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No Spoon Necessary

Seasonal Recipes & Unique Twists on Classic Dishes

Slow Cooker Bourbon Plum Chicken

Published March 15, 2018. Last Updated June 11, 2018 by Cheyanne

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This Slow Cooker Bourbon Plum Chicken is a flavorful mash up of Chinese plum chicken and popular bourbon chicken. Tender, slow cooked chicken coated in a sticky, sweet and sour bourbon plum sauce, this dish is incredibly delicious, yet ridiculously easy to prepare and sure to be a crowd pleaser! Overhead shot of a neutral colored bowl filled with rice and topped with Slow Cooker Bourbon Plum Chicken, with a pale purple linen, forks, additional bowl of chicken, small bowl of sliced scallions, and wine glasses surrounding the main bowl.

Hiiii, friends!

Today we are making our own take out!

Because, really, why pick up the phone when you only need 15 minutes of hands on, prep time to make your family favorite take away meal right from the comfort of your own home?

Ponder that.

Besides, today’s mash up of popular restaurant dishes is a million times more delicious than anything that can be delivered to your door.

I mean, just check out this saucy deliciousness…Overhead, up-close shot of a neutral colored bowl filled with rice, topped with Slow Cooker Bourbon Plum Chicken and garnished with sliced scallions, sliced jalapeños and fresh micro greens.

 

Quick Navigation - Table of Contents

  • Slow Cooker Bourbon Plum Chicken
    • What to serve with Bourbon Plum Chicken?
    • Is Bourbon chicken Chinese food?
    • Recipe Notes, Tips & Tricks for Slow Cooker Bourbon Plum Chicken:
    • Asian Slow Cooker Bourbon Plum Chicken
      • Ingredients
        • Optional Garnishes: Lime Wedges, Sliced Scallions, Sesame Seeds, Sliced Chilli
        • For Serving Options: Rice, Quinoa, Asian Noodles, Roasted Red Peppers, Broccoli
      • Instructions
      • Video
      • Notes
      • Nutrition
      • You Might Also Like…

Slow Cooker Bourbon Plum Chicken

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

Tender, succulent, slow cooked chicken generously coated in a sticky, savory, umami packed sauce spiked with bourbon and sprinkled with notes of sweet and sour plum sauce and Asian aromatics.

Piled high on a bed of white rice or asian-style noodles, and garnished with spicy, sliced jalapeños, mild scallions and fresh micro greens, this chicken is easy-peasy to prepare, yet jam packed with flavor.

It’s lick your fingers clean type of yum, fake out-take out from the comfort of your own home, friends!

AND, since this bourbon plum chicken is made with the convenience of the slow cooker, delicious eating has never looked so good!45 degree angle shot of a neutral colored bowl filled with rice and topped with Slow Cooker Bourbon Plum Chicken, with a pale purple linen, lime wedges, additional bowl of chicken, small bowl of sliced scallions, and wine glasses blurred around the main bowl.

 

What to serve with Bourbon Plum Chicken?

This bourbon plum chicken pairs well with a multitude of 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 if you are looking for a healthier option!

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

Is Bourbon chicken Chinese food?

Bourbon chicken is actually a dish named after Bourbon Street in New Orleans, Louisiana and it gets its name from the bourbon whiskey used in in the recipe.

Thus, bourbon chicken is a fusion of Southern US and Chinese cuisines.

The dish can commonly be found at Cajun-themed Chinese restaurants as well as the ever popular food court at the mall.

If you wanted to turn this dish into a more authentic Chinese food, you could easily swap out the bourbon for rice wine vinegar.Overhead shot of a neutral colored bowl filled with rice and topped with Slow Cooker Bourbon Plum Chicken, with a fork inserted into the rice and a pale purple linen and lime wedges tucked in the bottom corners of the shot.

Recipe Notes, Tips & Tricks for Slow Cooker Bourbon 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.Overhead shot of a neutral colored bowl filled with rice and topped with Slow Cooker Bourbon Plum Chicken, with a hand holding the bowl and another hand holding chopsticks picking up a piece of chicken, with a glass of wine and small bowls of sesame seeds and sliced scallions tucked into the upper corners of the shot.

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!

XOXO

Cheyanne

 

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How to make Asian Slow Cooker Bourbon Plum Chicken recipe and video👇

Overhead, landscape shot of a white bowl filled with rice and topped with Slow Cooker Bourbon Plum Chicken, with a pale purple linen, lime wedges, small bowl of sesame seeds, wine glass and sliced scallions surrounding the bowl.
Print Recipe
5 from 5 votes

Asian Slow Cooker Bourbon Plum Chicken

This Slow Cooker Bourbon Plum Chicken is a flavorful mash up of Chinese plum chicken and popular bourbon chicken.  Tender, slow cooked chicken coated in a sticky, sweet and sour bourbon plum sauce, this dish is incredibly delicious, yet ridiculously easy to prepare and sure to be a crowd pleaser!  
Prep Time15 mins
Cook Time2 hrs 30 mins
Total Time2 hrs 45 mins
Course: entree
Cuisine: American, Asian, Chinese
Keyword: bourbon, chicken, Crock pot, Easy, plum, Slow Cooker
Servings: 4
Calories: 367kcal
Author: Cheyanne Holzworth

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
  • ½ Cup Plum Sauce
  • ¼ Cup Bourbon
  • 2 TBS Reduced Sodium Soy Sauce
  • 1 ½ pounds Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts – cut into 1’’ cubes*
  • 1 TBS Cornstarch
  • 2 TBS Water
  • Salt and Pepper to taste

Optional Garnishes: Lime Wedges, Sliced Scallions, Sesame Seeds, Sliced Chilli

    For Serving Options: Rice, Quinoa, Asian Noodles, Roasted Red Peppers, Broccoli

      Instructions

      • Make the sauce: In a medium sized bowl, whisk together the garlic through the soy sauce.
      • To Cook: Season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper and place them in the slow cooker. Pour the sauce mixture over top of the chicken. 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)
      • 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.
      • Cover and cook on HIGH for an additional 20-30 minutes, or until the sauce is thickened.
      • Serve with optional garnishes. Enjoy!

      Video

      Notes

      1. While the recipe 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.

      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

      ©No Spoon Necessary.  All images and content are copyright protected. Please do not use any images without prior permission. If you want to republish this recipe please do not list instructions, instead link directly back to this post.

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      Comments

      1. Karen (Back Road Journal) says

        March 26, 2018 at 3:35 pm

        Your Asian chicken dish sounds great with the addition of bourbon. I know this will be a hit in our house.

        Reply
      2. Adina says

        March 23, 2018 at 7:18 am

        A delicious looking recipe. I have never cooked anything with bourbon, but it sounds great! And I love that little bowl.

        Reply
      3. Stacey @ The Sugar Coated Cotted says

        March 21, 2018 at 7:44 pm

        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.

        Reply
      4. Katherine | Love In My Oven says

        March 16, 2018 at 11:11 pm

        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

        Reply
      5. Christina says

        March 16, 2018 at 4:59 pm

        Whelp, I know what I’m having for dinner next week! This looks incredible! Pinning 🙂

        Reply
      6. Kevin O'Leary says

        March 16, 2018 at 10:40 am

        I cannot tell you how much I love this. The marriage of plums and bourbon will always be one I support!

        Reply
      7. Sarah @Whole and Heavenly Oven says

        March 16, 2018 at 9:15 am

        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. 🙂

        Reply
      8. Michelle | The Secret Ingredient Is says

        March 16, 2018 at 8:17 am

        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.

        Reply
      9. Ben|Havocinthekitchen says

        March 15, 2018 at 10:11 pm

        5 stars
        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.

        Reply
      10. sue | theviewfromgreatisland says

        March 15, 2018 at 9:00 pm

        You had me every step of the way with this one, starting with the slow cooker, then the bourbon, and then the plums ~ wow!

        Reply
      11. Marissa says

        March 15, 2018 at 8:08 pm

        5 stars
        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!

        Reply
      12. marcie says

        March 15, 2018 at 10:56 am

        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!

        Reply
      13. [email protected] says

        March 15, 2018 at 10:46 am

        5 stars
        This is precisely the type of meal I’ve been craving lately! How’d you know? 😉 Thank you for sharing! xo

        Reply
      14. Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers says

        March 15, 2018 at 8:19 am

        5 stars
        Loving this flavour mash-up! Such a great way to skip the takeout 🙂

        Reply
      15. [email protected]'s Recipes says

        March 15, 2018 at 7:58 am

        I love fusion foods! This is a wonderful way to enjoy some healthy delicious chicken.

        Reply
      16. Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen says

        March 15, 2018 at 7:36 am

        5 stars
        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!

        Reply

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      About me

      Welcome to No Spoon Necessary! My name is Cheyanne - I am the blogger and girl behind the camera. I'm a culinary school graduate with a degree in culinary arts, and I have years of experience in a professional kitchen. I have a passion for seasonal ingredients and I believe anyone can create sensational food! Thank you for stopping by! I hope you stay awhile!

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