This Slow Cooker Hot Honey Chicken is the perfect dump-and-go meal for busy days, feeding a crowd, and meal planning. The shredded chicken is blended with a sweet and spicy homemade hot honey sauce that blows away any restaurant version. The hot honey shredded chicken makes delicious crockpot sliders for game day, better-for-you meal prep, and easy dinners.
For specifics on the recipe use the table of contents to click on sections of the recipe.
Jump to:
- Why you'll love Slow Cooker Hot Honey Chicken
- Ingredients to make Crockpot Hot Honey Chicken
- Kitchen Tools to Make Slow Cooker Hot Honey Shredded Chicken
- How to make Slow Cooker Hot Honey Chicken
- Eileen's Tips for the best Hot Honey Chicken
- Make-ahead, storage, and freezer tips for Crockpot Hot Honey Chicken
- Slow Cooker Hot Honey FAQs
- Variations for Hot Honey Shredded Chicken
- How to Serve Hot Honey Shredded Chicken
- What to serve with Hot Honey Chicken Sandwiches
- More Easy Dump and Go Slow Cooker Recipes
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
Why you'll love Slow Cooker Hot Honey Chicken
- Dump and Go Crockpot Recipe: Slow Cooker Hot Honey Chicken Sandwiches are an easy set-and-forget crockpot recipe.
- Crowd Pleasing Recipe: Hot honey chicken sandwiches are perfect for family gatherings, game day meals, and potlucks.
Ingredients to make Crockpot Hot Honey Chicken
- boneless skinless chicken breasts
- cayenne pepper
- smoked paprika
- garlic salt
- light brown sugar
- honey
- white vinegar
- unsalted butter
- hamburger buns
- sliced pickles, optional garnish
- non-stick cooking spray
Kitchen Tools to Make Slow Cooker Hot Honey Shredded Chicken
- Slow Cooker
- Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls
- Measuring Spoons and Cups
- meat claw
How to make Slow Cooker Hot Honey Chicken
This is an overview of the recipe. The full instructions are below in the recipe card.
- Spray the slow cooker with some non-stick spray.
- Whisk together the cayenne pepper, paprika, and garlic salt.
- Sprinkle seasoning all over the chicken. Place chicken in the slow cooker.
- Sprinkle brown sugar, drizzle the honey, and pour the vinegar over the chicken. Place pieces of the butter on the chicken.
- Cook on low for 4 hours or high for 2 hours.
- Once cooked, use meat claws or forks to shred the chicken. Add the chicken back to the slow cooker in the juices,
- Serve on soft buns with pickle slices.
Eileen's Tips for the best Hot Honey Chicken
- Spice Level: This recipe is mild on the heat scale. If you like things spicy, slowly increase the cayenne pepper until you reach the desired heat. If you prefer a milder flavor, decrease the cayenne pepper to ½ tablespoon or even less if desired.
- Easy Clean-up: I spray my slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray or a slow cooker liner for easy clean-up.
- Slow Cooker Temperature: I recommend cooking the chicken on low to have tender chicken.
- Serving this chicken for a party? Keep it warm in the slow cooker and allow your guests to make sandwiches as they go.
- Sauce: If you prefer a thicker sauce, you can add a cornstarch slurry (1 tablespoon water and 1 tablespoon cornstarch) to the sauce and let it simmer for about 5 minutes over medium heat to thicken. Or add it back to the slow cooker and let it simmer for about 10 to 15 minutes to thicken.
Make-ahead, storage, and freezer tips for Crockpot Hot Honey Chicken
Leftovers: The shredded chicken should be stored in a covered airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Freezer: To freeze, place the shredded chicken in a freezer-safe bag or container and freeze for up to 3 months.
Reheating: Microwave on high for 2-3 minutes or stovetop in a pan over medium heat until warmed.
Slow Cooker Hot Honey FAQs
Yes, you can use frozen chicken for this recipe. Make sure to cook it until it is done and shreds easily.
Yes, raw chicken can be cooked in a slow cooker. The internal temperature needs to reach 165°F/74°C .
This recipe can easily be made ahead of time. Just follow the recipe instructions and store the chicken in an airtight container in the fridge. Reheat the chicken when you are ready to serve.
Variations for Hot Honey Shredded Chicken
Do you want to change up this recipe?
- Chipotle Flavor: Omit the cayenne pepper and paprika and add 1 tablespoon of chipotle powder.
- Sweet Hot Chicken Sandwiches: Increase the paprika to 2 tablespoons and add 1 teaspoon of ground ginger.
- Oven Baked: If you don't have a slow cooker, cook this chicken in the oven. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Place chicken on a greased baking sheet and bake for 25-30 minutes or until cooked through. Then shred the chicken and follow the rest of the recipe instructions.
- Extra time to marinate? Marinate the chicken breasts in ½ cup of honey, 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar, and 1 tablespoon of olive oil for at least 30 minutes before cooking.
- Protein: I also use boneless chicken thighs to make this recipe. They are affordable and handle slow cooking very well.
How to Serve Hot Honey Shredded Chicken
- Hot Honey Chicken Bowls: Serve shredded chicken with quinoa or rice, along with roasted broccoli or roasted green beans.
- Hot Honey Shredded Chicken Sandwiches: On a toasted brioche bun with creamy cole slaw and extra pickles.
- Hot Honey Shredded Tacos or Burritos: Turn the hot honey shredded chicken into tacos with a shredded cabbage slaw or burritos.
- Slow Cooker Hot Honey Chicken can also be served over Homemade Mashed Potatoes or Egg Noodles.
What to serve with Hot Honey Chicken Sandwiches
- Broccoli Cauliflower Salad
- Instant Pot Corn on the Cob
- Bacon Ranch Potato Salad
- Spicy French Fries
- For an elegant twist, serve the chicken on soft brioche buns, sesame buns, pretzel buns, or Hawaiian sweet rolls
- You can also serve the chicken over rice or stuffed into a potato.
More Easy Dump and Go Slow Cooker Recipes
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Eileen xo
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need.
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Slow Cooker Hot Honey Chicken
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Equipment Needed:
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast trimmed of fat
- 2 Tablespoons light brown sugar
- 1 cup honey
- 1 Tablespoon white vinegar
- ¼ cup unsalted butter pieces cut in small pieces
- 8 hamburger buns optional
- sliced pickles optional garnish
- non-stick cooking spray
Instructions
- Spray the slow cooker vessel with non-stick cooking spray.
- In a small mixing bowl, whisk together 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika , and 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- Equally sprinkle the seasoning mix over 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast. Place the seasoned chicken in the bottom of the seasoned vessel in the slow cook
- Sprinkle 2 Tablespoons light brown sugar over the seasoned chicken breasts. Drizzle 1 cup honey and 1 Tablespoon white vinegar over the seasoned chicken.
- Next, place ¼ cup unsalted butter pieces over the chicken. Place the lid on the slow cooker vessel.
- Cook on low for 4 hours or high for 2 hours. Note 1
- Once cooked, use meat claws or forks to shred the chicken. Add the chicken back into the juices in the slow cooker.
- Serve on 8 hamburger buns with sliced pickles. Great as quesadillas, burritos, over rice, or noodles.
Jessica A. Hall
This recipe has quickly become a staple in our house! Absolutely perfect balance of sweet and spicy! We use bread and butter pickles on ours to add a little extra sweetness. Thank you for sharing! <3
Eileen Murphy Kelly
Wonderful, Jessica. Glad you enjoy the recipe.
Raven
I absolutely love this but I was wondering if you have a suggestion for a sauce to go on the sandwich. Ex: a creamy ranch or bbq sauce or what to make it not just meat,bun, and pickle.
Eileen Murphy Kelly
Cole Slaw would be a nice topping. I agree that ranch dressing or even a blue cheese dressing would be a nice topping.