Bourbon Chicken Recipe

Bourbon chicken is a flavorful dish that brings the taste of New Orleans into your kitchen. This easy recipe features tender, juicy chicken thighs cooked in a sweet, savory glaze made from bourbon, brown sugar, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and a hint of red pepper.

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Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Bourbon Chicken Recipe

Prep Time: 15

Cook Time: 15

Total Time: 30

Servings: servings

Calories: 543kcal

Ingredients

1 ½ pounds skinless, boneless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
2 tbsp cornstarch, divided
2 tbsp olive oil, divided
¼ cup minced onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp grated fresh ginger
⅓ cup reduced-sodium soy sauce
⅓ cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
¼ cup bourbon (or apple juice if you prefer)
3 tbsp packed brown sugar
1 tbsp cider vinegar
¼ tsp crushed red pepper
2 cups cooked rice (for serving)
2 green onions, sliced (for garnish)

Instructions

Prepare the Chicken:

In a medium bowl, toss the chicken pieces with 1 tablespoon of cornstarch to coat evenly.

Cook the Chicken:

Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned on all sides. Once done, transfer the chicken to a plate using a slotted spoon.

Sauté Aromatics:

In the same skillet, heat the remaining tablespoon of olive oil. Add the minced onion, garlic, and grated ginger. Cook for 1 to 3 minutes, stirring, until the mixture becomes fragrant and the onions soften.

Prepare the Sauce:

In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining tablespoon of cornstarch, soy sauce, chicken broth, bourbon (or apple juice), brown sugar, cider vinegar, and crushed red pepper.

Make the Sauce:

Pour the sauce mixture into the skillet with the sautéed onion, garlic, and ginger. Stir the mixture, cooking until it thickens and becomes bubbly.

Combine Chicken and Sauce:

Return the browned chicken to the skillet. Stir everything together until the chicken is well-coated in the sauce and heated through, about 2 minutes.

Serve:

Serve the bourbon chicken over rice and garnish with sliced green onions.

Notes

No Bourbon? You can substitute apple juice for the bourbon if you prefer a non-alcoholic version or don’t enjoy the taste of bourbon.
Add Veggies: Serve the chicken with stir-fried vegetables to boost the nutrition and add some color to your plate.

Nutrition

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