sauce: If the sauce is too thick, stir in a little water or chicken broth.
- Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Double It: To make more, double the ingredients and use a 3-quart slow cooker instead of a mini one.
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 tablespoon butter
1/4 cup white rice
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
I made this slow cooker chicken thigh, and it was good, with one exception. Would reduce honey to one tablespoon.
I made this for dinner tonight. Used a chicken breast and I have 2 meals from it! I loved it and it will fall into my rotation!! Thanks for the recipe!
I’m so glad you loved it. Thank you for making it part of your recipe rotation!
This recipe is so good, and almost effortless. I used one large breast, instead of the thighs.
We had it over wide egg noodles.
Definitely saving this one!