Slow Cooker Honey Mustard Chicken

📝Shopping list

To make this crock pot honey mustard chicken, you will need these simple ingredients: 

• skinless, boneless chicken breasts* - You can sub this with all thighs or all breasts
• boneless chicken thighs*
• dijon mustard
• stone ground mustard
• honey
• garlic - minced
• salt
• ground black pepper
• potato starch optional - for thickening sauce

🔪Instructions

This great recipe just involves a few simple steps:

Preparing Your Slow Cooker

Prepare your slow cooker by coating it with a non-stick agent.  Any nonstick cooking spray or oil will work. Olive oil and avocado oil are my go-to coatings. 

 NOTE: some slow cooker inserts come with a nonstick surface.  Use of a non-stick agent is still suggested. However, oil is sometimes recommended rather than spray to protect the longevity of the surface. Check your slow cooker's manual if you have any concerns. 

Alternatively, you can choose to use a slow cooker liner.  

Cooking

• 🍯Add all ingredients other than chicken and potato starch to your slow cooker and stir to fully combine.
• 🍯🍯 Place chicken into the sauce in your slow cooker and toss easy piece to fully coat
• 🍯🍯🍯Cover and cook on the low heat setting for 4-6 hours or the high setting for 2.5 - 3 hours.
• 🍯🍯🍯🍯OPTIONAL STEP: Thicken sauce. Remove chicken from slow cooker.  In a small bowl, stir 2 tablespoons of potato starch with 2 tablespoons of COLD water.  Stir this slurry into the liquid in your slow cooker.  Within a minute or so, your sauce will fully thicken.  

🍗A note about chicken

Chicken in the slow cooker can be a bit tricky. Boneless chicken breast meat can dry out and get tough if overcooked. Dark meat is a little more forgiving and flexible and won't dry out quite as fast. 

I find that using a meat thermometer is the best way to ensure slow cooker chicken is juicy and tender every time. Toward the end of cooking time, use the thermometer to test the internal temperature of larger chicken pieces. Chicken is safe to eat once it reaches an internal temperature of 165℉.

HINT: If your chicken breasts are dryer than you like, shred and mix into sauce in your slow cooker.  Delicious every time!!

🍽Serving suggestions

This is one of my favorite recipes because it is so versatile.  Here are just some of the ways we have served this slow cooker chicken recipe:

1. Adding a classic side to make a complete meal. Mashed potatoes, mashed cauliflower, rice, green beans, pasta, and quinoa are our favorite sides.
2. Salad: Leftovers of this chicken and honey mustard mixture are delicious served cold. Try topping a garden salad with it for easy meal. 
3. Potato Skins: Load potato skins with leftover chicken ans some shredded cheese.   It makes a fun appetizer or snack!
4. Sandwiches: Use leftover chicken on toasted bread with cheese, lettuce, and the honey mustard sauce for a satisfying lunch.

🔁Substitution ideas

1. For the spice fan - add more or spicier mustard.   Using a spicy mustard will really kick things up.   
2. Not a honey fan?  Substitute with maple syrup, brown sugar, or agave nectar for a similar sweetness.
3. Cornstarch or arrowroot powder can be in place of potato starch as a thickener. Be sure to mix them with cold water before adding them to the sauce to avoid lumps. If you choose to add cornstarch, be sure to allow it to cook for an additional hour to keep it from being grainy.  
4. Use ½ teaspoon garlic powder instead of fresh garlic for a similar flavor.
5. Try experimenting with other spices like paprika, thyme, or cayenne pepper for additional flavor variations.

Storing

Leftovers of crockpot honey mustard chicken seem to improve with age.  This makes for amazing lunches and future dinners.  You can store leftovers in an airtight container or bag.  They will last 3-4 days in the refrigerator and 3-4 months in the freezer.  

😉Hints & hacks

• This is the ultimate dump-and-go recipe.  The sauce is delicious and would go well over pasta, veggies, or even a baked potato. 
• Since I have some dark and light meat-eaters on my team, I have made this with both.  The pictures here show both thighs and breasts.    They all cooked together for the same amount of time and are both delicious.
• The safest way to cook anything in your slow cooker is always to check the internal temperature before serving.  For chicken, the recommended temperature is 165 F.  A meat thermometer is the best way to handle this.  
• This is an easy meal to prep in advance  Just add all the ingredients and seasonings to a storage bag and store in the refrigerator.  Depending on how fresh your chicken is, it should last 2-3 days.  When you are ready to cook, just dump it in your slow cooker and go!!
• I always recommend the use of a slow cooker liner. Of course, this is an optional step. I like to purchase my liners in bulk for a less expensive per-piece price. 
• In the market for a new slow cooker? I love mine!
• Don't forget to turn on (and plug-in!) your slow cooker!!  There is nothing worse than coming home to a cold slow cooker 😔!