Bourbon Chicken is a quick and easy homemade chicken dinner made with a sweet, savory, slightly spicy, sticky sauce. It is perfect for busy weeknights and tastes even better served over rice.
When life gets busy, dinner can quickly feel like one more thing on an already full schedule. Takeout is convenient, but this easy Bourbon Chicken recipe gives you the same comforting, saucy flavor at home with simple ingredients and very little effort. The chicken cooks quickly in a skillet, the sauce comes together in minutes, and the whole meal is satisfying enough for any night of the week.
This homemade bourbon chicken is a great option when you want a fast chicken dinner with bold flavor. The sauce is glossy, sticky, sweet, savory, and just a little tangy from apple cider vinegar. You can keep it simple and serve it over white rice, brown rice, or cauliflower rice, or add vegetables to turn it into a complete stir-fry style meal.
Why Is It Called Bourbon Chicken
There are a couple of common explanations for the name Bourbon Chicken. One theory is that the dish was created on Bourbon Street in New Orleans at a Chinese-style restaurant. In that version, the name comes from the location rather than the ingredient, and the dish is known for tender chicken coated in a sweet, sticky sauce and served over rice.
Another explanation is that the recipe is named for the bourbon used in the sauce. This version does include a small amount of bourbon, which adds depth to the sauce as it cooks down. If you prefer not to cook with alcohol or simply do not have bourbon on hand, there are easy substitutes that still keep the sauce flavorful and delicious.
What You’ll Need
- Chicken, either boneless chicken breasts or boneless chicken thighs
- Salt and pepper
- Cornstarch
- Vegetable oil
- Garlic
- Fresh ginger
- Chicken broth
- Bourbon
- Low sodium soy sauce
- Brown sugar
- Apple cider vinegar
This bourbon chicken recipe is especially good over rice because the rice soaks up the rich sauce. White rice, brown rice, jasmine rice, or cauliflower rice all work well. For a finishing touch, top each bowl with sliced green onions and sesame seeds. If you want to make the meal heartier, stir in vegetables such as bell peppers, zucchini, mushrooms, onions, carrots, or broccoli.
What To Use Instead Of Bourbon
If you do not want to use bourbon, you still have options. You can replace it with extra soy sauce for a more savory sauce, or use hoisin sauce for a slightly different flavor with more richness. Some recipes use apple juice as a substitute, and it does work, but it can make the sauce sweeter. Since the recipe already includes brown sugar, a savory replacement keeps the flavor more balanced.
How To Make Bourbon Chicken
- Start by tossing the cut chicken pieces with cornstarch, salt, and pepper. This light coating helps the chicken brown nicely while staying tender and juicy.
- Heat the oil in a large skillet or wok. Add the chicken and cook for 6 to 7 minutes, until the outside is golden and lightly crisp. The chicken does not need to be fully cooked at this point. Remove it from the pan and keep it warm.
- In a bowl, whisk together the garlic, ginger, chicken broth, bourbon, soy sauce, brown sugar, and apple cider vinegar until smooth and well combined.
- Reduce the skillet heat to medium and pour in the sauce. Bring it to a boil and cook for 7 to 8 minutes, or until the sauce begins to reduce and thicken.
- Add the chicken back to the skillet. Cook for another 5 to 6 minutes, until the chicken is fully cooked and the sauce is thick, glossy, and deep brown.
- Serve the bourbon chicken over rice and garnish with green onions and sesame seeds.
Recipe Tips and Variations
- Chicken breasts and chicken thighs both work well. Use whichever you prefer or already have available.
- For a spicier bourbon chicken sauce, add Sriracha, red pepper flakes, or chili garlic sauce when mixing the sauce ingredients.
- Vegetables are easy to add. Onions, mushrooms, zucchini, carrots, bell peppers, and broccoli are all good choices.
- If you want a crispier takeout-style version, use cooked crispy chicken such as tenders, nuggets, or popcorn chicken, then toss it with the thickened sauce.
- If you do not have bourbon, substitute extra soy sauce, hoisin sauce, or apple juice depending on the flavor you prefer.
What To Serve With Bourbon Chicken
Bourbon Chicken is best served over rice because the sauce is rich and flavorful. White rice is a classic choice, but brown rice and cauliflower rice are also good options. If you want to round out the meal, serve it with a simple vegetable side or mix vegetables directly into the skillet.
- Cauliflower fried rice
- Brussels sprouts
- Grilled zucchini
- Sautéed asparagus
Storage
Leftover bourbon chicken stores well and makes a great lunch the next day. Place leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for 4 to 5 days. Reheat in the microwave until warmed through, then serve over fresh rice if desired.
More Easy Dinner Recipes
- Air Fryer Tacos
- Taco Spaghetti
- Chipotle Chicken Bowls
- Pan Seared Salmon
- Beef and Cheddar Sandwiches
- Wet Burrito
- Buffalo Chicken Sliders
- Chicken Tenders
Bourbon Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless chicken, cut into cubes, breasts or thighs
- Salt and pepper
- 2 Tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 inch ginger, grated
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup bourbon
- 1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce
- 2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 cups white rice
Garnish
- Sesame seeds
- Green onions
Instructions
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Season the chicken with salt and pepper, then toss with cornstarch until evenly coated.
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Heat the oil in a large skillet or wok. Brown the chicken for 6 to 7 minutes, until golden on the outside but not fully cooked through. Remove from the pan and keep warm.
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In a bowl, mix the garlic, ginger, chicken broth, brown sugar, bourbon, soy sauce, and apple cider vinegar until combined.
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Reduce the skillet heat to medium and pour in the sauce. Bring to a boil and cook for 7 to 8 minutes, until the sauce begins to reduce and thicken.
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Return the chicken to the pan and cook for 5 to 6 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce is thick and glossy.
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Serve over rice and garnish with green onions and sesame seeds.
Nutrition
Calories: 538kcal |
Carbohydrates: 42g |
Protein: 44g |
Fat: 19g |
Saturated Fat: 4g |
Polyunsaturated Fat: 13g |
Cholesterol: 122mg |
Sodium: 768mg |
Fiber: 1g |
Sugar: 18g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be used only as an approximation.