Honey Garlic Chicken Wings (Slow Cooker)
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I developed this recipe out of a desire to please my youngest child (aka picky eater) who loved wings, but didn’t like too many spices. These Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Wings are simply irresistible, with fall-off-the-bone tender meat coated in a sweet and savory glaze. They are easy to prepare in the slow cooker which makes them even more of a favorite for me.
Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Glazed Wings
If you’re a fan of Asian food and love chicken wings, you’re in for a real treat. This slow cooker chicken wing recipe infuses tender and juicy wings with a sweet and savory Asian sauce. And the best part is that this is a super easy recipe that comes together in just a few minutes and is less messy than frying them.
Simply toss the wings in the bottom of the crock pot with the sauce ingredients, and let them simmer until tender. By slow-cooking them, it allows all those scrumptious flavors to meld together while the sauce thickens and perfectly coats the wings. My daughter loves them so much I put this on our dinner rotation through the year.
Whether they’re served as a hearty party appetizer with these Crockpot Meatballs or these Bacon Wrapped Smokies, or served as a main dish, these honey garlic wings are sure to be a hit with the entire family.
Why You’ll Love This Slow Cooker Recipe
- Easy to prepare – Preparing wings in the crockpot is the easiest way to cook them because it does all the heavy lifting for you. You just set it and forget it.
- Less mess than frying – A lot of wing recipes call for frying the wings in peanut or vegetable oil, which makes a mess. This recipe solves that.
- A tasty twist on classic wings – The Asian flavors of the sauce are a delicious alternative to wings with traditional Buffalo sauce.
Ingredients for Slow Cooker Garlic Chicken Wings
- Fresh chicken wings – To make it easier, buy wings that are already separated into drumettes and flats.
- Honey – Sweetens and thickens the sauce.
- Low sodium or lite soy sauce – Gives the sauce a wonderful Asian flavor.
- Fresh Garlic cloves – You can buy fresh garlic or minced garlic in the jar.
- Brown sugar – Adds extra sweetness and flavor to the sauce. You can use light or dark brown sugar.
How to Make Crockpot Honey Garlic Wings
Step One: Add the Wings to the Slow Cooker
- Place all the wings in the bottom of your slow cooker.
Step Two: Add the Sauce
- In a small bowl combine the honey, soy sauce, garlic, and brown sugar.
- Reserve ¼ cup of the sauce.
- Pour the honey garlic sauce over the wings.
Step Three: Cook the Wings
- Cook on low for 4-6 hours or on high for 2-3 hours or until tender.
Step Four: (Optional) Caramelize The Sauce
- Place the wings on a baking sheet lined with foil or parchment paper.
- Brush them with the reserved sauce and broil until glazy.
- Serve and enjoy.
Suggestions and Alternatives
- Spicy honey garlic wings – Add a kick of heat by adding a pinch of red pepper flakes, sriracha sauce, or a dash of cayenne pepper into the sauce mixture
- Sesame Seeds – Sprinkle toasted sesame seeds over the wings before serving to add a nutty flavored garnish.
- Ginger – Grate fresh ginger or add a pinch of ground ginger into the sauce mixture for added flavor.
- Orange zest – Add grated orange zest to the sauce for a citrusy flavor.
- Green onions – Garnish the finished wings with thinly sliced green onions for a pop of color and freshness.
- Pineapple juice – Replace some of the honey with pineapple juice for a tropical flavor that pairs well with the garlic and soy sauce.
- Sesame oil – Drizzle a small amount of toasted sesame oil into the sauce for added Asian flavor. Be careful though, a little goes a long way.
- Teriyaki glaze – Combine the honey garlic sauce with a bit of teriyaki sauce for a delicious twist.
- Other seasonings – Feel free to add other herbs and seasonings such as onion powder, paprika, lemon pepper or Five Spice powder.
Storage Instructions
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3–4 days. You can also freeze leftovers in a freezer-safe container for a couple of months.
Chicken Wing FAQs
There are about 4 to 5 chicken wings per pound, depending on their size. If you’re serving them as a main course with side dishes, you can estimate about 6–8 chicken wings per person.
You can serve these wings with a simple side salad, green beans, the traditional ranch dressing or blue cheese dressing with carrots and celery sticks. Here are some other delicious sides to choose from:
Carrot Raisin Salad
Air Fryer Parmesan Potatoes
German Potato Salad
Mac and Cheese
Zucchini Fritters
Instant Pot Jasmine Rice (great with extra sauce drizzled over the top)
The actual cooking time may vary depending on their size. To determine if they are done, gently poke one of the wings with a fork or knife. The meat should be tender and easily pulled away from the bone. If it’s still tough and doesn’t easily come off the bone, the wings may need more time to cook.
More Delicious Chicken Recipes
- Chicken Tetrazzini
- Crack Chicken Soup
- Chinese Chicken Salad
- Chicken Tortilla Soup
- Homemade Chicken and Dumplings
- Neiman Marcus Salad
- Chicken Enchiladas
- Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas
- Slow Cooker Southwest Chicken
- Copycat Chick-fil-a Chicken
Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken Wings
Ingredients
- 2-3 pounds fresh chicken wings
- 1 cup honey
- ½ cup low sodium or lite soy sauce
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
Instructions
- In your slow cooker place all the wings.2-3 pounds fresh chicken wings
- In a small bowl combine the honey, soy sauce, garlic and brown sugar.1 cup honey, ½ cup low sodium or lite soy sauce, 4 garlic cloves, ⅓ cup brown sugar
- Reserve ¼ cup of the sauce.
- Pour over the wings.
- Cook on low for 4-6 hours until tender.
- Optional; Place the wings on a foil lined baking sheet. Brush them with the reserved sauce and broil until glazy.
Nutrition
Did You Make This Recipe?
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I was extremely disappointed in this recipe. My sauce did not thicken at all. I had to transfer it to a sauce pan and add a roue . The wings looked anemic and had to be cooked again in my airfryer to get a semblance of “crispy”. I am a Buffalo Chicken Wing girl from Buffalo, New York, no comparison. I shredded the recipe
This looks perfect for 3lbs of wings I have to cook today. I’ve been looking for this, my dad used to make these. I’ll drain them and throw in the air fryer a few minutes at the end to crisp them
I plan to make these for New Year’s Eve. I will add cornstarch to the sauce (a recommendation from another recipe I have) to avoid disappointment. I would never skip the broiling step as the crockpot is intended to cook for tenderness not crispiness. I can’t wait to try the delicious sounding sauce! Will let you know how it goes!
As promised…made these AMAZING wings and my husband is HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY! The house smells so good, too!
I added cornstarch to the sauce and then reduce a small amount in the stove to make the glaze for broiling. Truly an amazing recipe!
Can’t figure out how to attach a picture. It tells the story of success!
So glad they were a hit!
I kinda confused. Put wings in slow cooker and left them cook ? What do I put down so they don’t burn when I am out
You don’t need anything under them. Slow cookers heat gently and create their own moisture as the wings cook. They won’t burn, even if you’re out.