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…
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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
- While the recipe below 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.
- You can easily double the sauce in the recipe if you like your chicken super saucy.
- 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)👇
Chinese Plum Chicken (Slow Cooker Recipe)
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
- 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.
- Plum Sauce: If you prefer super saucy chicken I recommend doubling the measurements for the plum sauce!
- 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.
Nutrition
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Your Asian chicken dish sounds great with the addition of bourbon. I know this will be a hit in our house.
A delicious looking recipe. I have never cooked anything with bourbon, but it sounds great! And I love that little bowl.
This sounds amazing! Im all about making my own “take out” lately, Ive become a bit paranoid about the unknown ingredients restaurants are putting in my food 😉 . Great pics to. Take care.
This chicken looks OH so good – succulent and sticky and sweet!! Mmmm yes! Also loving that you can make it in the slow cooker – mama’s best friend! XO
Whelp, I know what I’m having for dinner next week! This looks incredible! Pinning 🙂
I cannot tell you how much I love this. The marriage of plums and bourbon will always be one I support!
Girl yessssss. I’d eat this chicken seriously 24/7 with no shame. That sauce just looks so incredibly flavorful and I LOVE how juicy the chicken looks! Totally trying this one. 🙂
The kind if meal I’ve been craving lately! I love how flavorful this sound –I can only imagine how good it tastes. Bookmarking this one for the near future! Have a great weekend girl.
Well, I don’t have a drinking problem (I swear!), but when I saw bourbon in the recipe, I was sold. Because I love incorporating some alcohol in my food (who doesn’t, right?), and this bowl looks divine to me. And as you suggested, I’m not going to pick up my phone…cause I feel you’d like to deliver some of this deliciousness to me.
You had me every step of the way with this one, starting with the slow cooker, then the bourbon, and then the plums ~ wow!
This looks absolutely fabulous and that little bit of bourbon is a stroke of genius! I love what a little bit of booze can do for almost any recipe – savory or sweet! Lovely as always, Chey!
I’ve never had plum chicken and am clearly missing out — this looks so tender and flavorful! Adding bourbon can only make it better in my opinion — this meal is something I would love!
This is precisely the type of meal I’ve been craving lately! How’d you know? 😉 Thank you for sharing! xo
Loving this flavour mash-up! Such a great way to skip the takeout 🙂
I love fusion foods! This is a wonderful way to enjoy some healthy delicious chicken.
I’m all over this saucy deliciousness Chey! It’s only 7am and I wish I had it for breakfast! Awesome mashup and so much better than takeout! Tom will love this one too!