My mouth is watering just thinking about the next time I make this Crock Pot Bourbon Chicken! It is perfectly balanced AND delicious. I've cooked this recipe many times for dinner and it's always a hit. Even picky eaters are going to ask for it by name.
The secret to this recipe is the sauce. The BBQ sauce is smokey while the dark brown sugar adds a sweet, molasses flavor. Can't forget the saltiness from the soy sauce and the heat from the red pepper flakes. It touches on every note creating the perfect flavor bomb.
If you like cooking with bourbon, you will love my smoked spatchcock chicken with Bourbon Glaze and maple bourbon braided salmon. If you prefer to cook without alcohol, try my Bourbon Street chicken without alcohol.
Why You'll Love This Crock Pot Bourbon Chicken Recipe
- Great leftovers: If you have any leftover bourbon chicken, it reheats so well! I love eating it the next day for lunch.
- Easy to make: There's minimal prep involved which keeps you out of the kitchen.
- Family favorite: I never met anyone who didn't fall in love with this recipe. It's one of the best crock pot chicken recipes ever!
Ingredients
These are all of the ingredients needed to make crock pot bourbon chicken. Many of them are inexpensive and common, making them a super accessible recipe. The only obvious difference is bourbon isn't cooked with a lot, so keep that in mind when you choose the brand and size that you purchase.
- Chicken breasts: Make sure that the chicken breasts are thawed and ready to go before you start cooking. Chicken thighs would work great in this recipe, too.
- Brown sugar: I use dark brown sugar because I love the bold molasses flavor. If you prefer light brown sugar, go ahead and use it!
- BBQ sauce: I prefer a hickory BBQ sauce to help balance the other ingredients but you can use any flavor or brand that you love.
- Bourbon: Can't make bourbon chicken without it! You don't need to purchase an expensive variety but one that you wouldn't mind drinking or using in another recipe.
- Soy sauce: I like to use low-sodium soy sauce to prevent the bourbon chicken from becoming too salty.
- Garlic: Freshly minced garlic is going to enhance the flavors of the other components.
- Seasoning: I keep it simple with a little red pepper flakes for heat, salt, and pepper.
- Corn starch: This is going to help thicken your sauce so it's not watery.
- Green onion: I like to garnish my finished brown sugar bourbon chicken with freshly chopped green onions but it's optional.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Maple bourbon chicken: Swap some of the brown sugar for maple syrup or add some as an additional ingredient for authentic maple flavor.
- Honey bourbon chicken: Replace all or some of the brown sugar with honey for a sweet yet unique flavor profile. Crock pot honey bourbon chicken is my favorite variation!
- Pineapple bourbon chicken: Add chopped pineapple and some pineapple juice for a tropical version.
- Spicy: Add a bit of chili pepper flakes, jalapeno powder, smoked jalapeno powder, or chipotle powder to the mixture for a bit of heat. You can also serve up our homemade hot pepper sauce on the table as well.
Enjoy a bourbon lemon cocktail with this crock pot chicken.
How to Make Bourbon Chicken in the Crock Pot
Here are all of the steps needed to make this slow cooker bourbon chicken. It is super easy! The only prep you should take care of ahead of time is measuring your ingredients and cutting your chicken up into 1-inch pieces so it's easy to stir.
Step 1: Combine all the ingredients. Add all the sauce ingredients, spices, and chicken breasts to the slow cooker. The only item that should be left out is the cornstarch. Stir well until well combined and the chicken is coated.
Step 2: Cook. Cover the crock pot and cook the chicken in the sauce for 3-4 hours on low or 2-3 hours on high.
Step 3: Make a slurry. Scoop out ½ cup of liquid from the crock pot and add it to a small container or bowl with the cornstarch. Whisk it together until all the corn starch dissolves, then pour it back into the pot. Stir it until well mixed.
Step 4: Serve. Enjoy the bourbon chicken over rice, quinoa, or your favorite veggie!
⭐️ Hint: Make sure the chicken breasts are fully cooked before you make the cornstarch slurry. They need to reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
If you love recipes like this one, you may also enjoy this Crock Pot Salsa Chicken, Crockpot Huli Huli Chicken, Crockpot Apricot Chicken, Chicken Casserole with Cream of Mushroom Soup, Spinach Rice, Crock Pot Chicken and Grav, Kung Pao Bowl, Ginger Chicken or our delicious Lazy Lasagna recipe.
Storage Directions
- Refrigeration: Transfer any leftover chicken to an airtight container. Store it in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 4 months.
- Reheating: Place it in a saucepan and heat over medium heat until heated through. If frozen, thaw it out in the fridge overnight before reheating.
- Make Ahead: To save even more time, cut your chicken and add your sauce ingredients to a bowl. Cover it with plastic wrap and store it in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours before you're ready to cook it.
Serving Suggestions
- I love serving this recipe for easy bourbon chicken with rice. Easy Coconut Ginger Rice or white rice are my go-tos. Quinoa is great, too!
- Any vegetable would be fantastic with this chicken! Try it with Roasted Red Cabbage Steaks, Sauteed Cauliflower, or Skillet Roasted Broccoli.
- Do you like potatoes? These Crispy Smashed Potatoes are super tasty and go great with the bourbon sauce.
Recipe Tips
- Sear the chicken for more flavor: Leave the breasts whole and sear them in a skillet for added flavor before placing them in the crock pot.
- Add veggies: Try chopped onions, bell peppers, or mushrooms for more texture. They taste great cooked in the bourbon sauce.
- Let it marinate: Marinade the chicken in the sauce overnight to infuse more flavor.
Recipe FAQs
Yes! If you prefer to not use alcohol you may leave out the bourbon and follow the same instructions. Try using apple juice instead for acidity.
Sure! If you have a recipe for BBQ sauce that you love, substitute the store-bought!
You may need to let it cook down a little longer after adding the cornstarch slurry. This should help the sauce thicken more.
More Delicious Crock Pot Chicken Dishes
Do you like crock pot chicken recipes? Here are some recipes you may also like to try.
Ready to get cooking? Remember that you can print this recipe if you would like.
Crock Pot Bourbon Chicken
Equipment
- 6-8 quart crockpot
- Stirring spoon or spatula
- plates or bowls for serving
Ingredients
- ⅔ cup dark brown sugar
- ½ cup hickory BBQ sauce or your favorite type
- ½ cup bourbon
- 2 Tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
- 1 Tablespoon garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 pounds chicken breast cut into 1-inch cubes
- 2 Tablespoons cornstarch
- 3 Tablespoons green onion chopped
- Rice or quinoa for serving optional
Instructions
- Load the crockpot. In a 6-8 quart crock pot, mix together the brown sugar, BBQ sauce, bourbon, soy sauce, garlic, red pepper flakes, salt, pepper, and chicken until all ingredients are well combined and the chicken is coated.
- Cook covered on low for 3-4 hours or high for 2-3 hours.
- Thicken. Remove ½ cup of the liquid to a small bowl and mix in cornstarch. Add the cornstarch mixture back to the crockpot and stir well. This will thicken the sauce and make sure every bite of chicken is coated in flavor!
- Serve. Top with green onion and serve warm. This chicken is great served over rice or quinoa.
Notes
- Sear the chicken for more flavor: Leave the breasts whole and sear them in a skillet for added flavor before placing them in the crock pot.
- Add veggies: Try chopped onions, bell peppers, or mushrooms for more texture. They taste great cooked in the bourbon sauce.
- Let it marinate: Marinade the chicken in the sauce overnight to infuse more flavor.
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