Description
Bourbon chicken brings Southern comfort straight to your dinner table with tender, glazed meat that melts in your mouth. Rich bourbon-infused sauce and succulent chicken create a delicious meal perfect for family gatherings or weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
Sauce Components:
- ½ cup low-sodium soy sauce
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup honey
- ¼ cup ketchup
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- ⅓ cup bourbon (or apple juice for non-alcoholic)
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
Thickening Agents and Serving Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water
- Cooked white rice or fried rice
- Sliced green onions (for garnish)
- Sesame seeds (optional)
Instructions
- Arrange chicken pieces evenly in the crockpot, ensuring they are not overlapping. Create a zesty marinade by combining bourbon (or apple juice), soy sauce, brown sugar, ketchup, honey, apple cider vinegar, minced garlic, ground ginger, and red pepper flakes in a mixing bowl.
- Thoroughly coat the chicken with the prepared marinade, ensuring each piece is well-covered. Pour any remaining liquid over the chicken.
- Secure the crockpot lid and set the temperature to low, allowing the chicken to slow-cook for approximately 4-5 hours. Alternatively, use high heat for 2-3 hours until the meat becomes fork-tender and fully cooked.
- Prepare a cornstarch slurry by whisking cornstarch with water until smooth and free of lumps. About 20 minutes before serving, gently stir the slurry into the crockpot to enhance sauce consistency.
- Increase the crockpot temperature to high and leave uncovered, allowing the sauce to reduce and thicken for 15-20 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Transfer the succulent bourbon chicken onto a bed of fluffy rice. Enhance the presentation by sprinkling sliced green onions and sesame seeds as a final garnish.
Notes
- Choose chicken thighs for maximum flavor and juiciness, as they stay more tender during slow cooking compared to chicken breasts.
- Replace bourbon with apple juice or chicken broth for a non-alcoholic version that maintains similar depth and richness in the sauce.
- Control spice levels by adjusting red pepper flakes – start with less and add more gradually to suit individual heat preferences.
- Enhance meal prep by preparing sauce ingredients night before and storing in refrigerator, which saves morning cooking time and allows flavors to meld overnight.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 490
- Sugar: 36 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 66 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg