Pour this 1 mixture into a slow cooker for a weeknight dinner that’s impossibly delicious

Place the raw chicken thighs in the bottom of a slow cooker, arranging them in a single, snug layer as best you can.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the honey, soy sauce, minced garlic, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and ginger until the mixture is smooth and well combined.

Holding the bowl over the slow cooker, slowly pour the honey–soy mixture evenly over the raw chicken thighs, making sure each piece gets coated with some of the sauce.

Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook on LOW for 4–6 hours, or on HIGH for 2 1/2–3 1/2 hours, until the chicken is very tender and cooked through (it should easily pull away from the bone).

Once cooked, taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning if needed by adding a touch more soy sauce for saltiness or honey for sweetness.

Serve the chicken thighs whole with the sauce spooned over the top, or remove the bones and gently shred the meat back into the slow cooker to soak up more of the sauce before serving.

If you prefer boneless, skinless chicken thighs, you can certainly use them; just check for doneness a bit earlier, as they tend to cook faster. For a little heat, stir in 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes or a drizzle of chili sauce with the honey mixture—my sons always liked a bit of a kick. If you don’t have fresh ginger on hand, ground ginger works in a pinch, or you can leave it out for a milder, more straightforward garlic flavor. To make the sauce thicker, whisk 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of cold water and stir it into the cooking liquid during the last 20–30 minutes on HIGH, letting it bubble and thicken slightly. This recipe also adapts nicely to what’s in your pantry: a splash of apple cider vinegar can stand in for rice vinegar, and a little orange zest or juice gives the dish a brighter, almost teriyaki-like note. Leftovers keep well and are wonderful tucked into tortillas with shredded cabbage, or stirred into cooked rice and peas for a quick next-day bowl.