Crock Pot Bourbon Chicken Recipe

Introduction

This Crock Pot Bourbon Chicken is a flavorful and tender dish that’s perfect for busy weeknights. The combination of bourbon, brown sugar, and soy sauce creates a rich, savory-sweet sauce that pairs wonderfully with rice. With minimal prep and slow cooking, it’s an easy crowd-pleaser.

Ingredients

• 3 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs, trimmed
• 1 cup light brown sugar
• 1 cup soy sauce
• ⅓ cup bourbon whiskey
• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• ½ teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 tablespoon honey
• ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons water
• ¼ cup chopped green onions, for garnish

Instructions

1. Step 1: Add the trimmed boneless skinless chicken thighs to the bottom of your slow cooker, spreading them out evenly.
2. Step 2: In a separate bowl, whisk together the light brown sugar, soy sauce, bourbon whiskey, apple cider vinegar, ground ginger, honey, red pepper flakes, and minced garlic until well combined.
3. Step 3: Pour the sauce mixture over the chicken in the slow cooker. Cover with the lid and cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6 hours, until the chicken is thoroughly cooked and tender.
4. Step 4: Remove the chicken from the slow cooker and shred or chop it into your preferred texture. Set aside.
5. Step 5: In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch and water to create a slurry. Stir this into the sauce remaining in the slow cooker to thicken.
6. Step 6: Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker and mix well with the thickened sauce. Cook for an additional 5 to 10 minutes to allow flavors to meld and the sauce to thicken further.
7. Step 7: Turn off the heat and garnish the bourbon chicken with chopped green onions before serving.
8. Step 8: Serve hot over white rice, brown rice, or cauliflower rice for a low-carb option.

Tips & Variations

• For a milder dish, reduce or omit the red pepper flakes.
• Use chicken breasts if preferred, but reduce cooking time slightly to avoid drying out.
• Add vegetables like bell peppers or broccoli during the last hour of cooking for added nutrition and color.
• For a thicker sauce, add extra cornstarch slurry gradually until desired consistency is reached.

Storage

Store leftover bourbon chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave, adding a splash of water if the sauce has thickened too much. This dish can also be frozen for up to 2 months; thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use a different type of alcohol instead of bourbon?

Yes, you can substitute bourbon with whiskey or even a non-alcoholic apple juice for a similar flavor, though the authentic bourbon taste will be less pronounced.

How can I make this recipe gluten-free?

Use gluten-free soy sauce or tamari to make this dish gluten-free without altering the flavor significantly.

Crock Pot Bourbon Chicken Recipe

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★★★★★

4.6 from 122 reviews

• Author: Marina
• Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes (high) or 6 hours 15 minutes (low)
• Yield: 6 servings 1x

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Description

This Crock Pot Bourbon Chicken recipe delivers tender, flavorful chicken thighs slow-cooked in a savory and slightly sweet bourbon sauce. Perfect for an easy, hands-off meal, this dish combines the rich taste of bourbon, soy sauce, and brown sugar with garlic, ginger, and a hint of heat from red pepper flakes. Serve it over rice or cauliflower rice for a satisfying family dinner.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Chicken

• 3 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs, trimmed

Sauce

• 1 cup light brown sugar
• 1 cup soy sauce
• ⅓ cup bourbon whiskey
• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• ½ teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 tablespoon honey
• ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 4 cloves garlic, minced

Thickener

• 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons water

Garnish

• ¼ cup chopped green onions

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Instructions

1. Prepare the chicken: Trim and place the boneless skinless chicken thighs evenly at the bottom of your slow cooker.
2. Make the sauce: In a bowl, whisk together the light brown sugar, soy sauce, bourbon whiskey, apple cider vinegar, ground ginger, honey, red pepper flakes, and minced garlic until fully combined.
3. Combine and cook: Pour the sauce mixture over the chicken in the slow cooker, cover with the lid, and cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6 hours until the chicken is thoroughly cooked and tender.
4. Shred the chicken: Remove the chicken from the slow cooker and chop or shred it to your preferred texture. Set aside.
5. Thicken the sauce: Mix the cornstarch and water in a small bowl to create a slurry, then stir this into the sauce remaining in the slow cooker. This will thicken the sauce.
6. Combine chicken and sauce: Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker, stir well with the thickened sauce, and cook for an additional 5 to 10 minutes to meld flavors and thicken the sauce further.
7. Finish and garnish: Turn off the slow cooker and garnish the bourbon chicken with chopped green onions before serving.
8. Serving suggestion: Serve the bourbon chicken hot over white rice, brown rice, or cauliflower rice for a low-carb option.

Notes

• You can adjust the heat by varying the amount of red pepper flakes according to your preference.
• For a gluten-free version, substitute soy sauce with tamari or coconut aminos.
• Make sure to shred the chicken neatly for better sauce absorption.
• Use good-quality bourbon for best flavor balance.
• Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 4 hours (high) or 6 hours (low)
• Category: Main Course
• Method: Slow Cooking
• Cuisine: American

Keywords: Crock Pot Bourbon Chicken, slow cooker chicken recipe, bourbon chicken, easy chicken dinner, slow cooker bourbon sauce