Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken Ramen Noodles
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If you love ordering takeout, this recipe is for you! The chicken cooks in a sweet and savory homemade teriyaki sauce until it’s incredibly tender, then ramen noodles and broccoli get added at the end to turn it into a complete meal. Plus, it’s all made in one slow cooker so cleanup is a breeze. I promise, it’s just as satisfying as takeout, SO much cheaper, and incredibly easy to make!
I love that you can serve this a couple of different ways, too. Keep it simple with just the teriyaki chicken and your favorite sides, or add the ramen and broccoli for a complete one-pot meal. It’s cozy, flavorful, and the kind of weeknight dinner the whole family will actually get excited about!
Looking for more simple weeknight dinners? Some of my recent favorites include this Oven Baked Teriyaki Chicken, Chicken Parmesan Meatloaf, Cheesy Ground Beef Tortellini Bake, One-Pot Chicken Mac and Cheese, Slow Cooker Garlic Ranch Chicken & Potatoes, Ground Turkey Stuffed Sweet Potato Bowls, Creamy Tuscan Chicken and Rice, Chicken Piccata Meatballs, or Slow Cooker Salsa Verde Chicken.
And if you’re tired of always trying to figure out what’s for dinner, be sure to sign up for my free weekly meal plan, Dinner Decided, where I’ve already done the thinking for you. Every other week, you’ll get 5 easy dinners, a sweet treat, and a shopping list sent straight to your email! Plus, each meal plan prioritizes smart ingredient overlap to minimize food waste and strategic uses for leftovers.
Table Talk with Tawnie
My kids have figured out what ramen is, and they are obsessed. I mean I don’t blame them 🤣 Which is why I’ve been posting so many ramen variations lately…they can’t get enough! But this slow cooker teriyaki chicken doesn’t *have* to be served with ramen noodles. Serve it over rice or just with veggies, or any way you’d like teriyaki chicken. The recipe is versatile and that’s wha thing I love about it!
Sign up for Dinner, Decided ✔️
A free weekly meal plan where I’ve already done the thinking for you. 5 easy dinners, a sweet treat, a shopping list, smart ingredient overlap to minimize food waste and strategic uses for leftovers.
- Chicken thighs: I love using boneless, skinless chicken thighs. They are juicy and flavorful. I recommend using thighs for best results, but breasts can also be used; just be careful, they tend to dry out
- Rice vinegar: The acid from the vinegar brings the homemade teriyaki sauce to life!
- Ginger + garlic: Be sure to use fresh ginger and garlic. It takes the sauce to a whole new level!
- Ramen noodles: Use your favorite instant ramen noodles, but discard the seasoning packets since you’ll be making your own flavorful sauce. Add the noodles toward the end of cooking so they stay tender without becoming mushy.
- Fresh broccoli: Feel free to swap in or add other quick-cooking veggies you have on hand.
- Soy sauce: I use low-sodium soy sauce to keep the sauce from becoming overly salty.
Step by Step Directions
(For the full recipe, scroll down to the recipe card below)
Add chicken
Add the chicken thighs to the slow cooker.
Make the sauce
Whisk all the sauce ingredients together, then pour over the chicken.
Cook
Cook for 3-4 hours on low, until the chicken is very tender. Thirty minutes before serving, make a slurry with some of the broth and cornstarch and pour it back into the slow cooker.
Add noodles and broccoli
Add the chopped broccoli pieces and the uncooked ramen noodles and cook for another 30 minutes.
Serve and enjoy!
Plate with green onions, sesame seeds, chili flakes, and a little extra sauce drizzled over the top. Enjoy!!
Expert Tips
- Use chicken thighs for the best texture: Boneless, skinless chicken thighs stay juicy and tender during slow cooking. Chicken breasts can work, but they cook a little faster and are more likely to dry out, so be careful not to overcook them.
- Don’t add the ramen too early: The noodles only need about 30 minutes at the end of cooking. Adding them earlier can leave you with overly soft, mushy noodles.
- Thicken the sauce at the end: Whisk the cornstarch with some of the cooking liquid before adding it back to the slow cooker. This creates a smooth slurry and helps prevent lumps.
- Adjust the sauce to your taste: For a sweeter teriyaki sauce, add a little extra honey or brown sugar. If you prefer a more savory or salty flavor, add an extra splash of soy sauce.
- Keep an eye on the noodles: Ramen noodles can vary slightly by brand, so start checking them around the 20-minute mark. You want them tender but still slightly chewy.
- Add toppings generously: Green onions and toasted sesame seeds add a fresh crunch that balances the rich, saucy chicken. A sprinkle of red pepper flakes is great if you like a little heat.
Try My Oven Baked Teriyaki Chicken Thighs!
These Oven Baked Teriyaki Chicken Thighs are juicy, sticky, and packed with incredible flavor from a quick homemade teriyaki sauce. They’re an easy, delicious option for dinner or meal prep, coming together with minimal effort.
Variations / Substitutions
- Add more veggies: Toss in bell peppers, carrots, sliced mushrooms, baby spinach, broccoli, snap peas, or shredded cabbage for even more vegetables.
- Serve it over rice: Skip the ramen noodles and serve the teriyaki chicken and broccoli over jasmine rice for a simple teriyaki chicken bowl.
- Switch up the noodles: If you don’t have ramen noodles on hand, try udon, soba, or another quick-cooking noodle. Just adjust the cooking time according to the package directions.
- Add an egg🥚: Top each bowl with a soft-boiled egg for extra protein and that classic ramen-shop feel.
Storage / Freezing
- Storage: Store leftover teriyaki chicken ramen noodles in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Keep in mind that the noodles will continue to absorb the sauce as they sit, so leftovers may be thicker and softer than when freshly made.
- Reheat: When reheating, add a splash of broth or water to loosen the sauce and warm gently in the microwave or on the stovetop.
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Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken Ramen Noodles
Ingredients
Chicken
- 2½-3 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs (thighs for best results but breasts can also be used, just be careful they tend to dry out)
Teriyaki Sauce
- 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/4 cup rice vinegar
- 1/4 cup chicken broth
- 1 Tbsp. toasted sesame oil
- 5 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 Tbsp freshly grated ginger
- 2 Tbsp mirin
- 1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
To Thicken
- 2 Tbsp. cornstarch
For Serving
- 3 (3 oz.) ramen noodle packages (discard seasoning packets)
- Jasmine rice
- 1-2 heads fresh broccoli
- Sliced green onions
- Toasted sesame seeds
Last step! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.
Instructions
- Add chicken: Add the chicken thighs to the slow cooker.2½-3 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs
- Make sauce: Whisk soy sauce, honey, brown sugar, rice vinegar, broth, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, mirin, and red pepper flakes in a large bowl or measuring cup, then pour over the chicken.1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce, 1/3 cup honey, 1/4 cup packed brown sugar, 1/4 cup rice vinegar, 1/4 cup chicken broth, 1 Tbsp. toasted sesame oil, 5 cloves garlic, 1 Tbsp freshly grated ginger, 2 Tbsp mirin, 1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
- Cook: Cook on LOW for about 3-4 hours Start Timer or HIGH for about 2-3 hours Start Timer, just until the chicken is very tender.
- Thicken sauce: Thirty minutes before serving, ladle some of the broth into a small bowl and whisk in the cornstarch. Pour the slurry back into the slow cooker and switch to high if it’s not already on high.2 Tbsp. cornstarch
- Chicken only: If you want the teriyaki chicken as is, allow it to cook for another 30 minutes, then shred or cut it up and enjoy as is or with your favorite sides. Start Timer
- Add ramen: If enjoying as a full meal with the ramen, add 1-2 heads of chopped broccoli and the uncooked ramen noodles. Cook for ~30 minutes or until the noodles have softened and the broccoli is crisp-tender. Start Timer3 (3 oz.) ramen noodle packages, 1-2 heads fresh broccoli
- Serve: Plate with green onions, sesame seeds, chili flakes, and sauce drizzled over the top. Enjoy!Jasmine rice, Sliced green onions, Toasted sesame seeds
Equipment
Notes
Nutrition Information
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is automatically calculated. It should only be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Kroll’s Korner can’t make any guarantees to the accuracy of this information.
📸 Photography by Lorena Masso
