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Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken

Even better than takeout, this slow cooker teriyaki chicken is made with simple ingredients for an unbelievably easy recipe. Pair it with all your favorite sides for a filling weeknight meal! 

Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken over rice in a bowl
Slow cooker teriyaki chicken makes for a great meal prep recipe to enjoy throughout the week.

What Is Teriyaki Chicken? 

Traditionally, the term teriyaki is used to refer to a Japanese cooking technique in which meat is grilled or broiled with a teriyaki sauce consisting of soy sauce, mirin, and sugar. However, today, chicken teriyaki is a term used to refer to any chicken that has been coated in a homemade or store-bought teriyaki sauce regardless of how it is cooked. As a result, there are many different versions of chicken teriyaki including this slow cooker recipe, grilled teriyaki chicken, and even stovetop teriyaki chicken

Is It Healthy? 

A high-protein recipe, slow cooker chicken teriyaki is made with mostly healthy ingredients. As a result, it is a fairly nutritious dish, especially when it is paired with sides like air fryer broccoli or roasted vegetables.

Simple Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken Ingredients

For this version, we opted to create our own sauce, but don’t worry! We kept the ingredient list short and simple. Here’s everything you’ll need: 

  • High-quality boneless chicken thighs provide tons of flavor and keep this dish extra juicy and tender. If preferred, chicken breasts could be used as well – they’ll still be tasty, but they’re not as forgiving in terms of tenderness.
  • Cornstarch is first dissolved in water and then added to the sauce as a gluten-free thickening agent. 
  • Soy sauce, white sugar, brown sugar, and mirin are also added to the mix to create a sweet, tangy, and slightly salty taste that’s out-of-this-world delicious. 
  • For even more flavor and a bit of an extra kick, minced garlic, grated ginger, and a pinch of black pepper are stirred in with the rest of the ingredients. 
  • For an Instagram-worthy presentation and a bit of texture, chopped scallions and toasted sesame seeds are sprinkled on top. 

Pro-Tips to Make the Best Slow Cooked Chicken Teriyaki 

Thanks to the use of the slow cooker, this chicken teriyaki is magnificently tender and so easy to make! 

  • Nearly cover the chicken. Pour the teriyaki sauce over the chicken, stopping just before it is completely submerged. This will help keep it tender and moist as it cooks! 
  • Save the sauce for later. Double the ingredients for the sauce, and save the leftovers for serving your chicken. Or, pair it with other meals like fish, shrimp, veggies, and more!  
  • Be careful not to overcook! If you need to have your chicken cook longer than 3 hours, use a low setting, and adjust the cooking time as needed. This will help prevent it from drying out and becoming tough. 
  • Shred carefully. You want to use two forks to shred the chicken into bite-sized pieces. However, keep in mind that it will continue to break up when combined with the sauce. So, you don’t want to shred it too small! 

Make Ahead and Storage Options

This slow cooker chicken teriyaki makes for great meal prep to enjoy throughout the week:

To Store: Once cooled, transfer the chicken to an airtight container, and store it in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. 

To Freeze: Kept in an airtight container, leftovers can be frozen for up to 3 months. Just be sure to let them thaw in the fridge overnight when you’re ready to eat. 

To Reheat: To enjoy, warm leftovers in a skillet over medium heat. Or, just pop them in the microwave until your desired temperature is reached. 

Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken over rice in a bowl
Serve slow cooker teriyaki chicken over a bed of fluffy rice for a mouthwatering meal.

Common Questions About Slow Cooked Teriyaki Chicken

Is it safe to cook chicken teriyaki in a slow cooker?

As long as the chicken is fully thawed, it is safe to cook in a slow cooker. To ensure it is fully cooked, use a meat thermometer to check that it has reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit before serving. 

Can you add vegetables to the slow cooker?

Yes, if you want to turn this dish into a one-pot dinner, feel free to add your favorite vegetables to the slow cooker for the last 20-30 minutes of cooking. 

What should I serve with slow cooker teriyaki chicken?

To turn this slow cooker chicken teriyaki into a complete meal, try serving it over a bed of sticky rice or lo mein noodles. Then, add a side of sautéed cabbage or butter and garlic mushrooms for extra nutrients!  

Did you make this?

Please give us a rating and comment below. We love hearing from you!

Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken over rice in a bowl

Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken

5 from 48 ratings
Even better than takeout, this slow cooker teriyaki chicken is made with simple ingredients for an unbelievably easy recipe. Pair it with all your favorite sides for a filling weeknight meal!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 3 hours
Total Time: 3 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 6
Author: Amy Dong

Ingredients  

  • 3 lbs chicken thighs, boneless, skinless
  • 3 TB cornstarch, divided
  • ¾ cups Tamari sauce, or regular soy sauce
  • ¾ cups white sugar
  • cups brown sugar, tightly packed
  • cups mirin, Japanese sweet rice wine; not rice vinegar
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 T ginger, freshly grated
  • 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 TB water
  • Optional: Chopped scallions and toasted sesame seeds for garnish

Instructions

  • In a bowl, whisk together 1 TB cornstarch, soy sauce, granulated sugar, brown sugar, mirin, garlic, ginger, and black pepper. Whisk until smooth.
  • Place the chicken thighs in a single layer in the slow cooker. Pour enough sauce to almost cover the top of chicken. (Save any leftover for boiling after the chicken is cooked or keep it in fridge for future use.)
  • Cook on high for 3 hours, on low for 5 hours, or just until chicken is cooked through. To keep meat tender, don't overcook.
  • Remove the chicken with slotted spoon, and gently shred or cut into pieces. (Don't shred too finely, as it will break up more in the sauce.)
  • Transfer the sauce from the slow cooker into a saucepan. Dissolve 2 TB cornstarch in 2 TB water. Add the mixture to the saucepan, stirring well. Bring to a low boil, stirring continuously, until sauce is thickened.
  • Pour sauce over chicken and rice. Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds, if desired.

Equipment

Notes

  • We highly recommend using chicken thighs, as they’ll yield much more tender results than chicken breasts would; chicken breasts tend to dry out in a slow cooker.
  • If you enjoyed this recipe, come back and give it a rating ♡

Nutrition (per serving)

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 368kcal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 47g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Cholesterol: 215mg | Sodium: 581mg | Potassium: 638mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 40g | Vitamin A: 55IU | Vitamin C: 0.3mg | Calcium: 39mg | Iron: 3mg
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Asian
Diet: Gluten Free
Method: Crockpot, Slow Cooker

More to Cook and Eat

5 from 48 votes (36 ratings without comment)

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160 comments

    • Karen Sala

    chicken tenders breaded and fried . so so good,,,,

    • Kenneth Norred
    • 5 stars

    I can’t wait to try this slow cooker chicken teriyaki recipe, I love teriyaki every other way! Thanks for sharing.

      • chewoutloud

      You’re so welcome, Kenneth! I love all teriyaki, too 🙂 Hope you like it as much as we do!

    • Maroula Spagnuolo

    Hello this is on my list to cook this week for dinner. Looks super yum.
    Just wanted to ask, would it change the flavour if I put less sugar?

    thanks

      • chewoutloud

      Maroula, you can put a bit less sugar without altering flavor too much. Alternatively, you can try using agave nectar or honey as well. Hope you enjoy it and thanks for being here today! 🙂

        • Maroula Spagnuolo

        Thank you.

        So I made this last night for my husband and my parents… it was yum.
        I put less than 1/2 cup white sugar and less than 1/3 cup brown sugar…I reckon I could put even less…

        Also next time I think I might try doing half normal soy and half low sodium, it was too intense flavour for me, but everyone else liked it…

        Thanks for the recipe 🙂

        • chewoutloud

        Yay, so glad you guys liked this, Maroula! 🙂 Thanks for taking a moment to let us know; hope you continue finding recipes you love here! 🙂

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