This delicious and easy Bourbon Chicken recipe combines golden browned chicken breast bites with sweet sticky bourbon sauce with a hint of spice. The simple glaze is whipped up in a bowl and cooked in the same pan the chicken was browned in, making it an easy one-skillet supper and perfect for busy weeknights.
Chances are that you may have tried Bourbon chicken at one of your local restaurants or even Applebees, then you will love this. It is a delicious restaurant choice, but you can easily make this at home. Serve it over rice or for a low-carb meal over Zucchini Noodles.
Is Bourbon Chicken Chinese or Cajun?
There seems to be much debate about this. Some people swear it originated in New Orleans on Bourbon Street, but just as many folks from that area claim, that is not the case at all. Some believe it originated in Kentucky, where many of the bourbon distilleries are located. This dish has noticeably more Chinese flare than Cajun spunk. The only thing Cajun about Bourbon chicken is a couple of pinches of crushed red pepper. While this debate may never be answered definitively, there is no question that it is a delectable effortless way to make mouthwatering chicken.
How do you make Bourbon Chicken?
First, combine cider vinegar, Bourbon, brown sugar, ketchup, soy sauce, chicken broth, and cornstarch in a medium bowl. Set this aside for just a few minutes.
Next, in a large skillet, heat a couple of tablespoons of vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Brown the chicken pieces in a single layer with some space between them. Turn the pieces over as they brown. This usually takes several minutes, depending on the size of the chicken pieces. Once browned on both sides, move to a large plate.
Reduce to medium heat and add another tablespoon of oil. Feel free to change to olive oil at this point. Add the minced garlic and grated ginger, stirring constantly so it does not burn. Cook for a little less than one minute. Whisk the bourbon/soy mixture one last time and pour it into the skillet. Bring the sauce to a low boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for about 5 minutes adding the chicken back to the skillet after about 1-2 minutes. Stir the chicken into the sauce and let it finish simmering. Garnish with green onions and crushed red pepper flakes to taste. Serve over rice, Chinese noodles, or spiralized zucchini noodles.
Tips for making Bourbon Chicken
- Cut your chicken into small thin bite size pieces so they cook quickly. Think of what they will look like on the end of a set of chopsticks.
- Do not get hung up on the Bourbon or whiskey bandwagon. Either one will work.
- Mix all your ingredients for your sauce in a bowl as written in the recipe. Do not add the bourbon to the pan on its own. Alcohol vapors are flammable, so play it safe.
- For a lower-carb version of this recipe, reduce brown sugar to 2 tablespoons, use sugar-free ketchup, and serve over zucchini noodles with fresh broccoli.
- If you like lots of flavor, consider substituting barbecue sauce for the ketchup.
- You can substitute water for the chicken broth if needed.
- My family loves a lot of sauce, so I always double the sauce portion of this recipe.
- The sauce will thicken a little more as it cools.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave at reduced power.
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Bourbon Chicken
This is a mouthwatering good recipe combining golden brown chicken breast pieces with a sweet and sticky bourbon sauce with a hint of spice. Serve it over rice, Chinese noodles, or zucchini noodles.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: main meal chicken
- Method: stovetop
- Cuisine: Chinese
Ingredients
Bourbon Sauce
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1/4–1/2 cup bourbon or whiskey (see notes)
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons ketchup
- 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 1/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
Chicken
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil or olive oil
- 1 1/2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts or chicken thighs cut into bite size pieces
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger or ginger paste
- thinly sliced green onions
- 1–2 pinches crushed red pepper
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, combine cider vinegar, bourbon, brown sugar, ketchup, soy sauce, chicken broth, and cornstarch. Set the bowl aside for just a few minutes.
- In a large skillet, heat 1-2 tablespoons of vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Brown the chicken pieces on both sides in a single layer. This usually takes several minutes, depending on the size of the chicken pieces. Once browned on both sides, move to a plate and cover to keep warm.
- Reduce to medium heat and add more oil if needed. Add the minced garlic and grated ginger, stirring constantly so it does not burn. Cook for 1 minute.
- Whisk the bourbon mixture and pour it into the skillet over medium heat. Bring the sauce to a low boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for about 3 minutes adding the chicken back to the skillet after 1-2 minutes. Simmer the sauce and chicken for 2 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.
- Garnish with green onions and crushed red pepper flakes to taste.
Notes
- Cut your chicken into small thin bite size pieces so they cook quickly. Think of what they will look like on the end of a set of chopsticks.
- Do not geBourbonup on the Bourbon or whiskey bandwagon. Either one will work.
- Mix all your ingredients for your sauce in a bowl as written in the recipe. Do not add the bourbon to the pan on its own. Alcohol vapors are flammable, so play it safe.
- For a lower-carb version of this recipe, reduce brown sugar to 2 tablespoons, use sugar-free ketchup, and serve over zucchini noodles with fresh broccoli.
- If you like lots of flavor, consider substituting barbecue sauce for the ketchup.
- You can substitute water for the chicken broth if needed.
- My family loves a lot of sauce, so I always double the sauce portion of this recipe.
- The sauce will thicken a little more as it cools.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave at reduced power.
Keywords: how to make bourbon chicken, what is bourbon chicken, bourbon chicken recipe
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Elizabeth
I like how this dish can be made in one pan for easier clean-up! Perfect for a busy weeknight dinner.
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Yes indeed!
dana
Can’t wait to try this! Now that I’ve developed a palate for bourbon these recipes don’t scare me anymore, haha. Looks so good!
★★★★★
Sonal Gupta
That burboun sauce recipe is a keeper. I am making this again.
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Sonal! So glad that you liked it!
Jess
What a great weeknight meal for the whole family!
★★★★★
Maggie
This chicken sounds amazing. I would love to try it. Maybe this weekend when I have time. Pinning! Thanks for sharing.
Andrea Thueson
This dish was a fan favorite at our house. I will be adding it to my regular rotation!
★★★★★
Fay Shroeder
Yay! Even my picky 14 year old loved this!
★★★★★
Jessica Burgess
My mom came to visit and she had talked about loving bourbon chicken so I wanted to make this for her! It turned out great, thank you!
★★★★★
Nart at Cooking with Nart
Looks delicious. And since I’m all about one skillet meals, I’m definitely going to try this!!
★★★★★
Angela
The sauce makes such a great glaze over the chicken. Tasty!
★★★★★
Krissy Allori
Super tender and the flavor in the sauce is amazing!
★★★★★
Dannii
We are always looking for new ways to enjoy chicken and this looks so hearty and comforting.
★★★★★
Kate
Ooh those flavours sound wonderful! This could be a dinner party dish or a quick weeknight supper, love it!
★★★★★
Kevin
This chicken was so good! Great flavors!
★★★★★
Toni
This will be a sure hit at my house! A new favorite meal at my house!
★★★★★
Kimberly
Simple, quick and delicious – perfect for a busy weeknight meal!
★★★★★
Eri
I know for sure this Bourbon Chicken would be a huge hit in my house!
★★★★★
Amanda
I love this recipe everyone loved it!
★★★★★
Tara
An easy and delish weeknight meal. Even my kids liked it!
★★★★★
stephanie
This rich glaze is so delicious and full of flavor. I will definitely be making this again.
★★★★★
Pam Dana
This had such amazing flavor! Thanks so much!
★★★★★
Erin |
This delicious and easy Bourbon Chicken looks absolutely delicious! Yummy!
★★★★★
Catalina
Sounds so flavorful! A must try recipe for dinner tonight!
★★★★★
Catalina
I’ve tried this recipe and everyone loved it! It’s so delicious!
★★★★★
Taylor
This is my favorite dish to order when we get takeout! Love the idea of making it at home!
★★★★★
Jacque Hastert
This is going to be a family favorite! We always order bourbon chicken whenever we stumble across it at a restaurant. Now, I have no reason to track it down and can simply make at home. Thank you!
★★★★★
annie
We had this for dinner and it was fantastic!
★★★★★
Amanda
My family and I absolutely love this meal we cant get enough of this!
★★★★★
Dorothy Reinhold
I can’t wait to dig into this one! That bourbon sauce sounds delish!
Dannii
That sauce looks amazing. I bet my husband would love it.
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Thanks Danni! You should make it for your hubby! it is delicious!
Tonje
Oh wow this looks delicious! Can’t wait to try it!
★★★★★
Lisa Bryan
Love this simple yet rich glaze! Makes the chicken look extra scrumptious.
Veena Azmanov
This recipe is awesome and I am making this dish on my weekend.
★★★★★