Crock-Pot Bourbon Chicken Recipe
This Crock-Pot Bourbon Chicken is a flavorful and tender dish featuring boneless skinless chicken thighs simmered in a rich bourbon-infused sauce. Perfect for a comforting family meal, it’s easy to prepare and cooks slowly to develop deep, savory flavors accented by brown sugar and garlic. Serve it hot over steamed rice and garnish with fresh green onions for a delicious and satisfying dinner.
- Author: Clara
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 to 4 hours
- Total Time: 3 hours 10 minutes to 4 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Chicken
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs (trimmed)
- Salt (to taste)
- Black pepper (to taste)
Sauce
- 1/3 cup bourbon
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 2/3 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
Thickening Agent
- 2 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 3 tablespoons cold water
Garnish and Serving
- 1/4 cup chopped green onions (for garnish)
- Cooked rice (for serving)
- Season the Chicken: Season the boneless skinless chicken thighs with salt and black pepper according to your taste preferences, ensuring the meat is evenly coated for enhanced flavor.
- Prepare the Sauce: In a bowl, whisk together 1/3 cup bourbon, 3/4 cup brown sugar, 2/3 cup low-sodium soy sauce, and minced garlic cloves. This mixture forms the savory-sweet sauce base for the chicken.
- Combine Ingredients in Crock-Pot: Place the seasoned chicken thighs into the Crock-Pot and pour the prepared bourbon sauce over the top, making sure all pieces are well covered with the sauce.
- Cook the Chicken: Cover the Crock-Pot and cook on low heat for 4 hours or on high heat for 3 hours, until the chicken becomes tender and thoroughly cooked.
- Thicken the Sauce: About 30 minutes before cooking finishes, mix cornstarch with cold water to create a slurry. Stir this mixture into the Crock-Pot, allowing the sauce to thicken and coat the chicken well.
- Garnish and Serve: Once the chicken is cooked and the sauce has thickened, stir gently to evenly coat the chicken. Garnish with chopped green onions and serve hot over a bed of cooked rice for a complete meal.
Notes
- You can substitute chicken breasts if preferred, but thighs remain juicier for slow cooking.
- Make sure not to skip the cornstarch slurry to get a perfect, glossy sauce finish.
- Bourbon adds authentic flavor; if you want to avoid alcohol, substitute with apple cider or chicken broth, though the flavor will differ.
- Leftovers keep well in the fridge for up to 3 days and reheat nicely on the stove or microwave.
- Adjust salt depending on soy sauce saltiness and personal taste.
Keywords: Crock-Pot Bourbon Chicken, slow cooker chicken, bourbon chicken recipe, easy dinner, boneless chicken thighs