Easy summer slow cooker dinner recipe! This crock pot brown sugar bourbon bbq chicken recipe makes a tender, flavorful barbecue chicken with almost no prep.
Do you use your crock pot year round? If not, let me introduce you to the joys of simple slow cooker summer dinners.
I love the ease of tossing my dinner ingredients into the crock pot on a busy morning and then coming back to a finished meal later in the day. And I don’t have to stand over a hot stove or heat up my kitchen to get dinner finished!
This brown sugar bourbon bbq chicken is a family favorite. My kids love the sweet and tangy sauce, and the chicken practically melts in your mouth! If you’re concerned about using bourbon, I’ve included a simple swap that you can use instead.
“My family loves this recipe! I love how easy it is to make. Will make again and again.” – Jessica
Ingredient notes and substitutions
- Barbecue sauce: Choose a barbecue sauce that you like. If you like a sauce with a little heat, it will give your finished dish a bit of a kick. If you choose a sauce with brown sugar or honey, it will make your sauce a little sweeter.
- Brown sugar: Feel free to use a little more or less to taste.
- Bourbon: You can substitute an equal amount of apple juice for the bourbon. Also, if you don’t want to buy a large bottle of bourbon just for this recipe, mini bottles are a great choice for a small amount of bourbon.
How to make brown sugar bourbon bbq chicken in the crock pot
Here you’ll find instructions and step-by-step photos showing how to make this recipe. The full recipe, including ingredients, is given below.
Step 1: Stir the barbecue sauce, brown sugar, bourbon, garlic powder, and smoked paprika together in a slow cooker insert. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Step 2: Add chicken breast, and turn to coat in sauce.
Step 3: Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours.
Step 4: Shred chicken. Let sit in sauce for 15 minutes. This will allow the chicken to absorb more of the flavor from the sauce.
Recipe Tips!
- More flavor: I like to let the chicken rest in the sauce for about 15 minutes before serving. This gives the chicken time to absorb more of the flavor from the sauce.
- Serving suggestions: I like to serve this chicken on buns with a side of coleslaw, baked beans, or fresh veggies.
- Leftovers: I turn the leftovers into a new meal by serving the chicken in a wrap, make it into tacos, or use it to make barbecue chicken pizza.
Storage
Storage any leftover bbq chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will keep for up to 4 days when properly stored in the fridge.
More summer slow cooker recipes!
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Crock Pot Brown Sugar Bourbon BBQ Chicken
Equipment
- Crock pot
Ingredients
- 1 cup barbecue sauce
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup bourbon
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper
- 2.5 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast
Instructions
- Stir the barbecue sauce, brown sugar, bourbon, garlic powder, and smoked paprika together in a slow cooker insert.1 cup barbecue sauce, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup bourbon, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Add chicken breast, and turn to coat in sauce.2.5 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast
- Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours.
- Shred chicken.
- Let sit in sauce for 15 minutes.
Notes
- Barbecue sauce: Choose a barbecue sauce that you like. If you like a sauce with a little heat, it will give your finished dish a bit of a kick. If you choose a sauce with brown sugar or honey, it will make your sauce a little sweeter.
- Brown sugar: Feel free to use a little more or less to taste.
- Bourbon: You can substitute an equal amount of apple juice for the bourbon. Also, if you don’t want to buy a large bottle of bourbon just for this recipe, mini bottles are a great choice for a small amount of bourbon.
- Nutrition values are estimates.
Nutrition
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Originally published 7/8/2020. This post is regularly updated.
Reader Interactions
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Comments & Reviews
Chad Danowski says
Fabulous!!!
Kate says
Thank you!
Brooke S says
I’ve made this recipe multiple times now. It’s so very good. I use Mad Dog & Merrill Hickory BBQ and serve with coleslaw. Definitely a family favorite.
Kate says
Thank you!
Linda says
Great recipe– easy and lip-smacking.
Kate says
Thank you so much! =)
Becky Kelly says
On the chicken, what do you serve it with? Do you eat it on a bun? I plan to make it, but not sure what to serve with it. Yes I do use my crockpot and my Instapot year around.
Kate says
We usually go simple and eat it on a bun as a sandwich. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do! =)
Jessica says
My family loves this recipe! I love how easy it is to make. Will make again and again.
Kate says
I’m glad it was a hit! Thanks for commenting!