Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs

Ingredients

Nonstick cooking spray

8 boneless skinless chicken thighs (2 to 2 1/2 pounds total)

1/3 cup raw honey

1/3 cup ketchup

1/3 cup low-sodium soy sauce or tamari

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

6 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed

One 1-inch piece ginger, peeled and minced

2 tablespoons arrowroot, optional

1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds

Chopped scallions and cooked brown rice, for serving

Directions

1. Coat the insert of a 6-quart slow cooker with cooking spray and add the chicken thighs. In a glass measuring cup, whisk together the honey, ketchup, soy sauce, oregano, pepper flakes, garlic and ginger and pour over the chicken. Cover and cook on low until the chicken is cooked through and tender, 5 to 6 hours. Turn off the heat, uncover and let rest for about 10 minutes before serving. The chicken and sauce can be served as-is or, for a thicker sauce, remove the chicken and set aside, covered, to keep warm, then turn the slow cooker to high. Stir the arrowroot and 2 tablespoons cold water together until it resembles heavy cream. Pour the mixture into the sauce, cover and cook until the sauce is thick and bubbling, about 30 minutes. (The mixture must come to a boil to activate the starch and thicken the sauce.) Return the chicken back to the sauce and heat the chicken through, about 5 minutes.
2. Transfer the chicken and sauce to a platter, sprinkle with the sesame seeds and scallions and serve hot with rice.