Slow Cooker Bourbon Chicken is an easy and tasty weeknight or busy weekend meal. The rich bourbon ginger sauce is sweet and tangy. This meal is perfect served over rice with a side of steamed broccoli.
3lbsskinless chicken thighs or 2 large whole boneless, skinless chicken breasts [See Note 1]
3tablespoonscornstarch
For the Marinade:
1/2tspfresh grated ginger(about a 1/2 inch piece)
4clovesgarlic, minced
1/2tspcrushed red chili flakes
1- 1/2Tbsphoney
2Tbspbrown sugar
1/4cup(4 Tbsp) ketchup
3Tbspcider vinegar
1/4cupwater or chicken stock
1/4cupBourbon [See Note 2, 3]
1/4cuplow sodium soy sauce [See Note 4]
ground black pepper, to taste
For the Optional Garnish:
sliced green onions/scallions
toasted sesame seeds
Instructions
Mix all marinade ingredients in a small bowl.
Place chicken in slow cooker, pour sauce over top. Cover and cook on low 6-7 hours or on high 3 hours.
Remove chicken and shred into small bite-sized pieces. Set aside.
Meanwhile, combine 3 tablespoons water with cornstarch. Turn slow cooker up to high. Whisk cornstarch slurry into the sauce. Cover and allow to thicken, stirring occasionally.
Return chicken back into the Bourbon Sauce and garnish with green onions.
Serve over rice with a side of steamed broccoli.
Notes
This recipe can be prepared with either whole boneless, skinless chicken breasts or chicken thighs. I use bone-in chicken thighs and just de-bone as I shred the chicken after it's cooked. The one caveat about chicken breast meat is that because it is so lean, it can have a tendency to dry out in the slow cooker. For this reason, I prefer chicken thighs but you can quite easily swap out to chicken breasts if that's what you prefer.
To omit the Bourbon, replace with apple juice, chicken stock, or water. Be mindful that this will significantly alter the flavor of the Bourbon Sauce.
If you do not keep a bottle or Bourbon on the shelf or if you are not sure if you'd like it, you can buy a "nip" size bottle (shot size) at the liquor store to use just for a flavor or recipe trial.
I use low-sodium soy sauce if you use traditional soy sauce, watch the salt content as traditional soy is quite salty as compared to low sodium soy.