Slow Cooker Pulled Chicken isn’t just for Game Night, it’s great for any time you’re feeding a crowd. Bourbon and a molasses barbecue sauce coat the most tender and juicy chicken that falls off the bone as it’s slow cooked. With only 5 minutes of prep time, it’s a game changer and an absolute favorite for sliders.
The Most Tender BBQ pulled chicken
Remove the skin from chicken thighs and pour over a bourbon bbq sauce. While it slowly cooks in a crock pot, the chicken becomes super tender and at the same time is infused with a molasses bourbon sauce.
This is so easy to prep, no browning or braising, just remove the skin or purchase skinless bone in chicken thighs, and the slow cooker creates the most amazing chicken.
While I love pulled pork, (I do live in the pork capital) if you haven’t tried pulled chicken, you’re in for a treat. It can get mushy if it’s cooked too long, so remove it once it’s falling off the bone. Otherwise it’s a fool-proof dinner that will feed a large crowd.
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While I’ve lived in North Carolina most of my life, I spent some time in Kentucky where my husband is from and it’s traditions have a pretty strong influence on a lot of my recipes.
Kentucky is pretty well known for its bourbon. The Makers Mark distillery is fairly close to where my husband grew up, but in the “wet”county next door.
I’m not a bourbon drinker but I do love the flavor it adds to a chocolate walnut pie and hamburger sliders. Just a hint of bourbon adds a smooth rich flavor. With desserts a little goes a long way, but with a pulled chicken recipe, you’ll use ¾ of a cup and won’t even guess that the flavor you taste is bourbon. It’s just adds a richness to the sauce the chicken cooks in.
It takes less than 5 minutes to put together in the slow cooker and then you’ll just let it cook.
Since it’s cooked without the skin, there is very little grease, just a great bourbon barbecue flavor that isn’t as sweet as the traditional barbecue sauces you see in the grocery. You could easily add bacon or slaw to the top, but I think it’s great all by itself.
Just a Few Ingredients
- Chicken – this recipe uses thighs with bones, the bones add flavor while it cooks. Chicken breasts won’t work as well. You can use the thigh and drumstick or just thighs. You will need to remove the skin.
- Bourbon – you’ll need ¾ cup. If you’re not sure what type of bourbon to use, I would suggest one that you like. When cooking, I go for a mild bourbon like Hibiki.
The Easiest Slow Cooker Pulled Chicken Recipe
This is so simple to make, you can put it all together in a few minutes before you run out the door.
Step 1: Prep
Step 2: Cook
Cook on low for six to seven hours or four hours on high. Take out the chicken, remove the bones, shred with two forks and add the shredded chicken back to the slow cooker.
I serve pulled bbq pulled chicken on homemde Hawaiian rolls which have a slightly sweet taste. I’m not sure which are better the rolls or the chicken, but when combined these are extraordinary. You can use any type of buns for the sandwiches, challah rolls are another great choice.
Pulled chicken is also great on nachos or tacos and are great served with side dishes like Southern coleslaw and brown sugar baked beans.
Storage
You can easily freeze any leftovers in an airtight container. To reheat, let it thaw first and then let it get warm in the oven.
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Bourbon Pulled Chicken Made Easy in the Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- 4 lbs bone-in skinless chicken thighs about 10 thighs
- ¾ cup bourbon
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- ¾ cup ketchup
- 2 teaspoons dark molasses
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ cup dark brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon stone ground mustard
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
Equipment
Instructions
- Remove skin from chicken thighs and place in slow cooker.
- In a bowl whisk the remaining ingredients until smooth. Pour over chicken and toss. Cook for 31/2 to 4 hours on high or 6-7 hours on low until chicken is falling off the bone. Remove chicken and shred, removing the bones. Return to the slow cooker and set on warm until ready to serve.
Barbara’s Tips + Notes
- You can use thigh quarters with the drumstick attached.
- Make sure you remove the skin before adding to the slow cooker.
- Try using a mild bourbon so that it doesn’t over power the sauce.
Nutrition
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Adrienne says
How can I make this in the oven.?
Barbara Curry says
I’m not sure how this would work in the oven. I would try it in a Dutch oven on the stove, bringing it to a boil then simmering it until the chicken is tender. It won’t take as long but should still be tender.