Slow Cooker Bourbon Chicken

by Meg
Slow Cooker Bourbon Chicken is just what your busy weeknights need. Packed full of sweet, sticky, rich flavor.
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Slow Cooker Bourbon Chicken is just what your busy weeknights need. Packed full of sweet, sticky, rich flavor.

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Looking for big flavor with little effort? This Slow Cooker Bourbon Chicken is all that and more.

I love an easy chicken slow cooker recipe that is easy, flavorful and juicy. It’s the worst when your dinner is cooking away all day and it just ends up blah.

You don’t have to worry about any of that with this recipe. We’re bringing all the flavor with this one.

Slow Cooker Bourbon Chicken is just what your busy weeknights need. Packed full of sweet, sticky, rich flavor.

What is Bourbon Chicken?

The origins are a little unclear but at the end of the day, it seems bourbon chicken is a cajun and Chinese mash up. And you can often find it at both types of resturants. Many say it was created in New Orleans on Bourbon Street.

The sauce is a sticky, sweet and savory concontion with soy sauce, brown sugar, ginger, garlic and bourbon. Plus a few more ingredients to make it even tastier.

Slow Cooker Bourbon Chicken is just what your busy weeknights need. Packed full of sweet, sticky, rich flavor.

Ingredients for Slow Cooker Bourbon Chicken

  • Boneless chicken thighs: Using thighs helps keep the chicken juicy in the slow cooker. You can use chicken breasts instead but they may dry out.
  • Garlic: Adds lots of flavor to the sauce.
  • Ginger: Fresh brings all the bright, sharp flavor to this sauce. I really prefer fresh ginger in this recipe but you can substitute powdered if you wish. Use 1/2 teaspoon.
  • Red pepper flakes: To bring the heat. You can adjust the amount based on your preferences.
  • Apple juice: Adds the needed sweetness to the sauce. It balances out the oak flavor of the bourbon.
  • Brown sugar: Brings a rich, deep sweetness to the sauce.
  • Honey: Adds stickiness to the sauce.
  • Ketchup: The base of the sauce has a tomatoey feel from the ketchup.
  • Apple cider vinegar: The acid helps balance out all the flavors and perfectly rounds out the dish.
  • Soy sauce: Brings a rich, salty, umami flavor.
  • Bourbon: It’s not bourbon chicken without it. Bourbon lends a smoky, unique flavor to the sauce. The alcohol cooks out so it’s safe for all. That said, you can replace it with apple juice if you don’t want to use bourbon.
  • Cornstarch: To thicken the sauce into its glossy glory.
Slow Cooker Bourbon Chicken is just what your busy weeknights need. Packed full of sweet, sticky, rich flavor.

How to Make Slow Cooker Bourbon Chicken

It doesn’t get much easier than this. Add the garlic, ginger, red pepper flakes, apple juice, brown sugar, honey, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, soy sauce and bourbon to your slow cooker. Whisk to combine.

Add the boneless skinless chicken thighs to the slow cooker and flip to coat in the sauce.

Cook on high for 3 to 4 hours or low for 7 to 8 hours. The chicken will be fall apart tender.

Shred the chicken. I do this in the slow cooker with two forks. You can also remove the chicken to a cutting board and shred there.

Whisk together cornstarch and water then add to the slow cooker. Stir to combine and allow the sauce to thicken for a few minutes in the slow cooker.

Serve over your favorite type of rice.

Slow Cooker Bourbon Chicken is just what your busy weeknights need. Packed full of sweet, sticky, rich flavor.

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Slow Cooker Bourbon Chicken is just what your busy weeknights need. Packed full of sweet, sticky, rich flavor.
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Slow Cooker Bourbon Chicken

Slow Cooker Bourbon Chicken is just what your busy weeknights need. Packed full of sweet, sticky, rich flavor.
Prep Time10 minutes
Active Time8 hours
Total Time8 hours 10 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: slow cooker bourbon chicken
Yield: 6 servings
Author: Meghan Payne-Hensley

Equipment

  • Slow Cooker

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs. boneless skinless chicken thighs
  • 1/2 Tbsp. minced garlic
  • 1 tsp. grated ginger
  • 1/2-1 tsp. red pepper flakes
  • 1/2 cup apple juice
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar
  • 1/3 cup honey
  • 1/4 cup ketchup
  • 2 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
  • 2/3 cup soy sauce
  • 1/2 cup bourbon
  • 2 Tbsp. cornstarch
  • 2 Tbps. cold water

Instructions

  • Place chicken into the slow cooker. In a bowl, whisk together garlic, ginger, red pepper flakes, apple juice, brown sugar, honey, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, soay sauce and bourbon. Pour over the chicken. Cook on low for 7 to 8 hours or high for 3 to 4 hours.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together cornstarch and cold water. Pour into slow cooker and stir. Allow a few minutes to thicken. Shred chicken using two forks and stir to coat in sauce.

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Slow Cooker Bourbon Chicken is just what your busy weeknights need. Packed full of sweet, sticky, rich flavor.

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