Crock Pot Bourbon Chicken
This dish is inspired by the classic bourbon chicken you might find at a mall food court or a favorite Asian-style restaurant. But instead of standing over the stove, the slow cooker does all the work for you! The chicken becomes incredibly tender, soaking up a rich sauce made with bourbon, brown sugar, and soy sauce.
Equipment
- Slow Cooker (Crock Pot)
- Cutting Board & Knife
- Measuring Cups & Spoons
- Mixing bowl (optional)
- Whisk or spoon
- Small Saucepan (Optional)
Ingredients
For the Chicken:
- 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs (or breasts)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
For the Sauce:
- ½ cup bourbon or apple juice for a non-alcoholic option
- ½ cup low-sodium soy sauce
- ¼ cup ketchup
- ¼ cup honey
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon ginger grated
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes optional, for heat
For Thickening (Optional):
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water
For Serving:
- Cooked rice or noodles
- Green onions and sesame seeds for garnish
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Chicken
- Pat the chicken dry with a paper towel and season with salt and pepper.
- If you have time, sear the chicken in a pan with a little olive oil for 2-3 minutes on each side. This adds extra flavor, but it’s optional!
Step 2: Make the Sauce
- In a bowl, whisk together bourbon (or apple juice), soy sauce, ketchup, honey, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes.
Step 3: Slow Cook the Chicken
- Place the chicken in the crock pot and pour the sauce over the top.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 5-6 hours or HIGH for 3-4 hours, until the chicken is tender and easily shredded.
Step 4: Thicken the Sauce (Optional)
- If you want a thicker sauce, mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water.
- Remove the chicken and stir the cornstarch mixture into the sauce.
- Let the sauce cook for 10-15 minutes until thickened. Meanwhile, shred the chicken with two forks.
Step 5: Serve and Enjoy!
- Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker and stir to coat in the sauce.
- Serve over rice or noodles, garnished with green onions and sesame seeds.
Notes
Estimated Nutritional Value (Per Serving)
- Calories: ~350-400 kcal
- Protein: ~30g
- Carbohydrates: ~40g
- Fat: ~8-10g
- Saturated Fat: ~2g
- Sodium: ~800-1000mg (can be reduced with low-sodium soy sauce)
- Sugar: ~25g (from brown sugar, honey, and ketchup)
The nutritional information on this website is only an estimate and is provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed. It should not be used as a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.