Soy Garlic Chicken

When you’re cooking with ingredients as delicious and flavorful as soy sauce, tomato sauce and garlic, it’s no surprise that a dish made with only five ingredients is still absolutely delicious. This garlic soy chicken recipe yields a flavorful meat that’s perfect with rice, noodles or any other side you could want.

And because the slow cooker does most of the work for you, it’s almost entirely hands-off. Just a few minutes of prep work is all it takes, then you’ll just have to wait four or five hours as the meat cooks and marinates to perfection. The waiting is the hardest part.

Soy Garlic Chicken Ingredients

• Chicken leg quarters: This recipe calls for six chicken leg quarters, with the skin removed. Trim off any excess fat and gristle if you can.
• Tomato sauce: A can of classic tomato sauce, just as you would use for making pasta sauce, adds tanginess and moisture to the recipe.
• Soy sauce: We recommend reduced-sodium soy sauce for this recipe. And in fact, you’ve probably noticed that we almost always recommend reduced-sodium soy sauce.
• Brown sugar: As always when using brown sugar, make sure to pack it down before measuring it, or else you’ll invariably use too little.
• Minced garlic: You can mince the garlic yourself, or use a couple of frozen garlic cubes that you’ve allowed to thaw at room temperature.

Directions

Step 1: Prep the chicken

With a sharp knife, cut the leg quarters at the joints, if desired, and remove all the skin. Place the chicken in a 4-quart slow cooker.

Step 2: Make the sauce

In a small bowl, combine the tomato sauce, soy sauce, brown sugar and garlic, then pour the blend over the chicken.

Step 3: Cook the chicken

Cover and cook on low for four to five hours, or until the chicken is tender.

Soy Garlic Chicken Variations

• Add some heat: Tossing in a teaspoon or so of red pepper flakes on top of the sauce adds some welcome spice to this chicken dish, beautifully blending with the sweet and tangy flavors.
• Use chicken breast instead: You can follow this same recipe with chicken breast, or even with chicken thighs for that matter. Just note that the thighs will cook faster, so be sure to check on them after two or three hours.
• Add some chopped green onion: Tossing a handful of chopped green onions into the slow cooker about halfway through the cooking process will add a gentle edge to this sweet dish.

How to Store Soy Garlic Chicken

This cooked chicken will keep in the fridge for two to three days. Make sure to seal it in airtight containers, baggies or an airtight wrap.

Can you freeze this chicken once it’s cooked?

Yes, you can! Cool the chicken in its sauce, then freeze it in freezer-safe containers. To use the meat, partially thaw it in the refrigerator overnight, then heat it through, slowly, in a covered skillet until a thermometer inserted in the chicken reads 165°F.

Soy Garlic Chicken Tips

What is the proper internal temperature for chicken?

Chicken should always have reached at least 160° before consumption. Check a few of the pieces with a food thermometer before you take them out of the slow cooker.

Could I make this chicken in a pressure cooker?

You absolutely could, and it should take about 15 minutes, not including the pressurization and release. If your slow cooker has a chicken recipe, go ahead and follow it using the sauce as created here.

What are other serving ideas for this chicken?

Cook the chicken according to the recipe, but rather than serving it on the bone, remove as much meat as you can, chop or shred the chicken, and serve it in Asian tacos or over the top of a nice green salad.