Slow Cooker Honey Teriyaki Chicken
Coming of age in the High Mall Era meant the food court was the first stop before buying a new halter top or catching Freddie Prinze Jr.’s latest flick. Despite being a mall regular, I always debated between choosing the oversized pizza slice or sticky-sweet chicken teriyaki. Chicken teriyaki always won. Today, I rarely make it into a mall, but on days when my energy is low and the need to feed my family is high, the urge for chicken teriyaki takeout is strong
lthough the name hints at Japanese ancestry (teri means to shine, and yaki to broil or grill), this is clearly a busy mom’s take on the ubiquitous mall chicken with barely a whiff of authenticity. Chicken teriyaki might not seem like an obvious weeknight meal, but teriyaki sauce is just a mixture of soy sauce, rice vinegar, sweetener, garlic, and ginger, thickened with a simple cornstarch slurry.
INGREDIENTS
2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs (about 6), cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
1/2 medium yellow onion, diced (about 1 cup)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup tamari or soy sauce
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup rice vinegar
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon grated peeled fresh ginger
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons cornstarch
For serving: cooked rice, red pepper flakes, sesame seeds, sliced scallions
INSTRUCTIONS
Arrange the chicken in a single layer in the bottom of a 6-quart or larger slow cooker. Scatter the onion and garlic over the top. Whisk the soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, pepper, and ginger together in a small bowl and pour over the chicken.
Cover and cook on the LOW setting for 2 to 3 hours or on the HIGH setting for 1 to 2 hours. The chicken is done when an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest piece registers 165°F.
Using a slotted spoon, transfer the chicken to a bowl. Pour the sauce left in the slow cooker into a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cook until reduced by half, 15 to 20 minutes. Meanwhile, whisk the water and cornstarch together in a small bowl. Once the sauce has reduced, whisk the cornstarch slurry into the sauce and cook until thickened, 1 to 2 minutes.
Return the chicken to the slow cooker and pour in enough sauce to coat the chicken. Reserve any remaining sauce for leftovers. Serve over cooked rice and garnish with red pepper flakes, sesame seeds, and scallions.
RECIPE NOTES
Storage: Refrigerate leftover chicken and sauce in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Make ahead: The chicken and sauce can be made 1 day in advance and refrigerated in an airtight container. Warm in a saucepan over medium-low heat or in the microwave before serving.
source : thekitchn.com