Bourbon Chicken(Crock Pot)

From:

https://www.spendwithpennies.com/crock-pot-bourbon-chicken/

SEE NOTE BELOW

3 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs(I used chicken tenders)
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1/4 cup sliced green onions (or more to taste)

SAUCE

• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh grated ginger
• 4 cloves garlic , minced
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red chili flakes
• 1/3 cup apple juice
• 1 1/2 tablespoons honey
• 3 tablespoons cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/4 cup Bourbon
• 1/4 cup soy sauce

Toasted Sesame Oil! The Most important ingredient.

½ Tablespoon to 1 Tablespoon, to taste.

salt & pepper to taste - The soy provided enough salt for me.

DIRECTIONS:
Mix all sauce ingredients in a small bowl.

Place chicken in slow cooker, pour sauce over top.
Cover and cook on low 6-7 hours or on high 3 hours.

Remove chicken and chop into bite sized pieces and cover to keep warm.

Meanwhile, combine 3 tablespoons water with cornstarch.
Turn slow cooker up to high, if it isn’t already. Whisk cornstarch slurry into the sauce.

Cover and allow to thicken, stirring occasionally (about 10 minutes).
Stir chicken back into the sauce and add in green onions.

Serve over rice.

NOTE:
This recipe was made in the crock pot.  I have found that my electric pressure cooker cooks chicken much better.  It falls apart, especially if you are using chicken breasts or tenders instead of thigh meat. The  sauce however does have the bourbon in it so the longer slower cooking time makes sense to get the alcohol out. I have thought about using the pressure cooker for the chicken and the crock pot for the sauce. Chicken does release a lot of moisture which ends up in the sauce so the pressure and slow cooker combo may not work the best(I may still try the whole thing in the pressure cooker). I used chicken breasts which turned out a little dryer that i'd have liked, however I forgot all about that when shredded the chicken and plated it withe sauce over rice. If you don't have GOOD quality TOASTED sesame oil you are missing the amazing in this dish.  un-toasted sesame oil doesn't add enough flavor.