Description
This Slow Cooker Honey Mustard Chicken recipe features tender, juicy bone-in skin-on chicken thighs cooked to perfection in a creamy honey mustard sauce infused with rosemary. Quick to prep and slow-cooked to develop flavor, this comforting dish is perfect for easy weeknight meals or cozy weekend dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasoning
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 bone-in skin-on chicken thighs
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
Sauce
- ⅓ cup dijon mustard
- ⅓ cup honey
- ⅓ cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons cream cheese, softened
- 2 teaspoons snipped fresh rosemary
Thickening
- 3 tablespoons water
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
Instructions
- Heat Olive Oil: In a large pan over medium-high heat, add 1 tablespoon olive oil and allow it to heat until shiny, about 1-2 minutes, to prepare for searing the chicken.
- Season Chicken: Season both sides of the 4 bone-in skin-on chicken thighs evenly with 1 ½ teaspoons salt, 1 teaspoon ground black pepper, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, and ½ teaspoon smoked paprika to enhance flavor.
- Sear Chicken: Swirl the heated oil to coat the bottom of the pan, then place the chicken thighs skin side down. Cook until the skin is golden and releases easily, approximately 4-5 minutes, to lock in juices and add texture.
- Prepare Sauce: In the bowl of the crockpot, whisk together ⅓ cup dijon mustard, ⅓ cup honey, ⅓ cup heavy cream, 2 tablespoons softened cream cheese, and 2 teaspoons fresh rosemary until well combined to create a creamy, flavorful sauce.
- Slow Cook Chicken: Nestle the seared chicken thighs into the crockpot with the sauce. Cover and cook on high for 2-3 hours or on low for 5-6 hours until the chicken is tender and cooked through.
- Thicken Sauce: Remove the chicken to a platter and set aside. Whisk together 3 tablespoons water and 2 tablespoons cornstarch until smooth. Drizzle this mixture into the crockpot sauce and whisk well. Add the chicken back in, cover, and allow the sauce to thicken for 5-10 minutes.
- Serve: Brush or spoon the thickened honey mustard sauce over the chicken. Garnish with parsley or green onions if desired and serve immediately for best taste.
Notes
- The calories shown are based on servings for 4, with one serving consisting of ¼ of the chicken and sauce. Nutritional values are approximate and may vary based on ingredient brands.
- You can substitute bone-in skin-on chicken thighs with boneless if preferred, but adjust cooking time accordingly.
- For a thicker sauce, allow it to thicken a few minutes longer before serving.
- Fresh rosemary can be replaced with dried rosemary, using about 1 teaspoon.
- This recipe works well with a slow cooker but the initial searing of chicken enhances flavor significantly.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken thigh with sauce (approximately 1/4 of recipe)
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 850mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 135mg
