Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken Thighs
5 Comments Feb 15, 2025
Updated Mar 16, 2025
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Make tender, flavorful teriyaki chicken thighs in the slow cooker that rival your favorite restaurant! With the perfect balance of sweet and savory, my go-to teriyaki sauce brings authentic flavor to every bite.
Table of Contents
There are unlimited ideas for the slow cooker, but yummy classics like this teriyaki chicken thigh recipe will always be a staple. My idea for the flavors in this dish come from my highly popular recipe for crockpot teriyaki beef, which gets rave reviews (and very simple to make as well).
The Ingredients:
- Teriyaki sauce – I use Soy Vay Veri Veri Teriyaki, which is on the thin side, not gloppy or overly salty. It is sweet, and perfectly balanced with plenty of sesame seeds.
- Chicken Thighs – These cut of chicken may be one of the cheapest to buy and the most flavorful. You can find where to get this teriyaki sauce here.
- {The full recipe is in the recipe card below the images}
How to make Teriyaki Chicken Thighs in the Crockpot:
- Add oil to a hot pan and brown the chicken thighs, no need to cook through.
- Add the chicken thighs to the slow cooker.
- Pour over the soy vay teriyaki sauce.
- Cook on low for 5-6 hours or until the chicken is fall off the bone tender.
Variations
Many ways to make this recipe to your tastes:
- Boneless skinless chicken thighs work well in this recipe as well.
- Vegetables that go well with this are sliced onion, mushrooms,bell pepper, sugar snap peas and carrots.
- Other flavors that can be added are garlic, honey, brown sugar and ginger.
My Serving Suggestions
Here are my favorite ways to serve this easy chicken recipe:
- Serve the teriyaki chicken thighs over steamed white rice. We love jasmine rice with this dish. And of course goes great with fried rice. Drizzle over the extra sauce from the crockpot.
- Pair with stir fry noodles, rice noodles or rice noodles.
- Other great side dishes are macaroni salad and fresh pineapple.
- The chicken can also be shredded (skins and bones removed) and served on buns or slider buns.
Storing Tips:
- You can store this chicken for up to three days in the fridge, or freezer for up to three months.
- Reheat in the microwave in 30 seconds increments until hot.
More Teriyaki recipes:
- Here are some teriyaki-inspired recipes to try: Slow Cooker Teriyaki Meatballs make a perfect appetizer, Crockpot Teriyaki Chicken is a simple yet flavorful dinner, Slow Cooker Teriyaki Ribs are fall-off-the-bone delicious, and Teriyaki Pork Chops bring bold flavors to the table.
- For island-inspired dishes, Hawaiian Haystacks and Slow Cooker Huli Huli Chicken bring a taste of the tropics to your kitchen.
Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken Thighs
Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken Thighs are tender, flavorful, and coated in a rich, savory-sweet sauce—perfect over rice or noodles!
Ingredients
- 2-3 lbs. Bone-in chicken thighs
- 2 Tbsp. cooking oil
- 1 cup Veri Veri Teriyaki Sauce, (see my notes on how to use this)
For Serving
- rice (white or fried rice)
- garnish ideas, more sesame seeds and chives or green onion?
Instructions
- Set a large skillet over medium high heat. When the pan is hot, add the cooking oil.
- Brown the chicken thighs on both sides and add to the slow cooker.
- Pour over the teriyaki sauce.
- Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 5-6 hours or until the chicken is tender.
- Serve with rice and enjoy!
Sarah’s Notes
- When you open the Veri Veri Teriyaki sauce, the sesame seeds will be stuck on top. I place butter knife in the top and swirl it around. Then replace the lid and shake, then measure it out.
- You can store this chicken for up to three days in the fridge, or freezer for up to three months. Reheat in the microwave in 30 seconds increments until hot.
- Boneless skinless chicken thighs work well in this recipe as well.
- Vegetables that go well with this are sliced onion, mushrooms,bell pepper, sugar snap peas and carrots.
- Other flavors that can be added are garlic, honey, brown sugar and ginger.
- Serve the teriyaki chicken thighs over steamed white rice. We love jasmine rice with this dish. And of course goes great with fried rice. Drizzle over the extra sauce from the crockpot.
- Pair with stir fry noodles, rice noodles or rice noodles.
- Other great side dishes are macaroni salad and fresh pineapple.
- The chicken can also be shredded (skins and bones removed) and served on buns or slider buns.
Nutrition
Calories: 256kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Cholesterol: 97mg | Sodium: 2014mg | Potassium: 667mg | Fiber: 0.05g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 45IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 20mg | Iron: 1mg
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
Made this recipe? Leave a comment below!
Can you use bone in thighs? Increase time?
I apologize for the confusion; it is supposed to be bone-in thighs. I fixed the recipe.
Thighs or breasts? The discussion starts with thighs, but the actual recipe lists breasts. I would use thighs, but I thought I would point it out. I know this will be yummy one way or the other.
The recipe printed out but not your NOTES??? What did I do wrong?
They should be there, it may be on a second page that didn’t print.