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Enjoy our single serving mini slow cooker sesame chicken recipe, perfectly portioned for one and brimming with rich, tangy-sweet flavors. This delightful, healthier alternative to takeout is breading-free and brings all your favorite Chinese flavors right to your kitchen, making it a perfect and personalized meal for one.
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!
Table of Contents
- Why You’ll Love This Slow Cooker Recipe For One
- What Is Sesame Chicken?
- Ingredients
- How To Make Slow Cooker Sesame Chicken For One
- Expert Tips
- What To Serve With Sesame Chicken
- Frequently Asked Questions
- More Mini Slow Cooker Recipes You’ll Love
- Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
- Slow Cooker Sesame Chicken For One Recipe
Why You’ll Love This Slow Cooker Recipe For One
- Ease of Preparation: This mini crockpot recipe requires minimal preparation and simple ingredients.
- Healthy Alternative: Skipping the breading and frying makes this a leaner choice without compromising flavor.
- Versatility: Whether you’re following a diet or accommodating allergies, this recipe can be adapted easily.
What Is Sesame Chicken?
Sesame chicken is a popular dish in many Chinese-American and Canadian restaurants, usually featuring breaded, fried chicken in a sweet, tangy sauce with sesame seeds. Our single serving version offers a healthier twist by skipping the breading while keeping those delicious flavors.
For those cooking for one, this recipe is ideal. It allows you to enjoy a classic dish without the hassle of making a large batch. Plus, it’s made in a slow cooker, so it’s incredibly convenient. Whether you’re health-conscious or just looking for an easy, satisfying meal, our slow cooker sesame chicken fits the bill perfectly.
RELATED: Easy Slow Cooker Recipes For One
Ingredients
RELATED: How To Cook Small Meals In A Large Slow Cooker
- Chicken: Use one or two boneless, skinless chicken thighs for the juiciest result. If you prefer a leaner option, a chicken breast will work just as well. If you’ve got extra chicken thighs, consider using them in Chicken Cacciatore or a Chicken Burrito Bowl.
- Seasonings: A simple trio of salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes is all you’ll need to enhance the chicken’s natural flavors. Adjust the level of red pepper flakes to suit your heat preference.
- Sauce Ingredients: The sauce is where the magic happens! Combine honey, soy sauce, ketchup, olive oil, garlic, and dried onions to create a luscious, sticky coating. If you’re following a gluten-free diet, swap out the soy sauce for Tamari or coconut aminos. For those on a vegan journey, agave or maple syrup can be used in place of honey.
- Cornstarch: Cornstarch is the key to a sauce that clings to your chicken, making every bite irresistibly flavorful. Just a little bit will do the trick in thickening your sauce to perfection.
- Sesame seeds (optional): While optional, a sprinkle of sesame seeds adds a delightful crunch and a burst of nutty flavor to the finished dish. Highly recommended for that extra layer of texture.
How To Make Slow Cooker Sesame Chicken For One
See the recipe box below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.
- Place the chicken into the base of a mini slow cooker. Sprinkle a pinch of salt and pepper over the tops of the chicken.
- In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the honey, soy sauce, ketchup, olive oil, dried onions, garlic, and red pepper flakes.
- Pour the sauce over the chicken thighs. Cover the slow cooker and cook on low until the chicken is tender, 4 hours.
- Remove the chicken from the slow cooker and place it on the cutting board.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and water. Pour the cornstarch mixture into the sauce in the slow cooker. Stir, cover, and cook for an additional 10 minutes at a high temperature.
- Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces and stir into the sauce.
- Top with sesame seeds and serve over rice, if desired.
You might like to use our single serving recipes for baked white rice or baked brown rice.
Single Serving Rice Cooking Tip: Freeze & Reheat
Make meal prep a breeze by cooking a large batch of either brown or white rice. Once cooked, distribute the rice into individual portions using a muffin pan. After freezing, remove the rice “discs” and store them in a zip-top freezer bag. Now, whenever you need a single serving of rice, you can easily reheat one of these pre-portioned discs. This method is perfect for those who love convenience without sacrificing quality.
Expert Tips
- Spice to Taste: Don’t hesitate to adjust the quantity of spices like red pepper flakes to match your flavor preferences.
- Sauce Consistency: If the sauce thickens more than you’d like, simply dilute it with a dash of water or chicken broth.
- Choice of Chicken: While chicken thighs are great for maintaining moisture and tenderness, a boneless, skinless chicken breast is a suitable alternative.
- Storing Leftovers: Keep any remaining Sesame Chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days.
- Scaling the Recipe: Want more servings? This recipe can be doubled, but you’ll need a slow cooker larger than 1.5 quarts. A 3-quart size is ideal for a doubled recipe.
What To Serve With Sesame Chicken
Elevate your single serving Slow Cooker Sesame Chicken meal with these carefully curated serving suggestions, ideal for complementing this delicious main course.
- Rice or Quinoa: Perfect for capturing every drop of that sumptuous sauce.
- Cauliflower Rice: A low-carb option that complements the flavors without weighing you down.
- A Side of Veggies: Think roasted brussels sprouts or sautéed green beans for a pop of color and extra nutrients.
Frequently Asked Questions
For optimal results in making small crock pot meals, a small 1.5-quart slow cooker is highly recommended.
If you only have a larger slow cooker but still wish to try out single serving recipes, here’s how to modify your appliance for smaller portions:
* Insert an oven-safe bowl into the base of the slow cooker.
* Add your ingredients to the bowl, and then cover the slow cooker with its lid.
* Proceed with cooking as per the recipe instructions.
* Remember, slow cookers operate best when they’re about 75% full.
* Choose an oven-safe bowl that will be two-thirds to three-quarters full when ingredients are added; otherwise, the food might cook too quickly and potentially burn.
Store any leftover Sesame Chicken in an airtight container and keep it in the refrigerator for up to three days.
More Mini Slow Cooker Recipes You’ll Love
If you’re a fan of this single serving Sesame Chicken dish, explore these other single serving slow cooker and crockpot recipes:
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 would like more information on the cooking and baking dishes I use in our “recipes for one”, please visit our FAQ page.
Examples of the dishes used at One Dish Kitchen can be found on our Store page.
RELATED: Easy Comfort Food 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!
Slow Cooker Sesame Chicken For One
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 into the base of a mini slow cooker.
- Sprinkle a pinch of salt and pepper over the tops of the chicken.
- In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the honey, soy sauce, ketchup, olive oil, dried onions, garlic and red pepper flakes.
- Pour the sauce over the chicken thighs. Cover the slow cooker and cook on low until the chicken is tender, 3-4 hours.
- Remove the chicken from the slow cooker and place on cutting board.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and water. Pour the cornstarch mixture into the sauce in the slow cooker. Stir, cover and cook for an additional 10 minutes on a high temperature.
- Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces and stir into the sauce.
- Top with sesame seeds and serve over rice, if desired. (See notes for the ingredients and instructions to make a single serving of rice).
Notes
- Spice to Taste: Don’t hesitate to adjust the quantity of spices like red pepper flakes to match your flavor preferences.
- Sauce Consistency: If the sauce thickens more than you’d like, simply dilute it with a dash of water or chicken broth.
- Choice of Chicken: While chicken thighs are great for maintaining moisture and tenderness, a boneless, skinless chicken breast is a suitable alternative.
- Storing Leftovers: Keep any remaining Sesame Chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days.
- Scaling the Recipe: Want more servings? This recipe can be doubled, but you’ll need a slow cooker larger than 1.5 quarts. A 3-quart size is ideal for a doubled recipe.
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.
This looks like a great recipe but I only have a large low cooker. Should I just double the recipe?
Thanks for your interest in our recipes. It’s great that you’re eager to try them out. Our slow cooker recipes are specifically tailored for a 1.5-quart slow cooker. If you’re using a larger, standard 6-quart slow cooker, simply doubling the recipe might not be the best solution, as the size difference is quite significant.
However, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! We have a helpful post on how to adapt small meals for a larger slow cooker. This guide will assist you in making adjustments so you can enjoy our recipes with your current appliance: https://onedishkitchen.com/cook-small-meals-in-slow-cooker/
For future reference, the ideal slow cooker size for our recipes is between 1.5 to 2 quarts. But for now, do check out the post for tips on using your larger slow cooker effectively.
Absolutely delicious
Made this for dinner tonight and my husband and I really liked it. Also made the baked white rice from this site and it turned out perfect. I did two thighs and it made enough for three small servings. I am always telling people about this site because the recipes are easy and really good.
Really like my new small crockpot. Would love to see more recipes other than the four chicken ones. I did find some on the internet but I prefer your recipes
Thank you, Kathleen. We’ll be adding new slow cooker recipes soon. In the meantime, you might like to try our slow cooker red beans and rice recipe: https://onedishkitchen.com/slow-cooker-red-beans-and-rice-for-one/ or our slow cooker meatloaf in addition to our chicken recipes: https://onedishkitchen.com/slow-cooker-meatloaf-for-one/
I made this last night and my husband loved it. The sauce is so good.
Just made it, thank you, really lovely x
Fantastic I made as per recipe only using half as much honey for dietary reasons and served over cauliflower rice for a low/no carb dinner which I thoroughly enjoyed. Very little time to make and the crock pot/slow cooker did all the work couldn’t ask for better thank you made for What’s On The Menu tag game at FF&F.
Is it possible to make the sauce and pour over the chicken and freeze it. Then place it in the refrigerator the night before to slightly thaw, then throw in the crockpot the next morning?
Yes.
I too have a 1.5 quart slow cooker. Thank you for having recipes that I can use in it.
I got mine for a local thrift shop down the street!
Thank you again!!!
God Bless you!,
Have been looking for 1.5 qt crock pot recipes. So happy to find your site. The recipe looks so good. If I use chicken breasts instead of thighs would I need to shorten the cooking time?
No, the cooking time stays the same. Enjoy!