Description

A delicious and simple Crockpot Bourbon Chicken recipe featuring tender chicken breasts or thighs slow-cooked in a rich, flavorful bourbon-inspired sauce made from soy sauce, brown sugar, ketchup, and spices. This hands-off dish is perfect for a comforting weeknight meal and garnished with sesame seeds and green onions for an extra burst of flavor.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken

2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs

Sauce

2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons water
1/3 cup soy sauce
1/3 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons ketchup
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon minced ginger
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes

Garnish

Sesame seeds
Sliced green onions

Instructions

Prepare the slurry and sauce: Combine the cornstarch and water to create a slurry. In a separate bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, brown sugar, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, minced garlic, cornstarch slurry, minced ginger, and red pepper flakes until smooth and well combined.
Arrange chicken in slow cooker: Lay the boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs evenly in the bottom of the crockpot slow cooker.
Pour sauce over chicken: Pour the prepared soy sauce mixture over the chicken, ensuring the pieces are well coated and submerged in the sauce.
Cook the chicken: Cover with the slow cooker lid and cook on high for 2.5 to 3 hours, or on low for 3 to 4 hours, until the chicken is fully cooked and tender.
Shred the chicken: Remove the cooked chicken from the slow cooker and shred it using two forks, then return the shredded chicken to the crockpot and stir it well into the bourbon sauce to absorb all the flavors.
Serve and garnish: Serve the bourbon chicken hot, garnished with a sprinkle of sesame seeds and sliced green onions for added texture and taste.

Notes

Using thighs will yield juicier, more flavorful chicken, but breasts are leaner and also work well.
Adjust red pepper flakes to control the spice level based on your preference.
The cornstarch slurry helps thicken the sauce, giving it a nice glossy finish.
Serve over steamed rice or with your favorite vegetables for a complete meal.
This dish can be made ahead and tastes even better the next day after flavors meld.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 3 hours
Category: Main Dish
Method: Slow Cooking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: Crockpot Bourbon Chicken, slow cooker chicken, bourbon chicken recipe, easy dinner, slow cooker recipe