This delicious and easy Bourbon Chicken recipe combines golden browned bites of chicken breast and sweet sticky bourbon sauce with a hint of spice. The simple glaze is whipped up in a bowl and cooked down in the same pan the chicken was browned in making it an easy one skillet supper.
Chances are pretty good that you may have tried Bourbon chicken at the one of your local restaurants or even Applebees. It is a delicious restaurant choice but you can easily make this at home. You can serve 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 people believe that 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 really Cajun about Bourbon chicken is a couple 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 in a medium bowl combine cider vinegar, bourbon, brown sugar, ketchup, soy sauce, chicken broth and cornstarch. Set this aside for just a few minutes.
Next in a large skillet heat a couple 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 the heat to low 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 will not burn. Cook for a little less than one minute. Whisk the bourbon/soy mixture one last time and pour it in 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. Top with thin slices of green onion and crushed red pepper flakes to taste. Serve over rice, Chinese noodles or spiralized zucchini noodles.
Tips for making Bourbon Chicken
- Cut your chicken in small thin bite size pieces so they cook quickly. Think of what they will look like on the end of a set of chop sticks.
- Do not get hung up on the Bourbon or whiskey bandwagon. Either one will work.
- You can leave the chicken in the skillet while you add the ginger, garlic and sauce. However I usually find that is overcooked by then so I like to remove it to a plate. After all it only takes a couple of minutes.
- Mix all your ingredients for your sauce in a bowl as written in the recipe. Do not add the whiskey or the bourbon to the pan on its own. Some 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.
How to Make Bourbon Chicken
Other delicious stir fried recipes you will love!
- Chicken Chow Mein
- One Skillet Pepper Steak
- Easy Basic Chicken Stir Fry
- Easy Beef and Broccoli Skillet
- Sweet and Sour Key Lime Pork
Bourbon Chicken
A scrumptious and uncomplicated recipe of golden brown chicken breast bites smothered in a sweet sticky slightly spicy bourbon sauce. For a complete meal serve with rice, Chinese noodles or zucchini noodles.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 15
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 serving 1x
- Category: main meal chicken
- Method: stove top
- Cuisine: Chinese
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
- 1/2 cup bourbon (or whiskey)
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons ketchup (see notes)
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup chicken broth (see notes)
- 1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 4 chicken breasts (around 2 lbs) cut into semi thin bite size pieces
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger
- 1 green onion thinly sliced
- 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (or to taste)
Instructions
- In a medium bowl combine cider vinegar, bourbon, brown sugar, ketchup, soy sauce, chicken broth and cornstarch; set aside.
- Heat 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil over medium high heat. Brown the chicken pieces in a single layer; working in batches if needed. Turn the pieces over and brown the other side. Once browned on both sides move to a large plate.
- Reduce heat to low and add 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil. Add minced garlic and grated ginger stirring constantly; cook for 1 minute. Whisk the bourbon/soy mixture one last time and pour it in the skillet. Bring the sauce to a low boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Stir the chicken into the sauce after 1-2 minutes of simmering. Top with thin slices of green onion, add red pepper flakes to taste and serve over rice or spiralized zucchini noodles.
Notes
- 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 the recipe.
Keywords: bourbon chicken, chicken with bourbon sauce, bourbon chicken recipe
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Veena Azmanov
This recipe is awesome and I am making this dish on my weekend.
★★★★★
Lisa Bryan
Love this simple yet rich glaze! Makes the chicken look extra scrumptious.
Tonje
Oh wow this looks delicious! Can’t wait to try it!
★★★★★
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!
Dorothy Reinhold
I can’t wait to dig into this one! That bourbon sauce sounds delish!
Amanda
My family and I absolutely love this meal we cant get enough of this!
★★★★★
annie
We had this for dinner and it was fantastic!
★★★★★
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!
★★★★★
Taylor
This is my favorite dish to order when we get takeout! Love the idea of making it at home!
★★★★★
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!
★★★★★
Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert
This delicious and easy Bourbon Chicken looks absolutely delicious! Yummy!
★★★★★
Pam Dana
This had such amazing flavor! Thanks so much!
★★★★★
stephanie
This rich glaze is so delicious and full of flavor. I will definitely be making this again.
★★★★★
Tara
An easy and delish weeknight meal. Even my kids liked it!
★★★★★
Amanda
I love this recipe everyone loved it!
★★★★★
Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert
I know for sure this Bourbon Chicken would be a huge hit in my house!
★★★★★
Kimberly
Simple, quick and delicious – perfect for a busy weeknight meal!
★★★★★
Toni
This will be a sure hit at my house! A new favorite meal at my house!
★★★★★
Kevin
This chicken was so good! Great flavors!
★★★★★
Kate
Ooh those flavours sound wonderful! This could be a dinner party dish or a quick weeknight supper, love it!
★★★★★
Dannii
We are always looking for new ways to enjoy chicken and this looks so hearty and comforting.
★★★★★
Krissy Allori
Super tender and the flavor in the sauce is amazing!
★★★★★
Angela
The sauce makes such a great glaze over the chicken. Tasty!
★★★★★
Nart at Cooking with Nart
Looks delicious. And since I’m all about one skillet meals, I’m definitely going to try this!!
★★★★★