Crock Pot Bourbon Chicken
Introduction
Crock Pot Bourbon Chicken is an irresistible blend of sweet, savory, and slightly smoky flavors. With succulent chicken slow-cooked to perfection in a bourbon-infused sauce, it’s the kind of dish that gets rave reviews at every table. The hands-off nature of the slow cooker means you get all that mouthwatering flavor with minimal fuss, making this a go-to recipe for busy weeknights, casual gatherings, or meal-prepping in advance.
Why This Bourbon Chicken Recipe Stands Out
The crock pot method infuses the chicken with an incredibly rich, bold sauce, ensuring each bite is tender and loaded with flavor. The blend of bourbon, brown sugar, soy sauce, and garlic gives this dish a complex taste profile that’s both family-friendly and crowd-pleasing. Plus, the slow cooker locks in moisture, so the chicken strands are juicy and never dry. Serve it over steamed rice or even in lettuce wraps for a versatile mealtime winner.
Key Preparations for Best Results
For optimal results, start with evenly diced chicken breast or thigh meat. Uniform pieces help ensure even cooking and maximum sauce absorption. Using a high-quality chopper like the Mueller Pro-Series 10-in-1, 8 Blade Vegetable Chopper can help you dice chicken and aromatics quickly and safely, reducing prep time and guaranteeing consistent texture throughout your dish.
Next, prep your aromatics. Onion and garlic are essential here—they build the foundational flavor. For ultra-fine, even pieces, a reliable chopper saves you the trouble of difficult manual mincing.
Effortless Crock Pot Cooking
Once everything is prepped, the magic happens in your slow cooker. Simply layer in the chicken and pour over the robust bourbon sauce. No need to stir during cooking—the gentle heat and slow pace allow the flavors to develop and penetrate the chicken thoroughly. For shredding the chicken just before serving, a handy tool such as the Chicken Shredder Tool Twist for Kitchen makes quick work of the final step without any mess.
After its hands-off cook time, the sauce thickens slightly. If you want it extra glossy and rich, remove the lid for the last half hour of cooking, or finish with a quick sauté in a skillet.
Serving and Storing Bourbon Chicken
Serve your bourbon chicken over a bed of fluffy rice, in lettuce cups, or as a hearty sandwich filling. For easy meal storage, portion leftovers into Rubbermaid Brilliance Food Storage Containers, Set of 5 (3.2 Cup). This ensures the chicken stays juicy and reheats perfectly for lunchboxes or midweek dinners.
Garnish with diced green onions or toasted sesame seeds for a fresh finish. If you’re bringing your lunch on the go, the Bentgo Salad Container – 54 oz Bowl keeps your meal crisp and ready to enjoy wherever you are.
Nutritional Information and Serving Size
This recipe yields about 6 hearty servings. Each serving contains approximately 350–400 calories, depending on the cut of chicken and final portion of sauce. Paired with steamed rice or a crisp salad, it’s a balanced dish that provides lean protein and bold flavor.
Crock Pot Bourbon Chicken (Recap)
This effortless Crock Pot Bourbon Chicken achieves a balance of sweet, salty, and smoky flavors with just a handful of pantry staples. The slow cooker handles all the heavy lifting, so you can enjoy a crowd-pleasing entrée that’s guaranteed to become a regular on your dinner rotation.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken and vegetables using a Mueller Pro-Series 10-in-1, 8 Blade Vegetable Chopper for even, quick, and safe dicing of both chicken and onions.
- In your crock pot, layer the chicken pieces. Top with minced garlic and chopped onions.
- In a bowl, whisk together soy sauce, bourbon (or apple juice), brown sugar, chicken broth, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, crushed red pepper (if using), olive oil, salt, and pepper.
- Pour sauce mixture over the chicken. Cover and cook on LOW for 4–5 hours or HIGH for 2–3 hours, until the chicken is cooked through.
- If a thicker sauce is desired, whisk together cornstarch and water. Stir into the crock pot during the last 20–30 minutes of cooking, then switch to HIGH and cook uncovered until sauce thickens.
- Use a Chicken Shredder Tool Twist for Kitchen to gently shred chicken in the pot, mixing it thoroughly with the sauce.
- Serve warm, garnished with chopped green onions and sesame seeds. Store leftovers in Rubbermaid Brilliance Food Storage Containers for easy reheating.
- For portioned meal prep or taking your bourbon chicken and rice on the go, spoon into a Bentgo Salad Container and close tightly until ready to eat.
Cook and Prep Times
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 4–5 hours (on LOW) or 2–3 hours (on HIGH)
Total Time: 4–5 hours (hands-off slow-cooker cooking makes it easy!)
