Crockpot Bourbon Chicken

Name: Crockpot Bourbon Chicken
Prep time: 10 min
Ingredients: 2-3 boneless chicken breasts; 1/3 cup bourbon (if you're a Bourbon lover up that to a 1/2 cup); 1/3 cup less sodium soy sauce; 1/3 cup water; 1/4 cup apple juice; 2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar; 2 Tablespoons ketchup; 1/2 cup light brown sugar; 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger; 2 teaspoons minced garlic or 4 garlic cloves (minced); 3/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (up to 1 teaspoon if you like it extra spicy)

Crockpot Bourbon Chicken with Bulleit Bourbon Whiskey and Zattarain's Bourbon Chicken Rice by Crockpot Empire

It’s been so cold here in Atlanta, and the ice storm made me want to create a supper that would warm us up from the inside out! I saw the Bulleit Bourbon on the bar, and decided to experiment with chicken, bourbon and our favorite rice! I love bourbon chicken on a toothpick in the mall, and when I learned that Fred had never ever tried it, I knew a crockpot version was in order! In all honesty, I’ve never cooked with bourbon before, but I love cooking with wine, so this was a fun experiment for me! There’s so many recipes that include bourbon, from savory to sweet recipes, because it infuses food with its bold flavor. It’s complex bringing a smoky, peppery and sweet vanilla flavor to a recipe and pairs well with anything from peaches to salmon. This bourbon chicken recipe has already got me thinking of all the different ways I can use our favorite Bulleit Bourbon to enhance the tang of a meat like pork and bring life to a dessert like brûlé {drooling}. For all of you non-drinkers, no need to worry! The bourbon is only for flavor and won’t leaving you feel like you just took a shot of whiskey! If you don’t have bourbon on hand or don’t want to buy any to create this recipe, just substitute chicken broth instead. I can’t guarantee it will be as good, but I have read that it’s a close second!

As if using bourbon in a recipe isn’t plus enough, this recipe is so simple to make! Just throw all of the ingredients into a bowl and whisk. Place the chicken in the crockpot and pour the marinade over the chicken. Our favorite rice is Zatarain’s, and when I saw that they had a bourbon flavor, I knew it would be a hit with this dish. Just like my Crockpot Southern Chicken and Yellow Rice, this turned out delicious and made a spot on our monthly rotation! Cook the rice according to package directions 30 minutes prior to the chicken being done. Shred the chicken and mix in with the rice or serve on top of a bed of rice! Give it a try and see if this satisfying bold and savory dish will make it into your rotation, too! If you skip the bourbon and try it with chicken broth, I would love to know how it turns out, so please keep me posted! Enjoy this delicious and easy recipe that will jazz up any night like the French Quarter!