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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.
Featured Comment
“This recipe is so good, and almost effortless…”
– Kathleen
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 small slow cooker ropa vieja, small slow cooker Italian wedding soup, single serving slow cooker pot roast, single serving slow cooker chickpeas and sausage, and small slow cooker 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 for one or a chicken burrito bowl.
- 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.
See recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
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.
If you cooked brown rice rather than white is water to rice ratio the same? Also do you plan on giving cooking instructions for your recipes using air fryer and Instant Pot or other electric pressure cooker when possible? So many of us have these appliances now. I am getting your cookbook, I am loving your recipes!
Pam, I’m so glad you are enjoying the recipes. Thank you so much for your support. I use this recipe for brown rice, and it makes perfect rice every time – https://onedishkitchen.com/baked-brown-rice-for-one/.
We have a few Instant Pot recipes and they can be found by using the search bar in the upper right side of the page. At the moment we do not have any air fryer recipes.
Hi Joanie. I made the Slow Cooker Sesame Chicken in a 1-1/2 quart oval-shaped corning ware dish that fit perfectly inside my larger slow cooker. It was delicious!! The second time I used 2 pork chops instead of chicken and, again, it was a hit. Thank you so much!
I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe. Thank you for taking the time to let me know.
Just ordered your book & looking forward to trying the recipes.
Thank you so much, Isabelle. I hope you find many new recipes you love. Please let me know if you find any favorites.
Very tasty! My husband and I loved it. Will definitely make again. I did cook the sauce a little on the stove top to thicken a little more, but otherwise made exactly as per the recipe. Thank you for these smaller crockpot recipes. Please keep developing more! My sister-in-law bought us a 3 crock slow cooker which has three 1.5 quart crocks about 5 years ago. Haven’t used it til now and this was perfect! Did your sesame chicken & chicken piccata, Didn’t have the ingredients or would have done a 3rd. Can’t wait to try your red beans & rice. Tried your quiche the other day & adapted the time & temp for my air fryer. Very nice! I plan to use your recipes when preparing meals for a sick friend who lives alone as well as for my husband and me. Thanks again. Love your site & have been recommending it to others. Wish I’d known about it sooner!
Thank you so much, Rona. I’m so glad you’re finding the recipes helpful.
I’m 92 years old and still cooking; Does the chicken have to be boneless?
No, the chicken does not have to be boneless.
When I turn to metric measurement the cup and spoon measurements stay the same although I know that they are different here in Britain than in the US, any advice? Thank you. Just cooking Sesame Chicken in new mini cooker and it smells delicious. Thanks..
Hi Catherine,
There is a very slight difference between UK cups and US cups,the difference is very small (5%). At a 1/4 cup, the UK and US measurements are essentially the same.
A US teaspoon is 20% bigger than a UK teaspoon. I’m not sure why this change isn’t reflected in the recipe and I’ll look into it.
Thank you.
I tried this sesame chicken recipe yesterday and it is delicious! This is definitely one that will be made again and again. The sauce I plan to try with different meats to change things up. I hope there will be more crockpot recipes since they are so fast and easy. Love the site, and the recipes I’ve tried have been winners!
Thank you so much, Adele. I’m so happy you enjoyed the chicken – and yes, more slow cooker recipe will be coming soon!
Joanie
Small batch banana bread muffins. Outstanding…I added1/4plus teaspoon of cinnamon. These are a WINNER!! THANK YOU!!
Hi Carol,
I’m so happy you enjoyed the muffins. Thank you so much for taking the time to let me know.
Joanie
I just found your blog today and I’m so happy! I just bought a 1.5 qt cooker and looked for recipes under that. Not much. I tried slow cooker recipes for one thinking much won’t come up. This will be the 1st recipe I try in my new cooker!
I have a Rival little slow cooker. Model 3215. Just the right size. I have had it for many years but if you google it I’m sure you can find one. Love all your recipes. I have just pinned a bunch of them. Thank you so much❤️
Hi Pauline,
Thank you so much for your kind words and for sharing the type of slow cooker you use and love. Reader recommendations help so much.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Joanie