Bourbon Chicken Recipe

Introduction

Bourbon Chicken is a flavorful and easy-to-make dish that combines tender chicken with a sweet and savory sauce. This recipe brings restaurant-style deliciousness to your home kitchen in just a few simple steps.

Ingredients

• 4 large chicken breasts, chopped into bite-sized pieces and patted dry
• 2 tbsp sesame oil
• ½ tsp pepper
• ½ tsp onion powder
• ¼ cup apple juice (or bourbon if you have on hand)
• ¼ cup ketchup
• ½ cup soy sauce
• ¼ cup water
• 2/3 cup brown sugar
• ½ tsp ground ginger
• 3 tsp minced garlic
• 1 tbsp cornstarch (for chicken)
• 1 tsp cornstarch (for sauce)
• ¼ cup green onions, sliced

Instructions

1. Step 1: Chop the chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces and pat dry with a paper towel. Toss the chicken in a large bowl with 1 tablespoon of cornstarch until evenly coated.
2. Step 2: Heat the sesame oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken and cook until no longer pink. Drain any juices from the pan. Return the skillet to the stove and continue to cook the chicken until it is browned and the bottom of the skillet has a nice browned layer.
3. Step 3: In a medium bowl, combine pepper, onion powder, apple juice, ketchup, soy sauce, water, brown sugar, ground ginger, minced garlic, and 1 teaspoon cornstarch. Whisk the ingredients together thoroughly.
4. Step 4: Pour the sauce mixture over the browned chicken. Using a spoon, deglaze the bottom of the pan by scraping up all the browned bits. Bring the sauce to a boil.
5. Step 5: Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and let the sauce simmer for 5–7 minutes, stirring often to prevent sticking.
6. Step 6: Remove the pan from heat and let it sit for 5 minutes to thicken the sauce.
7. Step 7: Garnish with sliced green onions and serve the bourbon chicken over white rice. Enjoy!

Tips & Variations

• For a richer flavor, substitute the apple juice with bourbon if you have some on hand.
• Make sure to pat the chicken dry before tossing with cornstarch to help achieve a crispy texture.
• Add a pinch of red pepper flakes or sriracha for a spicy kick.
• Use boneless thighs instead of breasts for juicier chicken.

Storage

Store leftover bourbon chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in a skillet over medium-low heat or in the microwave until warmed through. If the sauce has thickened too much after cooling, add a splash of water when reheating to loosen it.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts?

Yes, boneless, skinless chicken thighs work well and tend to be more tender and flavorful. Adjust cooking time as needed to ensure they are cooked through.

Is bourbon necessary for the sauce?

No, apple juice is a great non-alcoholic substitute that adds sweetness and depth of flavor. However, bourbon adds an authentic taste if you want the traditional flavor.

Bourbon Chicken Recipe

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4.4 from 118 reviews

This Bourbon Chicken recipe features tender bite-sized chicken breasts cooked in a sweet and savory bourbon-flavored sauce. The dish is prepared in a skillet on the stovetop, combining soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, and hints of ginger for a rich, caramelized glaze. Perfect served over white rice for a comforting and flavorful meal.

• Author: Mia
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 4 servings 1x
• Category: Main Course
• Method: Stovetop
• Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Chicken

• 4 large chicken breasts, chopped into bite sized pieces and patted dry
• 2 tbsp sesame oil
• 1 tbsp cornstarch (for tossing chicken)
• ½ tsp pepper
• ½ tsp onion powder

Sauce

• ¼ cup apple juice (or bourbon if available)
• ¼ cup ketchup
• ½ cup soy sauce
• ¼ cup water
• 2/3 cup brown sugar
• ½ tsp ground ginger
• 3 tsp minced garlic
• 1 tsp cornstarch (for sauce)
• ¼ cup green onions, sliced (for garnish)

Instructions

1. Prepare Chicken: Chop chicken breasts into bite sized pieces and pat dry with a paper towel. Toss the chicken in a large bowl with 1 tablespoon of cornstarch until evenly coated.
2. Cook Chicken: Heat 2 tablespoons of sesame oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the coated chicken pieces and cook until they are no longer pink in the center. Drain any juices from the pan. Return the skillet to the stove and continue cooking the chicken until it is browned and the bottom of the skillet has a nice caramelized layer.
3. Mix Sauce: In a medium bowl, whisk together the pepper, onion powder, apple juice (or bourbon), ketchup, soy sauce, ¼ cup water, brown sugar, ground ginger, minced garlic, and 1 teaspoon cornstarch until fully combined.
4. Add Sauce and Deglaze: Pour the sauce mixture over the browned chicken in the skillet. Use a spoon to scrape and deglaze the bottom of the pan, lifting all the flavorful browned bits. Bring the sauce to a boil over medium heat.
5. Simmer Sauce: Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and let the sauce simmer for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring often, until it thickens and coats the chicken.
6. Rest and Serve: Remove the skillet from heat and allow the sauce to sit for 5 minutes to further thicken. Garnish with sliced green onions and serve hot over white rice. Enjoy your delicious Bourbon Chicken!

Notes

• You can substitute apple juice with bourbon for a deeper flavor, but the apple juice is a great non-alcoholic alternative.
• Be sure to pat the chicken dry before tossing with cornstarch to help achieve a better browning.
• Deglazing the pan is essential to lift the browned bits adding richness to the sauce.
• This dish pairs perfectly with steamed white rice or fried rice.
• For extra heat, consider adding a pinch of red pepper flakes to the sauce mixture.

Keywords: Bourbon Chicken, Skillet Chicken, Sweet and Savory Chicken, Chicken Dinner, Easy Chicken Recipe