The Perfect Slow Cooker Chicken Teriyaki Recipe for Busy Weeknights

Slow cooker chicken teriyaki turns ordinary weeknight dinners into a flavor-packed celebration of culinary simplicity.

This Asian-inspired dish changes humble ingredients into a mouthwatering meal that dances between sweet and savory.

Kitchen magic happens when tender chicken meets a rich, glossy sauce that caramelizes beautifully during slow cooking.

Minimal effort yields maximum taste, making it perfect for home cooks seeking delicious shortcuts.

The recipe balances convenience with restaurant-quality results that will impress family and friends.

Complex flavors emerge from straightforward techniques, proving gourmet meals don’t require complicated processes.

Smart Shortcuts for Flavor-Packed Results

• Maximize Flavor Absorption: Cut chicken into uniform chunks to ensure even cooking and better sauce penetration.
• Control Sauce Consistency: Adjust cornstarch slurry carefully to prevent sauce from becoming too thick or runny; start with small amounts and gradually mix.
• Enhance Depth of Taste: Use low-sodium soy sauce to manage salt levels and allow other ingredients to shine through.
• Prevent Overcooking: Check chicken's internal temperature reaches 165°F to guarantee food safety without drying out meat.
• Boost Garnish Impact: Toast sesame seeds or slice green onions diagonally to add visual appeal and extra texture to the final dish.

How to Keep That Glaze Shiny and Chicken Juicy

• Refrigeration: Transfer leftover chicken teriyaki into an airtight container within two hours of cooking. Store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, keeping the sauce and chicken together to maintain moisture and flavor.
• Freezing: Seal cooled chicken teriyaki in freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty freezer bags. Remove excess air to prevent freezer burn. Freeze for maximum 3 months. Label the container with the date to track freshness.
• Reheating: Warm refrigerated chicken teriyaki in the microwave using 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval to distribute heat evenly. Alternatively, reheat in a skillet over medium-low heat, adding a splash of water or chicken broth to prevent drying.

Noodles or Rice? Best Matches for This Meal

• Pair with Crisp Sake: Select a chilled junmai or ginjo sake to complement the sweet and savory teriyaki chicken, cutting through its rich flavors with a clean, smooth finish.
• Match with Asian Slaw Salad: Create a tangy cabbage and carrot slaw dressed in rice vinegar and sesame oil to balance the chicken's sweetness and provide a refreshing crunch.
• Serve Alongside Jasmine Rice Pilaf: Prepare jasmine rice with toasted sesame seeds and a hint of ginger to absorb the teriyaki sauce's delicious flavors and provide a perfect base for the shredded chicken.
• Enhance with Japanese Beer Pairing: Choose a light Sapporo or Asahi beer to refresh the palate and harmonize with the dish's umami-rich teriyaki sauce, creating a delightful meal experience.

Make It Spicy, Sticky, or Extra Sweet—Your Call

• Spicy Kick Chicken: Add sriracha sauce or red pepper flakes to the original teriyaki mixture for a bold, fiery flavor that brings extra excitement to the dish.
• Pineapple Paradise Chicken: Incorporate chunks of fresh pineapple into the slow cooker for a tropical sweetness that complements the teriyaki sauce perfectly.
• Ginger Garlic Explosion: Double the amount of minced garlic and fresh ginger to create an intensely aromatic version that packs a powerful flavor punch.
• Honey Sesame Upgrade: Replace brown sugar with honey and sprinkle toasted sesame seeds on top for a nutty, rich undertone that elevates the classic recipe.

Why This Teriyaki Chicken Is Crockpot Gold

• Create Effortless Flavor Explosion: Slow cooker method transforms simple chicken into a mouthwatering meal with minimal effort, infusing rich teriyaki taste without constant monitoring.
• Achieve Tender Texture Perfection: Low and slow cooking breaks down chicken fibers, resulting in incredibly soft, easily shreddable meat that melts in your mouth with each delicious bite.
• Customize Your Culinary Adventure: Versatile recipe allows serving over rice, noodles, or with stir-fry vegetables, making it a flexible dinner option for busy families and food lovers seeking quick, nutritious meals.

Sweet, Savory, and All the Right Stuff

• Chicken Breasts: Tender meat that absorbs flavors and forms the base of the dish, best when fresh and free from excessive fat.

• Soy Sauce, Brown Sugar: Provides deep umami flavor and sweet balance, choose low-sodium soy sauce for controlled saltiness.
• Rice Vinegar: Adds tangy brightness and helps tenderize the chicken, look for clear and mild variety.

• Garlic, Ground Ginger: Aromatic ingredients that bring depth and traditional Asian flavor profile, fresh garlic and ginger provide more intense taste.

• Cornstarch, Water: Creates smooth sauce consistency and helps thicken teriyaki sauce, use cold water for best mixing results.

• Green Onions: Fresh topping that adds color and mild onion flavor, choose bright green and crisp stalks.

Your Set-It-and-Forget-It Guide to Tender Perfection

Step 1: Prepare Chicken Base

Place chicken breasts in a 4-quart slow cooker, ensuring they are evenly spread across the bottom.

Step 2: Create Teriyaki Marinade

• Soy sauce
• Brown sugar
• Rice vinegar
• Minced garlic
• Ground ginger

Pour the marinade evenly over the chicken.

Step 3: Slow Cook the Chicken

Cover the slow cooker and set to low heat. Cook for 4-5 hours until chicken becomes tender and easily shreddable.

Step 4: Remove and Rest Chicken

Transfer chicken pieces to a cutting board or plate.

Step 5: Prepare Sauce Thickener

In a small bowl, mix cornstarch with warm water to create a smooth slurry.

Step 6: Thicken Teriyaki Sauce

Gradually add the cornstarch mixture into the remaining sauce in the slow cooker. Stir continuously while keeping the cooker on warm setting until sauce reaches desired thickness.

Step 7: Shred and Coat Chicken

Using two forks, shred the cooked chicken. Return shredded chicken to the slow cooker and mix thoroughly to coat with sauce.

Step 8: Garnish and Serve

Sprinkle chopped green onions on top. Serve over steamed rice or noodles with stir-fried vegetables.

Slow Cooker Chicken Teriyaki Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.6 from 15 reviews

• Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Japanese-inspired slow cooker chicken teriyaki delivers a symphony of sweet and savory flavors that dance across your palate. Tender chicken bathes in a glossy, umami-rich sauce, promising a delightful meal you’ll crave again and again.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Proteins:

• 3 pounds (1.36 kilograms) boneless, skinless chicken breasts (cut into chunks)

Sauce Ingredients:

• ¼ cup (60 milliliters) low-sodium soy sauce
• ¼ cup (50 grams) brown sugar
• ¼ cup (60 milliliters) rice vinegar
• ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
• 2 cloves minced garlic

Thickening and Garnish:

• 4 teaspoons cornstarch
• ¼ cup (60 milliliters) warm water
• ¼ cup (15 grams) finely chopped green onions

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Carefully arrange boneless, skinless chicken breasts in a single layer at the bottom of a 4-quart (3.8-liter) slow cooker, ensuring even placement for consistent cooking.
2. In a medium mixing bowl, combine low-sodium soy sauce, dark brown sugar, unseasoned rice vinegar, finely minced fresh garlic, and ground ginger. Whisk ingredients until the sugar dissolves completely and creates a smooth, integrated marinade.
3. Pour the prepared teriyaki marinade evenly over the chicken pieces, ensuring each piece gets thoroughly coated with the flavorful liquid.
4. Secure the slow cooker lid and cook on low temperature setting for 4 to 5 hours, allowing the chicken to become tender and absorb the rich teriyaki flavors.
5. Once cooking time concludes, carefully remove chicken pieces and transfer to a large cutting board, leaving the remaining sauce in the slow cooker.
6. Create a cornstarch slurry by whisking cornstarch with warm water until completely smooth and free of lumps.
7. Gradually pour the cornstarch mixture into the sauce within the slow cooker, stirring continuously to prevent clumping and promote even thickening.
8. Maintain the slow cooker on warm setting while stirring, watching the sauce transform into a glossy, viscous consistency.
9. Using two forks, shred the cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces, then return the shredded meat back into the thickened teriyaki sauce.
10. Gently fold the chicken to ensure each piece becomes thoroughly coated with the glossy sauce.
11. Sprinkle freshly chopped green onions over the teriyaki chicken for a vibrant garnish and added layer of flavor.
12. Serve hot over steamed jasmine rice or wheat noodles, accompanied by stir-fried seasonal vegetables.

Notes

• Cooking chicken in a slow cooker ensures tender, flavor-packed meat without constant monitoring.
• Whisking sauce ingredients beforehand creates a smooth, well-blended marinade that penetrates every chicken chunk.
• Cornstarch slurry acts as a magical thickening agent, transforming thin liquid into a glossy, restaurant-quality teriyaki sauce.
• Shredding chicken allows maximum sauce coverage, guaranteeing each bite bursts with sweet and savory teriyaki flavors.
• Green onion garnish provides a fresh, crisp contrast to the rich, caramelized chicken, elevating the dish’s visual and taste appeal.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 4 hours
• Category: Dinner, Lunch
• Method: Slow Cooking
• Cuisine: Japanese

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 315 kcal
• Sugar: 24 g
• Sodium: 657 mg
• Fat: 3 g
• Saturated Fat: 1 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 52 g
• Fiber: <1 g
• Protein: 28 g
• Cholesterol: 70 mg