This website may contain affiliate links and advertising so that we can provide recipes to you. Read my disclosure policy.
Tender and juicy chicken thighs simmered in a brown sugar bourbon sauce all day long. Your family will love this melt-in-your-mouth crockpot bourbon chicken. A classic New Orleans recipe made easy in the crockpot!
I sure do LOVE New Orleans-inspired food! Try my jambalaya recipe, which is also made in the crockpot. This gumbo recipe is another fave and a classic New Orleans dish. I highly recommend a visit there just for the food, it’s SO yummy!
Crockpot Bourbon Chicken
Bourbon chicken is a dish named after the famous Bourbon Street in New Orleans, Louisiana. This recipe also uses bourbon to add a rich deep flavor to the sauce. Paired with sweet brown sugar, the sauce is sweet and sticky and SO delicious! Cooked low and slow, this crockpot bourbon chicken is an incredible dinner ready when you get home.
Crockpot dinners are the MVP at my house! They are easy to put together and are always our favorite dinners. Try this crack chicken, my famous pot roast, or this tasty beef and broccoli. They’re all made in the crockpot and I just know you will love them!
Ingredients Needed
Each ingredient in this crockpot bourbon chicken gives this recipe its mouthwatering flavor! And it’s less than 10 ingredients, which most likely you already have on hand! All measurements can be found below in the recipe card.
- Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs: Chicken thighs are the secret weapon! It results in the most tender and flavorful chicken.
- Kosher Salt and Pepper: Season the chicken to taste with salt and pepper to add flavor.
- Bourbon: You can also use whiskey, apple juice, or chicken broth.
- Brown Sugar: This creates the sweetness in the sauce and gives the crockpot bourbon chicken the best flavor.
- Soy Sauce: Adds depth and richness to the sauce, giving the chicken that savory and slightly salty goodness that will wow your taste buds.
- Garlic: Fresh garlic adds great flavor!
- Cornstarch: Cornstarch is the thickening agent that helps create a luscious, glossy sauce.
- Cold Water: Make sure to use cold water to help dissolve the cornstarch.
Easy Crockpot Bourbon Chicken
Let’s make the best crockpot Bourbon chicken! It’s so incredibly easy, and the results are so tasty! You’re family will be begging you to make this weekly! The instructions are below and also in the recipe card.
- Season the Chicken and Place in Crockpot: Season the chicken thighs with salt & pepper on both sides and place them in the bottom of the crockpot.
- Make the Sauce and Pour Over Chicken: In a medium bowl add the bourbon, brown sugar, soy sauce, and garlic. Stir well to combine. Pour over the chicken in the crockpot.
- Cover and Cook: Cover with the lid and cook on low for 4 hours or high for 3 hours.
- Add the Cornstarch Mixture: Add the cornstarch and water in a small bowl and whisk until combined. Whisk the cornstarch slurry into the sauce 30 minutes before the chicken is done cooking. This will thicken the sauce.
- Serve Over Rice: Enjoy the chicken over rice and garnish with green onions.
Crockpot Bourbon Chicken Tips
Ready to create mouthwatering bourbon chicken with the convenience of a crockpot? These easy tips and tricks will have you cooking up tender, flavor-packed chicken in no time.
- Chicken Thighs: Use chicken thighs for the best results. You are welcome to use chicken breast and it will cut down on the fat content too. Chicken thighs are just so juicy and tender. They also hold the flavor better!
- Bourbon Alternatives: If you don’t have bourbon, whiskey, brandy or even scotch will work in place of it.
- Leave Bourbon Out: The alcohol from the bourbon does evaporate completely while cooking. It is safe for children to eat. Just replace the bourbon with chicken broth or apple cider.
- Make it Spicy: If you love a little heat, add some red pepper flakes, or sriracha sauce to the glaze when whisking.
Storing Leftovers
Crockpot bourbon chicken makes the best leftovers for lunch the next day! Follow my tips below for storing and reheating this yummy chicken. Everyone will fight over the leftovers so be prepared!
- In the Refrigerator: Allow your crockpot bourbon chicken to cool completely, then transfer it to an airtight container. As long as you keep it in the fridge, it should stay good for about 4 days.
- To Reheat: Pop your chicken in the microwave or warm over the stove. Make sure to warm it up with the sauce to keep it from drying out. And you’ll definitely want all the sauce you can get because it’s SO good.
More Chicken Dinner Ideas
Chicken is SO versatile and makes the best dinners! Most of our favorite dinner recipes start with chicken and I’ve lined up a few recipes for you to make this week. I can’t wait for you to try these!
Pin this now to find it later
Pin It
Crockpot Bourbon Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
- Kosher salt and pepper, to taste
- 1/3 cup bourbon, whiskey, apple juice, or chicken broth
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 3/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 3 tablespoons cold water
Instructions
- Season 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs with Kosher salt and pepper, on both sides and place them in the bottom of the crockpot.
- In a medium bowl add 1/3 cup bourbon,3/4 cup brown sugar, 3/4 cup soy sauce, and 2 cloves garlic,. Stir well to combine. Pour over the chicken in the crockpot.
- Cover with the lid and cook on low for 4 hours or high for 3 hours.
- Add 2 tablespoons cornstarch and 3 tablespoons cold water in a small bowl and whisk until combined. Whisk the cornstarch slurry into the sauce 30 minutes before the chicken is done cooking. This will thicken the sauce.
- Enjoy the chicken over rice and garnish with green onions.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This recipe had way too much brown sugar. It was sickeningly sweet and the flavor was lacking. It definitely needs some ginger and maybe some chili flakes to balance out the sweetness. Also the cooking time left the chicken chewy. My family did not enjoy this, and were very disappointed because it did smell good.
Can you do this in an instant pot instead of a slow cooker?
Yes! Add your ingredients to your Instant Pot then close and seal. Cook on high pressure for about 8-10 minutes, then let the pressure release. Add in your cornstarch slurry, let it thicken, and then it’s ready to go!
Dumb questions, but do you just start the chicken out frozen of purchased frozen? Or thaw first?
And do you just pull it apart then at the end?
Thawed first! And yes, you can shred it at the end if you wish.
What can I use instead of the bourbon and whiskey? It sounds delicious and I am eager to try it. Because it looks great.
A non-alcoholic substitute would be apple juice or cider.
Can you freeze leftovers. How would you recommend doing this?
I would put individual portions into sealed freezer bags.
Can I make this in an instapot? If so, is it the same directions?
Yes you can. Add your ingredients to your Instant Pot then close and seal. Cook on high pressure for about 8-10 minutes, then release the pressure. Mix in your cornstarch slurry, let it thicken, and then serve.
I just put this recipe together and it’s in the crockpot now. I like to prepare a lot of food so we have leftovers and a freezer meal or two for another day. I used 4-5 lbs of boneless skinless thighs and 4 large legs. I tripled the bourbon sauce and used low sodium soy sauce and organic coconut brown sugar plus I just barely salted the chicken. I love seasoning so I rubbed my chicken with black pepper, smoked paprika, garlic and onion powders plus some red pepper flakes because we like some heat then quickly seared it in a little olive oil before placing in crock pot. I also added some sweet hot chili sce to the bourbon sauce as well. I like to get recipe ideas then tweek them. My Father was a chef and I consider myself a pretty good cook, so do my family and friends. Thank you Alyssa for sharing this recipe. I’m sure it will turn out great! I’ll comment again after we eat dinner.
Can you use bone in chicken leg quarters
Yes you can!
How about cooking in an Instant Pot?
The sodium amount in your nutritional analyisis is not accurate based on using salt to season chicken, as well as a whopping 3/4 cup of soy sauce. Even if you used low sodium soy sauce, the sodium level would still be extreme. Is there a low sodium alternative to using soy sauce?
I substitute aminos for soy in a lot of recipes. You don’t use nearly as much either. I haven’t made this recipe yet but i bet it will work the same.
Booooooooooooo we don’t care.
No correction, YOU don’t care. Take responsibility for your own feelings. Someone might want this information and be happy it was posted.
I am sorry you are so unhappy with who you are as a person that you try so hard to pass that negativity off onto everyone else. Misery sure loves company.
Is there a substitute for a thickening agent other than cornstarch?
Can you use white meat
Yes, boneless chicken breasts will work just as well!
This looks delicious!! I can’t wait to try it! Thank you!!
Would this work with chicken breast?
Yes it would!
My family loved it!
Any idea what this would be like without the sugar?
I can’t have sugar, but we love bourbon chicken typically.
I’m sure it would still be really flavorful! You could also use a brown sugar substitute like this Truvia if that would work for your diet!
Could you please tell me the exact amount of soy sauce needed please? This looks amazing!
3/4 cup!
Hi I getting ready to cook now what are your thoughts if adding broccoli and when would you add?