Description
Succulent crockpot bourbon chicken blends sweet and tangy flavors from Louisiana-inspired cuisine. Southern comfort meets slow-cooker convenience with tender meat that melts in your mouth, promising a delightful meal you’ll crave again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins:
- 2 pounds chicken thighs
Seasonings and Spices:
- Kosher salt
- Pepper
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Liquids and Sweeteners:
- 1/3 cup bourbon
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 3/4 cup soy sauce
Thickening Agents:
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 3 tablespoons cold water
Instructions
- Season chicken thighs generously with salt and pepper, ensuring even coverage for maximum flavor infusion.
- Whisk together bourbon, brown sugar, soy sauce, and minced garlic in a separate bowl to create a rich, aromatic marinade.
- Pour the bourbon mixture directly over the seasoned chicken thighs in the crockpot, coating each piece thoroughly.
- Set crockpot to low temperature and allow chicken to slow-cook for 4 hours, or alternatively use high setting for 3 hours until meat becomes tender and easily pulls apart.
- Thirty minutes before cooking concludes, create a cornstarch slurry by blending cornstarch with water until smooth and lump-free.
- Gently stir the cornstarch mixture into the cooking liquid, which will naturally thicken the sauce and create a glossy, caramelized coating.
- Once cooking is complete, carefully transfer chicken to a serving platter, allowing excess sauce to drip back into the crockpot.
- Drizzle remaining sauce over the chicken and garnish with finely chopped green onions for a fresh, vibrant presentation.
- Serve hot alongside fluffy steamed rice, allowing guests to spoon additional sauce over their portion.
Notes
- Swap bourbon for apple juice or chicken broth if avoiding alcohol, maintaining rich flavor complexity without changing recipe structure.
- Trim excess fat from chicken thighs before cooking to reduce greasiness and create cleaner sauce texture.
- Enhance sauce depth by adding a splash of rice vinegar or small amount of sriracha for subtle tangy kick that balances sweetness.
- Create low-sodium version by using reduced-sodium soy sauce and adjusting salt levels to maintain flavor profile without compromising health considerations.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 27g
- Cholesterol: 100mg