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Slow Cooker Bourbon Chicken Recipe

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Slow Cooker Bourbon Chicken Recipe

Time for a simple, delicious, and super flavorful meal with our slow cooker bourbon chicken recipe. This popular dish is so simple to make and your mouth will be watering after its been in the slow cooker all day. 

Slow Cooker Bourbon Chicken served on top of rice on a plate

If you are looking for easy crock pot recipes, our slow cooker bourbon chicken recipe will be perfect! This take on Bourbon street chicken is one that you will want to save and make over and over again. 

The flavor that the ingredients produce for this slow cooker recipe is incredible. Plus everything you need will most likely already be right in your pantry! 

Thus, making this recipe perfect to keep on budget at the end of the month or between paychecks. Not to mention, even your pickiest eaters will love this tasty recipe. 

For more delicious chicken recipes that you can make in the slow cooker, add our Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Pasta Recipe, Slow Cooker Chicken Parmesan Recipe, Slow Cooker Chicken Cordon Bleu Recipe, and of course Slow Cooker Chicken Alfredo Lasagna Recipe all need to be added to your menu!

Slow Cooker Bourbon Chicken on top of a plate of rice with a slow cooker in the background

Ingredients You Need to Make Our Slow Cooker Bourbon Chicken Recipe:

  • Skinless chicken breasts 
  • Minced garlic
  • Ginger
  • Crushed red pepper flakes
  • Apple juice
  • Brown sugar
  • Ketchup
  • Apple cider vinegar
  • Water
  • Low sodium soy sauce
  • Cornstarch

How To Make Our Slow Cooker Bourbon Chicken Recipe:

Side view of Slow Cooker Bourbon Chicken on top of a plate of rice

To begin, start by placing the chicken breasts into the bottom of the slow cooker. 

Then, in a medium sized mixing bowl, combine the minced garlic, ginger, crushed red pepper flakes, apple juice, brown sugar, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, water, and low sodium soy sauce. 

Mix it together until it is well combined and then pour it over top of the chicken in the slow cooker.

Once the sauce is on top of the chicken, place the lid on the slow cooker and turn the cooker on low for 5-7 hours. 

Make sure to check the chicken starting around the 5 hour mark checking to see if the chicken is done. Try and avoid over cooking the chicken so it does not dry out. 

Then, ones the chicken is done, remove the chicken and shred it or cut it into small chunks. 

After you are done shredding the chicken, combine the 2 tablespoons of cornstarch and 2 tablespoons of the sauce from the slow cooker in a small mixing bowl and then pour it back into the slow cooker. 

Whisk the cornstarch mixture into the rest of the sauce until it is combined. 

A spoonful of Slow Cooker Bourbon Chicken out of the crock pot

Now, return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker and mix it all together until all of the chicken is covered in the sauce and let it sit on warm until you are ready to serve. 

A spoonful of Slow Cooker Bourbon Chicken on top of a plate of rice

Then, serve it over rice and top it with a little extra red pepper flakes for an added kick of flavor and enjoy!

To Make Bourbon Street Chicken You Will Need:

  1. Slow cooker (THIS one works great!)
  2. Medium mixing bowl
  3. Small mixing bowl
  4. Whisk
  5. Forks for shredded

Why is it Called Bourbon Chicken if it Doesn’t Have Bourbon in it?

Bourbon chicken is named after Bourbon Street in New Orleans. It’s said that the dish became popular in a Chinese restaurant that was located on Bourbon Street. There are many Chinese restaurants and mall food courts that serve this dish. 

You could probably add in some bourbon if you wanted a deeper bourbon flavor. Many times the Bourbon chicken that you will find in restaurants or food courts is covered in batter and then deep fried, so this is a lightened up version that is easy to make in your crock pot.

What is Bourbon Chicken Sauce Made of?

Our bourbon sauce is made put of a list of pantry ingredients that you will probably have on hand to make this delicious chicken breast dinner recipe. 

  • Minced garlic
  • Ginger
  • Crushed red pepper flakes
  • Apple juice
  • Brown sugar
  • Ketchup
  • Apple cider vinegar
  • Water
  • Low sodium soy sauce
  • Cornstarch

If you like things extra saucy, you can always double the sauce ingredients to make sure you have enough or extra to serve with dinner!

What can You Serve Bourbon Chicken on?

We like to serve this over rice (brown rice and cauliflower rice go great with this recipe!). You can top it with sliced green onions or even red pepper flakes to add a little kick. 

You can also add a side of stir-fried vegetables, you can use Natasha’s Kitchen’s recipe for easy vegetable stir fry,  or even use the chicken on top of a green salad. The chicken would also be great in a lettuce wrap!

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Enjoy Even More Delicious Asian Inspired Recipes!

  1. Slow Cooker Chinese Pork Chops Recipe
  2. Chinese Ground Turkey and Green Bean Stir-Fry (Healthy) Recipe
  3. Grilled Chinese Chicken Kabobs Recipe
  4. Slow Cooker Cashew Chicken Recipe
  5. Slow Cooker Kung Pao Chicken Recipe
  6. Asian Chopped Chicken Salad Recipe
  7. Teriyaki Pork Stir Fry Recipe
  8. Instant Pot Mongolian Beef Recipe (Freezer Meal) 
  9. Egg Roll in a Bowl Recipe
  10. Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe 
  11. Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef

Ideas of What to Serve with Slow Cooker Bourbon Chicken:

  1. Instant Pot Chicken Fried Rice Recipe
  2. Chinese Fried Rice Recipe
  3. Cashew Chicken Skillet Stir-Fry Recipe
  4. Stir-Fried Zucchini Recipe
  5. Hawaiian Luau Fried Rice Recipe
  6. Instant Pot Lemon Rice Pilaf Recipe
  7. Cauliflower Fried Rice
  8. Chinese Chicken Fried Rice Recipe [Better Than Take Out]
slow cooker bourbon chicken on a plate with rice

Slow Cooker Bourbon Chicken Recipe

A tasty chicken dish that cooks all day in the slow cooker. You'll love this and want to add it to your dinner rotation.
Serving6
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 6 hours
Total Time 6 hours 15 minutes
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Ingredients

  • 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • ½ teaspoon minced garlic
  • ¼ teaspoon ginger
  • ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • ¼ cup apple juice
  • ¼ cup brown sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons ketchup
  • 1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • ⅓ cup water
  • ⅓ cup low sodium soy sauce
  • 2 Tablespoons cornstarch

Equipment

Instructions

  1. Place chicken breasts in the bottom of slow cooker.
  2.  In a medium sized mixing bowl, combine garlic, ginger, red pepper flakes, apple juice, brown sugar, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, water and soy sauce. Pour sauce on top of chicken.
  3. Replace lid and cook 5-7 hours on low (every crock pot is different – be sure to not overcook so that your chicken isn't dry).  Remove chicken and shred or cut into chunks. 
  4. In a small bowl, mix together 2 Tablespoons cornstarch with 2 Tablespoons of sauce from the crock pot.  Whisk together and pour back into the crock pot to thicken the sauce. 
  5. Return chicken to the slow cooker and let warm until ready to serve.  Serve over rice and garnish with additional red pepper flakes.

Notes

How to make this into a freezer meal:
Add all ingredients EXCEPT CORNSTARCH to a gallon-sized freezer bag. Squeeze out as much air as possible and seal bag closed. Place freezer bag into freezer and it will last 60-90 days. When ready to use, spray inside of slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray and dump ingredients from bag into slow cooker. Place the lid on top. Cover and cook on LOW heat for 6-8 hours (or HIGH heat for 3-4 hours). Follow the rest of the instructions as written.
  • You could also use chicken thighs for this recipe.

Nutrition

Calories: 160 kcal · Carbohydrates: 18 g · Protein: 17 g · Fat: 2 g · Saturated Fat: 1 g · Trans Fat: 1 g · Cholesterol: 48 mg · Sodium: 611 mg · Potassium: 348 mg · Fiber: 1 g · Sugar: 11 g · Vitamin A: 73 IU · Vitamin C: 1 mg · Calcium: 17 mg · Iron: 1 mg
Cuisine: American
Course: Main Course
Did You Make This Recipe?We’d love to hear your thoughts! Leave a review or a question in the comment section below the post.
2 plates of Slow Cooker Bourbon Chicken on top of rice

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Published: January 27, 2023Updated: April 12, 2024

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Questions & Reviews

  1. Eric Pepple says:
    I'd love to make this...assuming I didn't already finish the bourbon! Thanks for sharing :)

    Happy Blogging!
    Happy Valley Chow
  2. Danielle says:
    I love bourbon chicken and havent had it in forever. I am making this one for sure...but where's the bourbon?
  4. Sinea says:
    Elyse, our sons will love this. Just their kind of recipe. Planning on trying it really soon.

    Many blessings, Sinea from Ducks ?n a Row
  5. Penny says:
    This sounds delicious and will definitely try it. However, can anyone explain why when using the slow cooker my food has so much liquid. It never looks like the pictures I see.
  6. Dana says:
    This looks and sounds amazing! Thanks! Enjoy your night!
  7. Six Sisters says:
    We use a slotted spoon when we dish it out of the Crock Pot and only use as much liquid as we want. Hope this helps! -The Six Sisters
  8. Christy Richards says:
    I dont have a crock pot :( is there another way of making it? I Love Bourbon Chicken!!
  9. Vicki says:
    No bourbon?
  10. Maia says:
    Where is the Pintrest button?
  11. debi53 says:
    Why is it called Bourbon Chicken if there isn't any Bourbon in it, am I missing something????
  12. Pamela Jones says:
    I've read the recipe several times and then decided to read the comments. Glad I'm not loosing my mind when I didn't see bourbon listed. Is the sauce suppose to mimic the bourbon taste?
  13. Duker says:
    you call is bourbon chicken but there is no bourbon in it? not really a bourbon chicken then is it?
  14. Jan - WFDM? says:
    I was excited to see the recipe but alas... no bourbon! Does the recipe have an error?
  15. Six Sisters says:
    No bourbon....no error. The name actually comes from the name of a street - Bourbon Street, not the alcohol. It's so delicious. NO Bourbon!!
  16. Six Sisters says:
    It's the "Pin It" button right under the picture.
  17. Six Sisters says:
    I found this information on Google. Heat the oven to 325 degrees. Convert the Crock-Pot cooking time for low settings. If a dish requires cooking in a Crock-Pot on the low setting for 4 to 8 hours, it will usually only require 30 to 45 minutes in the regular oven. For items that take 6 to 10 hours in the Crock-Pot on the low setting, plan on cooking in the oven for 40 to 50 minutes.

    Not sure how accurate this is. Be sure to keep an eye on it.

  18. Pamela Jones says:
    LOL!! Thank you
  19. Ben says:
    Hi Sixsisters,
    Thank you sooo much for the recipe! I'll definitely spread the word!
    Thank you again,
    Ben
  20. Patricia Vargas says:
    I wanted to make this today but realized my soy sauce isn't low sodium. :( will it make a difference if I use that or should I wait until I get low sodium? It looks delicious!
  21. Six Sisters says:
    It won't make a difference at all. We were just trying to use a little healthier version of soy sauce. :)
  22. NoNoNannette says:
    Where is the BOURBON. No Bourbon, Is this like Kahlua Pork, No Kahlua :~)
  23. Cyd says:
    No Bourbon and no Kahlua. And it is so delicious!
  24. Amanda says:
    Made this yesterday and it was yummy! The whole family enjoyed it (kids 1 ,5 and 10!) This recipe is a keeper!
  25. Andrew Kraus says:
    My wife made this tonight. Started off great. Well written, solid method, tasted during cooking and was pleased. Then the wife added the required amount of corn starch. A 1/4 cup!?!? Totally ruined it. Dish ended up tasting like someone put soap in it. That much corn starch can thicken a gallon of sausage gravy. The best thing would be to leave out the corn starch and let the sauce reduce and thicken naturally.
  26. Joy says:
    When a friend recommended this recipe I was wondering what I could replace the Bourbon with.....glad I don't have to worry about that :)
  27. Nolaleblanc says:
    I'm with him on the corn starch. It's way too much. I went back and double checked the recipe to make sure I didn't leave anything out. I didn't. My gut told me not to use all that corn starch. I wish I listened to my gut.
  28. Jennifer says:
    I know this is a late reply but... we actually make the exact recipe on the stove top! Saute cubed chicken until done, then pour in the sauce (everything minus the cornstarch). Cook for 20 min or so. Then add cornstarch to thicken and eat over rice.
  29. Pam Sanderson says:
    Lol! No bourbon Saw the explanation...a lot could have been avoided by adding the word street after bourbon. I added bourbon anyway! Think outsidethe box
  30. joan Cooke says:
    Shouldn't be called bourbon chicken if there's no burbon in it!!!!!!
  31. joan cooke says:
    Didn't see the explanation either. Should put it with the recipe so it's not confusing. Thanks
  32. Sandy Steward says:
    Not trying to change a family favorite, but maybe it should be titled "Bourbon Street Chicken" instead to avoid people wondering, "where is the Bourbon?" Can't wait to try this!
  33. Jill says:
    Who cares what it's called?? It's delicious! Thanks- my family really enjoyed this!
  34. Sharon Nunn says:
    I don't personally drink it, but I guess if you want the bourbon, you could drink it while you enjoy your meal. :)
  35. Julia says:
    Is it okay to use frozen chicken for this?
  36. Cyd says:
    It should be fine with frozen chicken breasts.
  37. Jackie says:
    I bought a large bottle of bourbon for a recipe last Thanksgiving and it hasn't been touched since. I'm adding a splash of bourbon.
  38. Virginie Léveillé says:
    Excellent !
  39. K says:
    Im sitting here giggling away at everyone who is mad at the name of the dish. And the lack of bourbon. This is a well known dish. And popular at chinese restaurants. Its from a chinese chef working on Bourbon street who came up with the dish. Its not like the authors of this blog just randomly created and then poorly named this dish to try and confuse people lol. They were just recreating a very well known dish! Which never has bourbon in it ;) :)
  40. Carole says:
    I have no apple juice. Would orange juice work?
  41. Lisa D. says:
    Can I double the sauce or would that be too much
  42. Momma Cyd says:
    We love our sauce, so we agree that you can totally double your sauce.
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