Slow Cooker Bourbon Plum Chicken

This Plum Chicken in the slow cooker is a flavorful mash up of Chinese Chicken in Plum Sauce and popular Bourbon Chicken. Featuring tender shredded chicken breasts coated in the most delicious sticky, sweet and sour sauce. Absolutely delicious, yet ridiculously easy to prepare, this chicken plum recipe is sure to be a weeknight dinner winner!

Hi, friends! Today we are putting down those dirty paper menus in your kitchen drawer and making our own take out. Because why go through the ordeal of ordering in? Especially when you only need 15 minutes of active hands-on preparation time to make your family’s favorite take away right in the comfort of your kitchen! Besides, today’s recipe for plum chicken is a million times better than anything that can be delivered to your door.

I mean, just LOOK at this saucy chicken and plum deliciousness…

About this chicken plum recipe

This crock pot plum chicken is a combination of two popular takeout meals in one. Basically, if bourbon chicken and Chinese chicken in plum sauce had a baby, this epic dish is what would have been created.

Featuring tender, succulent, slow cooked chicken generously coated in a sticky, savory, umami-packed plum sauce kissed with complex bourbon and sweet and sour notes of Chinese plum sauce and Asian aromatics. Piled high on a bed of white rice, sticky rice or noodles and topped with your favorite Chinese garnishes, like sesame seeds and green onions, this recipe for plum chicken is lick-your-fingers-clean type of delicious.

Best part of all, this plum sauce chicken is made with the convenience of the slow cooker or crock pot. Delicious eating has never looked so good (and obtainable), my friends! High five to fake-out take-out.

Why you’ll love this Chinese recipe

• Beyond Easy – You only need 15 minutes of active prep time in the kitchen, then you can let the slow cooker do all the work.
• Made with 7 Base Ingredients – Yup, just seven simple ingredients, plus a few pantry staples to create the best plum-y chicken.
• Budget-Friendly – Stop overpaying for food delivery (food, tax and tip add up) and make it yourself. You can feed the whole family at a fraction of the price. AND you can customize it to YOUR taste. Now that’s winning, friends.

What to serve with plum sauce chicken?

This plum chicken pairs well with a wide variety of Chinese sides.

If you are looking for a carbohydrate, this chicken is wonderful with any asian style noodle, long grain rice, fried rice, or even quinoa or cauliflower rice if you are looking for a healthier option!

For vegetable side options, broccoli, bell peppers, snap peas, or even brussels sprouts pair delicious with this slow cooker plum chicken.

Tips for the best plum chicken

1. While the recipe below calls for boneless, skinless chicken breasts, you can absolutely substitute boneless, skinless chicken thighs if you prefer dark meat!
2. If you want to take the lazy prep route, you can skip cutting the chicken into 1’’ cubes and instead place the entire chicken breast (or thigh) in the slow cooker. Just increase the cooking time by 30 minutes – 1 hour in step #2 before adding the cornstarch and water mixture (step 3), use two forks to shred the chicken (you can do this right in the slow cooker, or you can remove the chicken to a cutting board and add the chicken back to the slow cooker). Then, add the cornstarch mixture and proceed with the recipe as instructed.
3. You can easily double the sauce in the recipe if you like your chicken super saucy.
4. All slow cookers vary. If your slow cooker runs on the hot side, be sure to check your chicken earlier, as it may cook faster than the times suggested in the recipe. The opposite goes for your slow cooker if it runs on the cool side, as your chicken may take longer to cook. If you aren’t sure of your slow cookers abilities, be sure to use an instant read thermometer. Chicken is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.

Put down the phone and forget the take-out! Treat yourself right and get this deliciously sweet and sour Slow Cooker Bourbon Plum Chicken in your life, STAT! With only 15 minutes of prep, I pinkie promise it’s worth it!

Until next week, friends, cheers – to fake out take out!

Cheyanne

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More Asian chicken dinners!

If you love this plum sauce with chicken recipe, try these yummy chicken dinners made tons of Asian flavor next:

• Sweet Chili Chicken
• Chicken and Broccoli Rice
• Chinese Chicken with Stir Fry Vegetables
• Healthy Chicken Stir-Fry

How to make recipe for plum chicken (plus step-by-step video)👇

Print Recipe

5 from 5 votes

Chinese Plum Chicken (Slow Cooker Recipe)

This Plum Chicken in the slow cooker is a flavorful mash up of Chinese Chicken in Plum Sauce and popular Bourbon Chicken. Featuring tender shredded chicken breasts coated in the most delicious sticky, sweet and sour sauce. BEYOND delicious, yet ridiculously easy to prepare, this chicken plum recipe is sure to be a weeknight dinner winner!

Prep Time15 mins

Cook Time2 hrs 30 mins

Total Time2 hrs 45 mins

Course: entree

Cuisine: Asian, Chinese

Keyword: chicken plum, chicken plum recipe, plum chicken, plum sauce chicken, plum sauce for chicken

Servings: 4

Calories: 367kcal

Author: Cheyanne Holzworth

Equipment

• 1 Slow Cooker or Crock Pot

Ingredients

• 3 cloves Garlic – minced
• ¾ tsp fresh Ginger – minced
• ½ tsp Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
• ¼ tsp Chinese 5 Spice Powder
• ¼ Cup Brown Sugar - packed
• ½ Cup Plum Sauce (substitute option: 2 TBS Hoisin + 2 TBS Honey)
• ¼ Cup Bourbon (substitute option: Apple Juice)
• 2 TBS Reduced Sodium Soy Sauce
• 1 ½ pounds Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts – diced into 1-inch cubes
• 1 TBS Cornstarch
• 2 TBS Water
• Kosher Salt and Ground Black Pepper - to taste
• Optional Garnishes: Lime Wedges, Sliced Scallions, Sesame Seeds, Sliced Chilli
• Optional Serving Suggestions: Rice or Asian Noodles, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Cabbage, Mushrooms, Carrots and/or Sweet Red Peppers

Instructions

• Make the plum sauce: In a medium sized bowl, whisk together the garlic through the soy sauce.
• Add to slow cooker: Season the chicken pieces generously with salt and pepper and place them in the slow cooker. Pour the plum sauce over top of the diced chicken.
• Cook: Cover the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 3 ½ - 4 ½ hours or HIGH for 1 ½ - 2 ½ hours, stirring halfway through. (The chicken will continue to cook in the next step)
• Thicken the sauce: In a small bowl whisk together the cornstarch with the water. Carefully add the cornstarch mixture (slurry) to the slow cooker and stir well to combine.
• Cook again: Cover and cook on HIGH for an additional 20-30 minutes, or until the sauce is thickened to your liking.
• Serve: Spoon plum chicken over rice, noodles or a bed of veggies. Top with optional garnishes and enjoy!

Video

Notes

1. Chicken: While the recipe calls for boneless, skinless chicken breasts, you can absolutely substitute boneless, skinless chicken thighs if you prefer dark meat!
   • If you want to take the lazy prep route, you can skip cutting the chicken into 1’’ cubes and instead place the entire chicken breast (or thigh) in the slow cooker. Just increase the cooking time by 30 minutes – 1 hour in step #2 before adding the cornstarch and water mixture (step 3), use two forks to shred the chicken (you can do this right in the slow cooker, or you can remove the chicken to a cutting board and add the chicken back to the slow cooker). Then, add the cornstarch mixture and proceed with the recipe as instructed.
2. Plum Sauce: If you prefer super saucy chicken I recommend doubling the measurements for the plum sauce! 
3. Slow Cooking: All slow cookers vary. If your slow cooker runs on the hot side, be sure to check your chicken earlier, as it may cook faster than the times suggested in the recipe. The opposite goes for your slow cooker if it runs on the cool side, as your chicken may take longer to cook. If you aren’t sure of your slow cookers abilities, be sure to use an instant read thermometer. Chicken is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.

Nutritional information is an estimate based upon 4 servings. Exact information will depend upon the brands of ingredients and precise measurements used.

Nutrition

Calories: 367kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 37g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 108mg | Sodium: 674mg | Potassium: 769mg | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 65IU | Vitamin C: 2.7mg | Calcium: 29mg | Iron: 1.5mg

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