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Honey Bourbon Crockpot BBQ Chicken Thighs

Honey Bourbon Crockpot BBQ Chicken Thighs - featured image
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Sticky-sweet, smoky, and fall-off-the-bone tender, these Honey Bourbon Crockpot BBQ Chicken Thighs are an easy, crowd-pleasing dinner with a grown-up twist from honey and bourbon. The slow cooker does all the work, delivering juicy, flavorful chicken in a rich, caramelized BBQ sauce.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2.5–3 lbs bone-in chicken thighs, skinless or skin-on
  • 1 cup BBQ sauce
  • 1/3 cup honey
  • 1/4 cup bourbon
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)

Instructions

  1. Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels and trim excess fat or skin if desired.
  2. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together BBQ sauce, honey, bourbon, tomato paste, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using) until smooth.
  3. Place chicken thighs in the slow cooker in a single layer or slightly overlapping. Pour the sauce evenly over the chicken, ensuring each piece is coated.
  4. Cover and cook on LOW for 5-6 hours or on HIGH for 2.5-3 hours, until the chicken is fork-tender and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
  5. Optional: For caramelized tops, preheat broiler, line a baking sheet with foil, and place cooked thighs on top. Brush with extra sauce and broil for 2-3 minutes until bubbly and browned.
  6. Optional: To thicken the sauce, pour remaining liquid from the slow cooker into a saucepan and simmer over medium heat for 5-10 minutes until slightly reduced.
  7. Serve chicken thighs drizzled with sauce. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley or green onions if desired.

Notes

For a gluten-free version, use certified gluten-free BBQ sauce and Worcestershire. Boneless thighs or drumsticks can be substituted, but adjust cooking time. For a non-alcoholic version, replace bourbon with apple juice or cola. Broiling after slow cooking adds a sticky, caramelized finish. Sauce can be thickened by simmering after cooking. Leftovers taste even better the next day and freeze well.

Nutrition

Keywords: crockpot, slow cooker, BBQ chicken, honey bourbon, easy dinner, chicken thighs, comfort food, gluten-free, family meal, weeknight dinner

Find it online: https://atomicbite.com/honey-bourbon-crockpot-bbq-chicken-thighs-easy-and-irresistible-dinner-recipe/