Crock Pot Bourbon Chicken – Sweet and Sticky Slow Cooker Chicken
Crock Pot Bourbon Chicken is a sweet, savory, and sticky slow cooker dinner made with tender bite-sized chicken simmered in teriyaki sauce, broth or bourbon, honey, brown sugar, garlic, and ginger. A simple cornstarch slurry thickens the flavorful sauce, making it perfect to serve over fluffy rice for an easy takeout-inspired family meal.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours 30 minutes
- Total Time: 3 hours 45 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Dinner, Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American, Asian-Inspired
Ingredients
For the Chicken
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1/2 cup teriyaki sauce
- 1/2 cup chicken broth or bourbon
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon mustard
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons dried minced onions
- 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon water
For Serving
- Prepared rice, for serving
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken: Cut the chicken into evenly sized bite-sized pieces and place them in the bottom of a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker.
- Mix the sauce: In a bowl, whisk together the teriyaki sauce, chicken broth or bourbon, honey, mustard, brown sugar, garlic powder, dried minced onions, and ground ginger until combined.
- Add sauce to the slow cooker: Pour the sauce over the chicken and stir to coat the pieces evenly.
- Slow cook: Cover and cook on LOW for 3–4 hours or HIGH for 1 1/2–2 hours, until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). Cooking time depends on the size of the chicken pieces and your slow cooker.
- Thicken the sauce: In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch with 1 tablespoon water until smooth. Stir the slurry into the slow cooker sauce.
- Finish cooking: Cover and cook on HIGH for another 10–15 minutes, stirring once, until the sauce thickens and coats the chicken. If needed, allow a few extra minutes for the sauce to reach your preferred consistency.
- Prepare the rice: Cook rice according to the package instructions while the chicken finishes cooking.
- Serve: Spoon the bourbon chicken and sauce over warm rice. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Broth or bourbon: Chicken broth makes a family-friendly version without alcohol. Bourbon adds a deeper, distinctive flavor; the alcohol may not cook off completely in a slow cooker.
- Cut evenly: Similar-sized chicken pieces cook more evenly and are easier to serve over rice.
- Check doneness: Chicken should reach 165°F (74°C) in the thickest pieces before serving.
- Adjust the sweetness: The sauce is intentionally sweet and savory. Reduce the brown sugar slightly if you prefer a less sweet result.
- Control the thickness: Mix the cornstarch with cold water before adding it to avoid lumps. If the sauce becomes too thick, stir in a splash of broth.
- Storage: Refrigerate chicken and sauce in an airtight container for up to 3–4 days. Reheat thoroughly and serve with freshly prepared rice.