Crock Pot Bourbon Chicken Recipe
This Crock Pot Bourbon Chicken is a deliciously sweet and savory slow-cooked dish made with tender boneless chicken thighs simmered in a flavorful bourbon sauce. With a perfect balance of brown sugar, soy sauce, and a hint of spice, this recipe is an easy and comforting meal ideal for busy weeknights. Serve it over rice or cauliflower rice for a satisfying and hearty dinner.
- Author: nova
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours (high) or 6 hours (low)
- Total Time: 4 hours 10 minutes (high) or 6 hours 10 minutes (low)
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Halal
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
Thickening & Garnish
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water
- ¼ cup chopped green onions, for garnish
- Prepare the Chicken: Place the trimmed boneless skinless chicken thighs at the bottom of your slow cooker to form an even layer.
- Mix the Sauce: 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.
- Cook Chicken in Sauce: Pour the prepared sauce mixture over the chicken in the slow cooker, ensuring the thighs are well coated. Cover and cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 6 hours, until the chicken is fully cooked and tender.
- Shred or Chop Chicken: Once cooked, remove the chicken from the slow cooker and chop or shred it to your preferred texture using forks or knives.
- Make the Cornstarch Slurry: In a small bowl, combine the cornstarch and water to create a smooth slurry. Stir this into the sauce remaining in the slow cooker.
- Thicken the Sauce: Return the chopped chicken to the slow cooker, stir well to coat with the sauce, and cook for an additional 5 to 10 minutes until the sauce thickens nicely.
- Garnish and Serve: Turn off the heat and sprinkle chopped green onions over the top. Serve the bourbon chicken over your choice of white rice, brown rice, or cauliflower rice for a low-carb option.
Notes
- You can substitute chicken breasts if preferred, but thighs provide a juicier and more tender result.
- Adjust the red pepper flakes according to your spice tolerance.
- For an alcohol-free version, replace bourbon with an equal amount of chicken broth and a splash of vanilla extract.
- Cooked chicken and sauce leftovers store well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Serve with steamed vegetables or a side salad for a complete meal.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approximately 6 oz chicken with sauce)
- Calories: 420 kcal
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 950 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 36 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg
Keywords: bourbon chicken, slow cooker chicken recipe, crock pot chicken, easy dinner recipes, sweet and savory chicken, bourbon sauce chicken