Bourbon Chicken Recipe – Sweet, Sticky & Irresistible
The recipe for bourbon chicken is a food that will take you right back to the food court, with its succulent chicken coated with an attractive, sweet-savory glaze that sticks to each bite. The dish is commonly referred to as “food court chicken” also known as “bourbon-glazed chicken in the mall” and has become a favorite takeaway throughout the U.S.
In this book, you’ll be able to prepare the best authentic Bourbon chicken but also how to transform it to make an easy Bourbon chicken dinner that is a good fit for your lifestyle.
What is Bourbon Chicken?
Despite its southern-sounding name Bourbon chicken Chinese is typically seen in Asian-style food courts in malls. It is believed that the dish may originate from a Chinese chef who lived on Bourbon Street in New Orleans and combines Cajun and Chinese flavours.
The main attraction is the Bourbon chicken sauce thick, sticky, and bursting with flavor. It’s a mix with sweet brown sugar tart vinegar, spicy soy sauce that is salty, Bourbon along with fragrant ginger and garlic. This sauce is the reason this dish is so addicting!
What Makes This Bourbon Chicken Recipe Special
- A genuine copycat is the best Bourbon chicken copycat recipe you’ll ever taste and with the familiar taste of food court.
- Simple and quick done in less than 30 minutes cooking on the stove.
- A rich flavor The brown sugar as well as the Bourbon provide the sauce a flavor that you can’t find in other take-out meals.
- Flexible works with chicken breasts or thighs. mild or spicy, sticky, saucy or sweet.
- Homemade deliciousness You are in charge of the ingredients, and this homemade Bourbon chicken is healthier and fresher than eating out.
Essential Ingredients for Homemade Bourbon Chicken
To cook for this meal, you must gather the following ingredients:
- Chicken: 2 pounds boneless, free of skin chicken thighs (juicier) as well as breasts (leaner)
- Oil: 2 tablespoons vegetable oil or sesame oil
- Aromatics: 3 cloves of garlic (minced) 1 teaspoon ginger (grated)
- Liquid Base: 1/2 cup soy sauce, 1/2 cup bourbon (or apple juice for non-alcoholic), 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
- Sweetener: 1/2 cup brown sugar
- The depth of flavor: 1 cup of ketchup for the richness and tang
- Additional Kick: 1 teaspoon red pepper flake or a splash of hot sauce
- Thickener: 2 teaspoons in cornstarch mixed together with two tablespoons of water
- Garnish: Sliced green onions and sesame seeds
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Sear the Chicken
In a skillet, heat oil. Cook the chicken until golden (about about 6 mins). Remove chicken and set aside.
2. Build the Sauce
In the same skillet, cook ginger and garlic until they are fragrant. In the same skillet, add soy sauce vinegar, brown sugar, ketchup as well as chili powder. The mixture should be simmering.
3. Combine & Cook
Return the chicken to the skillet, drizzle with sauce and cook for 10 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and the flavors are blending.
4. Thicken
Incorporate cornstarch slurry. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes until the chicken sauce made with bourbon gets glossy and adheres to the meat.
5. Garnish & Serve
Sprinkle with sesame seeds, as well as green onions. Serve hot with noodles, rice or stir-fried vegetables.
Bourbon Chicken Sauce Breakdown
The sauce that makes this dish famous. Each ingredient plays a vital role in the following:
- Soy Sauce – Adds salty, umami depth.
- Bourbon The flavor is caramel-like and smokey with undertones that increase the sweetness.
- Brown Sugar – It balances the salty soy with sweet sticky sweetness.
- Vinegar – Brightens and gives some tang to cut through the sweetness.
- Ketchup – Provides body and an additional layer of sweet and tangy flavor.
- Garlic & Ginger – The smoky backbone of authentic Bourbon chicken.
Cooking Variations
- Stovetop (Classic) – Fast simple, it’s the best choice for crispy edges of chicken.
- Slow Cooker – Add the chicken and ingredients for sauce to cook on low for 4 hours. The sauce will thicken by the close. Great for meal prep.
- Instant Pot – Cook chicken in pressure and sauce for 8 mins Then, add slurry and cook until increase the thickness.
- Bake chicken in sauce for 375°F for 30 minutes. After that, reduce the sauce in a separate way to create an incredibly sticky glaze.
Serving Suggestions
- Over steaming white rice to make the traditional food court Bourbon chicken style.
- Alongside fried or fried rice or noodles made of lo mein to complete the takeaway experience.
- It is served with stir-fried vegetables such as snow peas, broccoli or Bok chop.
- The lettuce cup is wrapped in to give an easy twist.
- In the quinoa or cauliflower rice to get an alternative that is healthier.
Flavor Variations
- Spicy Bourbon Chicken – Add Sriracha or chili powder.
- Pineapple Bourbon Chicken Add pineapple chunks to give it a an exotic sweet twist.
- Honey Bourbon Chicken Replace sugar with honey to create a smooth glaze.
- The Garlic Lovers Bourbon Chicken Double the garlic to add punch.
Make-Ahead & Storage Tips
- Menu Prep Cook the chicken and sauce. Divide into containers, containing rice to keep for 3-4 days.
- The Freezer Friendly – Freeze cooled Bourbon chicken in airtight container for as long as 3 months.
- Reheating – Warm slowly on the stovetop so that the sauce is shiny (avoid over-microwaving).
Nutrition Notes
- The use of chicken breasts is more leaner, and the thighs help keep it juicy.
- Reduce the sugar level if you prefer an unsweet glaze.
- Replace soy sauce with coconut aminos or tamari for an alternative that is gluten-free.
- Include additional vegetables like broccoli, bell peppers or zucchini to increase your intake of nutrients.
Bourbon Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
Method
- In a skillet, heat oil. Cook the chicken until golden (about about 6 mins). Remove chicken and set aside.
- In the same skillet, cook ginger and garlic until they are fragrant. In the same skillet, add soy sauce vinegar, brown sugar, ketchup as well as chili powder. The mixture should be simmering.
- Return the chicken to the skillet, drizzle with sauce and cook for 10 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and the flavors are blending.
- Incorporate cornstarch slurry. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes until the chicken sauce made with bourbon gets glossy and adheres to the meat.
- Sprinkle with sesame seeds, as well as green onions. Serve hot with noodles, rice or stir-fried vegetables.
Video
Notes
Cooking Variations
- Stovetop (Classic) – Fast simple, it’s the best choice for crispy edges of chicken.
- Slow Cooker – Add the chicken and ingredients for sauce to cook on low for 4 hours. The sauce will thicken by the close. Great for meal prep.
- Instant Pot – Cook chicken in pressure and sauce for 8 mins Then, add slurry and cook until increase the thickness.
Make-Ahead & Storage Tips
- Menu Prep Cook the chicken and sauce. Divide into containers, containing rice to keep for 3-4 days.
- The Freezer Friendly – Freeze cooled Bourbon chicken in airtight container for as long as 3 months.
Conclusion
This Bourbon chicken recipe is the ideal method to recreate the nostalgic market bourbon-chicken taste at home. If you’re looking for a Bourbon chicken recipe copycat for a quick simple Bourbon chicken dinner, or play around with various varieties of bourbon sauce recipes, this recipe is guaranteed to satisfy every time.With its sweet spicy, tangy and savory flavors With its balance of sweet, tangy, and savory flavors, this authentic Bourbon chicken is sure to become a household favorite and even better than take-out. If you’ve ever tried this homemade Bourbon chicken and you’ll never want food court versions again.
