Go Back
Bourbon Chicken Recipe

Bourbon Chicken Recipe

Try this easy bourbon chicken recipe! A sweet, savory, food court-style copycat dish that’s perfect for weeknight dinners or meal prep.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Dinner
Cuisine Chinese
Servings 4
Calories 315 kcal

Ingredients
  

Essential Ingredients for Homemade Bourbon Chicken

To cook for this meal, you must gather the following ingredients:

  • 2 Chicken boneless free of skin chicken thighs (juicier) as well as breasts (leaner)
  • 2 tablespoon Oil: 2 tablespoons vegetable oil or sesame oil
  • 3 cloves Aromatics: garlic minced 1 teaspoon ginger (grated)
  • ½ cup Liquid Base: soy sauce
  • ½ cup bourbon (or apple juice for non-alcoholic)
  • cup apple cider vinegar
  • ½ cup brown sugar Sweetener
  • 1 cup ketchup for the richness and tang The depth of flavor
  • 1 teaspoon red pepper flake or a splash of hot sauce Additional Kick
  • 2 teaspoon cornstarch mixed together with two tablespoons of water Thickener
  • Sliced green onions and sesame seeds Garnish

Instructions
 

Sear the Chicken

  • In a skillet, heat oil. Cook the chicken until golden (about about 6 mins). Remove chicken and set aside.

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.

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.

Thicken

  • Incorporate cornstarch slurry. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes until the chicken sauce made with bourbon gets glossy and adheres to the meat.

Garnish & Serve

  • 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.
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.

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).
Keyword Authentic bourbon chicken recipe, Bourbon chicken marinade, Bourbon chicken sauce, Food court Bourbon chicken recipe