Description
Sweet, savory, and just the right amount of kick—this Crock Pot Bourbon Chicken is the ultimate weeknight dinner hero. Tender chicken thighs slow-cooked in a rich, bourbon-infused sauce make for a satisfying, flavor-packed dish best served over rice.
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
-
Add the chicken thighs to the bottom of a slow cooker.
-
In a separate bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, soy sauce, bourbon, apple cider vinegar, ground ginger, honey, red pepper flakes, and minced garlic.
-
Pour the sauce mixture over the chicken in the slow cooker.
-
Cover and cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6 hours, until the chicken is cooked through and tender.
-
Remove the chicken from the slow cooker and chop or shred it to your preferred texture.
-
In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch and water to make a slurry. Stir it into the sauce in the slow cooker.
-
Return the chopped chicken to the slow cooker and stir everything together. Let cook for another 5–10 minutes until the sauce thickens.
-
Turn off the heat and garnish with chopped green onions before serving.
-
Serve over white rice, brown rice, or cauliflower rice for a low-carb option.
Notes
-
You can substitute chicken breasts for thighs, but thighs stay juicier during slow cooking.
-
For a bolder bourbon flavor, increase to ½ cup bourbon and reduce soy sauce slightly.
-
Leftovers store well in the fridge for 3–4 days and freeze beautifully.
-
Adjust the red pepper flakes to control the heat level.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 4–6 hours
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American-Chinese / Southern Fusion