Jessica Roderick

Freezer Meal Friendly (Gluten Free) Sesame Honey Chicken

Sesame Honey Shredded Chicken: A Sweet & Savory Crock-Pot Delight:

There’s something magical about a meal that’s not only packed with flavor but also feels like a warm hug on a busy day. This Sesame Honey Shredded Chicken is that meal. It’s sweet, savory, and everything you’ve been craving—without the guilt or stress. If you’re someone who lives for comfort food, but also wants to keep things gluten-free and easy, this recipe is exactly what you need. It’s one of those dishes that makes you feel like you’re being treated to a cozy takeout meal, but without the hassle and with all the flavor.

The best part? It’s freezer-friendly! That’s right—this meal is made to save you time and stress on the busiest days. You can prep it once, freeze it, and pull it out whenever life gets overwhelming. It’s like having a personal chef in your kitchen, ready to create a delicious dinner with minimal effort. I can almost guarantee that once you try it, you’ll be making it again and again. It’s just that good.

Why This Sesame Honey Shredded Chicken Will Steal Your Heart

Let me just start by saying this dish is everything You know those meals that make your kitchen smell like heaven and your taste buds do a happy dance? Yeah, this is one of those. The sweet honey combined with the salty soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free goodness) is an iconic pairing. And when you add sesame oil and sesame seeds? Magic. The sauce is just the right balance of sweet and savory, and it clings to the chicken like it was made for it. It’s sticky, flavorful, and perfectly satisfying.

But here’s the kicker: this meal is a total game-changer because it’s freezer-friendly. This means that all you need to do is prep it once, stash it in your freezer, and when the world feels a little too hectic, you can toss it in the slow cooker and let it do all the work for you. In just a few hours, you’ll have a hot, home-cooked meal ready to serve.

We all know that life gets busy. Between work, family, social commitments, and just trying to keep it all together, it can feel like there’s no time for making a delicious, homemade meal. That’s exactly why freezer meals like this are a lifesaver. It takes the stress out of dinner, and trust me, when you taste how amazing this Sesame Honey Shredded Chicken is, you’ll never want to eat takeout again.

Ingredients You’ll Need (Serves 5-6)

  • – 3 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • – ½ cup cornstarch
  • For the Sauce:
  • – ½ cup honey (or substitute with agave or other liquid sweetener)
  • – 2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce or tamari (for gluten-free option)
  • – 3 minced garlic cloves
  • – 1 tablespoon sesame seeds (white)
  • – ½ cup water
  • – 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • – 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • Optional:
  • – ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (for a little heat)
  • – Chopped sweet onion (for extra flavor)

Optional:

  • ¼ tsp crushed red pepper flakes: If you like a little heat!
  • Chopped sweet onion: If you want an extra layer of flavor.
  • Pineapple tidbits (I add these to the freezer bag/before I start cooking)

How to Prepare:

  1. Label a gallon-size freezer bag with: “Honey Sesame Shredded Chicken”
  2. Crockpot: LOW 4–5 hours / HIGH 2–3 hours Shred before serving (day of cooking)
  3. In a large bowl, combine: Honey, soy/tamari, garlic, sesame seeds, water, sesame oil, brown sugar, pineapple (with juice), crushed red pepper, and chopped onion.
  4. Add the chicken pieces to the sauce and toss to coat.
  5. In a small zip-top bag, place the cornstarch (to be added later for thickening).
  6. Add both the chicken mixture and the cornstarch bag to the labeled freezer bag.
  7. Remove as much air as possible, seal, and freeze flat.

Cooking Instructions

CROCK POT/ SLOW COOKER

From Thawed:

Add contents of the bag (excluding cornstarch) into the crockpot.

Cook on LOW 4–5 hours or HIGH 2–3 hours, until chicken is tender.

Mix cornstarch with ¼ cup cold water to make a slurry.

Stir slurry into crockpot and cook on HIGH for an additional 20–30 minutes to thicken.

Shred chicken with two forks and stir to coat evenly in the sauce.

From Frozen:

Run bag under warm water to loosen, then place contents in the crockpot.

Cook on LOW 6–7 hours or HIGH 3–4 hours.

Add cornstarch slurry 30 minutes before serving and shred as above.

Serving Instructions

Once the chicken is cooked, Shred with a fork and it’s time to dig in! This dish is delicious when served over a bed of jasmine rice to soak up all that sweet and savory sauce. Garnish with thin cucumber slices and carrot sticks for a fresh crunch that perfectly balances the rich flavors of the sesame honey sauce.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe:

– Prep Ahead: Make it in advance and store it in the freezer for busy days.

– Gluten-Free: Made with tamari instead of soy sauce for a gluten-free alternative.

– Easy to Cook: Throw everything in your slow cooker and let it work its magic.

– Flavorful: Sweet honey, savory soy sauce, and a touch of sesame oil create a perfectly balanced sauce.

– Versatile: Serve it over rice, in wraps, or with your favorite sides.

This Sesame Honey Shredded Chicken is an easy, freezer-friendly meal that will make busy weeknights a breeze. Keep it on hand for a quick dinner that’s both satisfying and full of flavor!


Sesame Honey Shredded Chicken

Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 6 hours
Course Main Course
Cuisine Chinese
Servings 6

Equipment

  • Crock-pot

Ingredients
  

  • 3 lbs Boneless skinless chicken, bite sized pieces
  • ½ Cup Cornstarch
  • ½ Cup Honey
  • 2 Tbsp Tamari or soy sauce
  • 3 Cloves Garlic minced
  • 1 Tbsp Sesame seeds white
  • ½ Cup Water
  • 1 tsp Sesame Oil
  • 2 Tbsp Light Brown Sugar
  • 08 oz Can Pineapple tidbits
  • ¼ tsp Crushed Red Pepper
  • 1 Small Onion Chopped

Instructions
 

  • Prepare:
    Label a gallon-size freezer bag with:
    “Honey Sesame Shredded Chicken”
    In a large bowl, combine:
    Honey, soy/tamari, garlic, sesame seeds, water, sesame oil, brown sugar, pineapple (with juice), crushed red pepper, and chopped onion.
    Add the chicken pieces to the sauce and toss to coat.
    In a small zip-top bag, place the cornstarch (to be added later for thickening).
    Add both the chicken mixture and the cornstarch bag to the labeled freezer bag.
    Remove as much air as possible, seal, and freeze flat.
  • Cooking Instructions:
    CROCK POT/ SLOW COOKER
    From Thawed:
    Add contents of the bag (excluding cornstarch) into the crockpot.
    Cook on LOW 4–5 hours or HIGH 2–3 hours, until chicken is tender.
    Mix cornstarch with ¼ cup cold water to make a slurry.
    Stir slurry into crockpot and cook on HIGH for an additional 20–30 minutes to thicken.
    Shred chicken with two forks and stir to coat evenly in the sauce.
    From Frozen:
    Run bag under warm water to loosen, then place contents in the crockpot.
    Cook on LOW 6–7 hours or HIGH 3–4 hours.
    Add cornstarch slurry 30 minutes before serving and shred as above.
  • Serving instructions:
    Serve over steamed rice, quinoa, or cauliflower rice
    Garnish with extra sesame seeds or chopped green onions
    Great with a side of steamed broccoli or snap peas
Keyword crock-pot, easy, freezer meal

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4 responses to “Freezer Meal Friendly (Gluten Free) Sesame Honey Chicken”

  1. Paula Avatar
    Paula

    What about the oil and the pineapple. There is nothing about it in the instructions?

    1. Jessica Roderick Avatar

      Thanks for calling this out, I updated the recipe!

  2. Carie Graumann Avatar
    Carie Graumann

    When do we use the last five ingredients?

    1. Jessica Roderick Avatar

      Thanks for calling this out, I updated the recipe!

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