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Slow-Cooker Bourbon Brown Sugar Pulled Chicken Sandwiches with Bacon and Brussels Sprout Corn Slaw

By: Nicole 32 Comments
Posted: 03/16/15

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Slow-Cooker Bourbon Brown Sugar Pulled Chicken Sandwiches with Bacon and Brussels Sprout Corn Slaw 4

Word to the wise.

If you’re cooking with whiskey during the middle of the day while your husband is at work, remember to put the cap back on and return it to the liquor cabinet before he gets home so he doesn’t think you were boozing all day in your pajamas while singing Ed Sheeran’s “Thinking Outloud” on repeat and drooling over Rachel Bilson’s outfits in old Hart of Dixie episodes.

Slow-Cooker Bourbon Brown Sugar Pulled Chicken Sandwiches with Bacon and Brussels Sprout Corn Slaw 2

I honestly didn’t drink the whiskey, but I won’t lie, it may have crossed my mind to have a little Mad Men moment….just for a second.

I can’t promise the other three events didn’t happen.

I used to be a total wine and vodka girl, but these days, I don’t really discriminate. In fact, I find myself ordering bourbon and whiskey drinks quite regularly, which is pretty funny considering a few years ago, you couldn’t pay me to sip on anything with bourbon in it. I don’t know if my taste buds have changed, I’ve finally recovered from all the gross whiskey shots I took in college or I’ve just matured as a drinker, but there’s something about getting along with bourbon that makes me feel like I’m finally a real grownup.

Slow-Cooker Bourbon Brown Sugar Pulled Chicken Sandwiches with Bacon and Brussels Sprout Corn Slaw 3

Even though I’ve only recently begun to enjoy whiskey in cocktail form, I’ve always appreciated it laced in different foods, hello bourbon mac and cheese, bourbon glazed salmon and bourbon bread pudding.

Currently enjoying: Slow-Cooker Bourbon Brown Sugar Pulled Chicken Sandwiches with Bacon and Brusslels Sprout Corn Slaw.

Goodness.

Quite the wordy title, but 100% necessary to depict the deliciousness that’s going on in this sandwich.

Slow-Cooker Bourbon Brown Sugar Pulled Chicken Sandwiches with Bacon and Brussels Sprout Corn Slaw 6

So technically I didn’t use bourbon in the sauce, I used whiskey but only because
Kevin is purely a bourbon and whiskey drinker when it comes to hard liquor, and while we have our fair share of options to choose from at home, if I even touch the “good stuff” for cooking he kind of flips out. So, Jack it was.

I was a little worried the whiskey flavor wouldn’t be turn out as nicely as a real bourbon would, but honestly after the long, slow cooking process you can’t really tell the difference. If you or your partner isn’t stingy with their bourbon, go ahead and use the good stuff.

The obvious bulk of the flavor in the pulled chicken comes from a liberal pour of whiskey and brown sugar, but the remaining ingredients include all the usual suspects in a traditional barbecue sauce – ketchup, garlic, onion powder, apple cider vinegar, worcestershire sauce and tomato paste. I also threw in a few tablespoons of Dijon mustard for a tangy kick, dark molasses to compliment the brown sugar and a pretty copious sprinkling of crushed red pepper for spice.

The sauce is whisked together, and poured over bone-in, skinless chicken thighs, set on high and cooked until the meat is falling off the bone, about 3.5 hours. If you’re setting this and going to work or leaving, just turn it on low and cook for 6-7 hours.

Slow-Cooker Bourbon Brown Sugar Pulled Chicken Sandwiches with Bacon and Brussels Sprout Corn Slaw 5

I like to use a bone-in chicken thigh so the meat doesn’t dry up, but I remove the skin, just so there isn’t an excess amount of fat to fish out of the sauce. Once the meat is cooked, I shred the meat, put it all back in the sauce, give it a stir and it’s ready to go.

Although before you’re tempted to slap the meat on a bun and call it a day, make the slaw; because to me, a barbecue sandwich isn’t complete unless it’s dressed up with a slaw of some sort, even if it’s not in the most traditional sense. Here, brussels sprouts and corn are sort of an odd, but perfect combination.

The slaw is only a few ingredients and all items you probably have in your pantry at the moment aside from the corn and Brussels sprouts. Low-fat mayo, apple cider vinegar (which you have to use anyways for the chicken), sirracha and sugar. Super simple.

Sorry in advance for slathering it over a couple future recipes.

Also, if you feel like upping the crunch factor slightly and making the cooking process a touch more complicated and high-maintenance, put an onion ring on it. We did, and I could have gone with or without it, so I’m not even going to include the recipe, but if you want it, just shoot me an email. Also, you could just buy frozen onion rings and those would suffice just fine, you already made pulled chicken and slaw from scratch so no judgments here.

Slow-Cooker Bourbon Brown Sugar Pulled Chicken Sandwiches with Bacon and Brussels Sprout Corn Slaw

Doesn’t this just scream summer???

5.0 from 3 reviews
Slow-Cooker Bourbon Brown Sugar Pulled Chicken Sandwiches with Bacon and Brussels Sprout Corn Slaw
 
Print
These easy bourbon brown sugar chicken sandwiches are the perfect no-fuss meal for a crazy weeknight or weekend barbecue!
Author: Nicole
Ingredients
  • 4 pounds bone-in, skinless chicken thighs (I had to remove the skin myself)
  • ¾ cup bourbon or good-quality whiskey
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 garlic clove, grated
  • ¾ cup ketchup
  • 2 teaspoons dark molasses
  • 1 tablespoons worscestire sauce
  • ¼ cup + ⅛ cup packed dark brown sugar (light will work if you don’t have dark on hand)
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
For the slaw
  • 2 cups shredded Brussels sprouts
  • 2 ears of corn
  • 4 tablespoons low-fat mayo
  • 3 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
  • ½ teaspoon sugar
  • ½ teaspoon sirracha (1 teaspoon if you like it on the spicy side)
  • ¼ teaspoon salt.
Assembly:
  • 6 pretzel buns
  • 12 slices cooked bacon
Instructions
For the chicken:
  1. Place the chicken in the slow-cooker.
  2. In a bowl, whisk the remaining ingredients together until smooth. Pour over chicken. Toss chicken in the sauce. Secure the lid and cook on high for 3 ½ to 4 hours until chicken is fork-tender and falling off the bone, or cook on low for 7 hours until chicken in falling off of the bone.
  3. When the chicken is done, use a spoon to scoop the grease off the top of the sauce. Remove chicken from the sauce and shred the meat. Discard any bits left in the sauce.
  4. Return the shredded chicken back into the sauce. Set on warm until ready to serve or let cool and place in an airtight container.
For the slaw:
  1. Grill corn on an outdoor grill, indoor grill pan or over a gas burner until slightly charred. Cut from the cob and let cool.
  2. Toss the Brussels sprouts and the corn together.
  3. In a small bowl, combine the mayo, vinegar, sugar, sirracha and salt. Toss with sprouts and corn. Season to taste with salt, pepper and sirracha.
  4. Place a generous portion of chicken on bun, top with bacon followed by slaw.
3.2.2925

Meet Nicole

Welcome! My lifelong passion for delicious food and cooking has evolved over time into an equal love of showing you an elevated meal can be easy, approachable and most importantly, tasty. Dive in and find something perfect for you and your family!

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  1. Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says

    Posted on 3/16/15 at 2:55 pm

    This looks like the ultimate sandwich! I love the bourbon and apple cider vinegar in here. Such a great meal for spring!

    Reply
    • Nicole says

      Posted on 3/16/15 at 11:53 pm

      Thanks so much Gayle!

      Reply
  2. Sarah @ Making Thyme for Health says

    Posted on 3/16/15 at 6:55 pm

    Please don’t apologize for putting that slaw on anything! Holy cow, it looks so good! I kind of want to put it on pizza, lol. Seeing how I can’t have it with that chicken which also looks amazing. Why do you do this to me? 😉

    Reply
    • Nicole says

      Posted on 3/16/15 at 11:53 pm

      The good thing is that you can put the slaw on ANYTHING, and actually I ate it straight from the bowl the other night!!!

      Reply
  3. Thao @ In Good Flavor says

    Posted on 3/16/15 at 7:18 pm

    I was drooling before I even saw the photos! Pinning.

    Reply
    • Nicole says

      Posted on 3/16/15 at 11:52 pm

      Thanks Thao!!

      Reply
  4. Justine | Cooking and Beer says

    Posted on 3/16/15 at 7:32 pm

    Good God woman! I’m coming over. These sandwiches are insane and I’m not kidding you when I say that Hart of Dixie is literally on my TV RIGHT NOW! Love it.

    Reply
    • Nicole says

      Posted on 3/16/15 at 11:52 pm

      Please do!!! Me too!!!! I feel like you and I are the only people on the planet that watch it!!

      Reply
  5. Thalia @ butter and brioche says

    Posted on 3/16/15 at 10:41 pm

    The things I would do for a sandwich like this right now! You definitely have made me hungry.

    Reply
    • Nicole says

      Posted on 3/16/15 at 11:51 pm

      Good!!! Thanks Thalia!

      Reply
  6. Ashley says

    Posted on 3/17/15 at 12:15 am

    That slaw!!!! Don’t get me wrong the rest of it looks awesome but THAT SLAW!!!! I need it in my life asap.

    haha oh gosh- my husband definitely freaks if I use his good bourbon for cooking or baking! I’ve learned to just stay away from it 🙂

    Reply
    • Nicole says

      Posted on 3/17/15 at 2:58 pm

      Totally how I feel too. I seriously ate the slaw straight from the bowl the next take! I’m glad my husband isn’t the only one. Boys and their bourbon. ha!

      Reply
  7. Claire | Sprinkles and Sprouts says

    Posted on 3/17/15 at 1:05 am

    Your post made me chuckle. If I open wine for a recipe during the day I get it back in the fridge quick! Although I am not sure if that is to stop me drinking it or to stop people thinking I have!

    And as for spending the day in your pyjamas….I never do that, never, *cough* *cough*……… I just call them yoga pants and then I can happily justify wearing them all day 😉

    I saw this on foodgawker and had to fly over and say YUM! I am pinning this!

    Reply
    • Nicole says

      Posted on 3/17/15 at 2:58 pm

      Haha if it was wine, I might not have been able to say no!!! Ha! So glad you came over, hope you come back!!

      Reply
  8. Liz @ Floating Kitchen says

    Posted on 3/17/15 at 2:00 pm

    Glad you are on the bourbon train because HOLY COW does this sandwich look incredible. I think you made this just for me, because it has all my favorite things. In fact, I’m coming over now…

    Reply
    • Nicole says

      Posted on 3/17/15 at 2:57 pm

      Come on over girlfriend!! 🙂

      Reply
  9. Chris @ Shared Appetite says

    Posted on 3/17/15 at 3:50 pm

    I’m always in awe of the food you think up. Like, I really wish I was half as creative as you are with this slaw. It’s a thing of immense beauty, and I want to put it on anything and everything! LOVE this recipe, Nicole!!!

    Reply
    • Nicole says

      Posted on 3/17/15 at 4:36 pm

      Whattt?? You are WAY more creative than I am!! But thank you so much for the compliment! You’re the best!

      Reply
  10. Kelsey @ Snacking Squirrel says

    Posted on 3/17/15 at 6:52 pm

    the coolest slaw that works so well with that burger. HAPPY ST.PATTY’S DAY TO YOU!

    Reply
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