Description
Slow-cooker bourbon chicken brings Southern comfort to your dinner table with tender, glazed meat infused with rich bourbon and sweet soy sauce. Hearty flavors meld together, creating a delicious meal families will eagerly devour.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs (0.9 kg) chicken thighs or breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- ½ cup low-sodium soy sauce
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup honey
- ¼ cup ketchup
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- ⅓ cup bourbon (or apple juice for non-alcoholic)
- 2 tsps minced garlic
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
- 2 tbsps cornstarch
- 2 tbsps water
- Cooked white rice or fried rice
- Sliced green onions (for garnish)
- Sesame seeds (optional)
Instructions
- Marinade Preparation: Whisk together bourbon (or apple juice), soy sauce, brown sugar, ketchup, honey, apple cider vinegar, minced garlic, ground ginger, and red pepper flakes in a mixing bowl, creating a robust flavor profile.
- Chicken Arrangement: Layer chicken pieces evenly in the crockpot, ensuring complete coverage with the marinade and preventing any overlapping.
- Slow Cooking: Secure the lid and cook on low for 4-5 hours or on high for 2-3 hours until chicken reaches optimal tenderness, allowing flavors to meld and intensify.
- Sauce Enhancement: Blend cornstarch with water to create a smooth slurry, then gently incorporate into the cooking liquid during the final 20 minutes to develop a luxurious, glossy sauce consistency.
- Finishing Touch: Uncover the crockpot and increase heat to high, reducing the sauce for 15-20 minutes while stirring intermittently to prevent scorching and achieve a perfect glaze.
- Serving: Plate the bourbon-infused chicken over steamed rice, garnishing with a sprinkle of sliced green onions and sesame seeds for a vibrant and appetizing presentation.
Notes
- Prevent Chicken Overlapping: Arrange chicken pieces in a single layer to ensure even cooking and consistent flavor absorption throughout the dish.
- Adjust Spice Levels: Modify red pepper flakes quantity based on personal heat preference; start with less and gradually increase for controlled spiciness.
- Liquid Substitution Strategy: Replace bourbon with apple juice for a non-alcoholic version without compromising the rich, tangy flavor profile of the recipe.
- Thickening Sauce Technique: Whisk cornstarch slurry thoroughly to avoid lumps, ensuring a smooth and glossy sauce consistency when reducing in the crockpot.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 46 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg