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Bourbon Chicken
Table of Contents
- IS THERE ALCOHOL IN BOURBON CHICKEN
- WATCH THIS STEP-BY-STEP RECIPE VIDEO:
- WHAT KIND OF MEAT IS BOURBON CHICKEN
- WHAT DOES BOURBON SAUCE TASTE LIKE
- CAN YOU COOK BOURBON CHICKEN ON THE GRILL
- JUMP TO RECIPE
- Hope you enjoyed this easy to make Bourbon Chicken Recipe! Before you go, here are a few more delicious recipes you might enjoy today!
Easy Bourbon Chicken is sweet, sticky, and better than take out! Serve it over white rice and you have a filling dinner recipe that your family will love!
With minimal ingredients, this Bourbon Chicken recipe is budget friendly and will feed a family of 4.
IS THERE ALCOHOL IN BOURBON CHICKEN
Traditionally yes, there is alcohol in bourbon chicken. Usually recipes call for about ¼ cup.
Our family, however, does not drink alcohol so we use an easy substitute for the bourbon in this recipe. You might not believe it, but regular apple juice does a great job of substituting bourbon in this easy to make recipe!
WATCH THIS STEP-BY-STEP RECIPE VIDEO:
RECIPE VIDEO: Better Than Takeout Fried Rice from Spaceships and Laser Beams. CLICK HERE for the Printable Recipe!
If you do choose to use actual bourbon in this recipe, rest assured that all of the alcohol is cooked off during the simmering process. Either way, this recipe is delicious.
WHAT KIND OF MEAT IS BOURBON CHICKEN
You can use a variety of different types of chicken in this recipe from chicken thighs, rotisserie chicken, to chicken breasts. Each cooks to perfection in this easy sauce that combines soy sauce with brown sugar and different seasonings.
If using chicken thighs, I would recommend using boneless. They are easier to work with and cook quickly. Make sure to get a nice brown sear on both sides and then chop before adding the sauce.
If time is an issue, you could always pick up a rotisserie chicken and chop it into bite sized pieces. You'll miss out on the nice "browned" flavor that is left in the skillet when browning the chicken but that's okay, it will still be delicious. You'll save about 10-15 minutes cooking and chopping chicken.
Personally I use 4 chicken breasts in this recipe. I prefer to cut them into bite sized pieces before I toss them with cornstarch, that way I can get a nice sear on my chicken before I add the sauce.
WHAT DOES BOURBON SAUCE TASTE LIKE
This bourbon sauce recipe combines soy sauce, brown sugar, ketchup, apple juice, minced garlic, pepper, water, ginger, onion powder, and red pepper flakes. It comes together easily and turns into the most delicious glaze that thickens up while it's cooking.
When it's done and ready to serve, it's a combination of sweet, savory, smoky, and just plain delicious.
CAN YOU COOK BOURBON CHICKEN ON THE GRILL
Yes, you can cook bourbon chicken on the grill. Set aside about ⅓ cup of sauce to baste the chicken with while it's on the grill. Every time you turn the chicken over add additional sauce using a brush and allow it to caramelize over the hot flames.
I like my sauce thick so I would suggest cooking your chicken on the grill, and then separately allowing the sauce to simmer on the stove for 5-10 minutes.
When your chicken is ready, simply toss the sauce and chicken together and let rest 5-10 minutes. Serve over white rice and enjoy!
Bourbon Chicken
Love this recipe? Give it a 5 Star Rating
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
- ⅔ cup brown sugar
- ½ tsp ground ginger
- 3 tsp minced garlic
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 tsp cornstarch
- ¼ cup green onions (sliced)
DIRECTIONS
- Chop chicken breasts into bite sized pieces and pat dry with a paper towel. Toss chicken in a large bowl with 1 tbsp cornstarch.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, add sesame oil. Add chicken and cook until no longer pink. Drain all juices from pan. Return skillet to stove and continue to cook chicken over medium heat until the chicken is browned and the bottom of your skillet is "browned" as well.
- In a medium bowl, combine pepper, onion powder, apple juice, ketchup, soy sauce, water, brown sugar, ground ginger, minced garlic, water, and 1 tsp cornstarch. Whisk together.
- Once chicken is browned, add your sauce mixture. Using a spoon, deglaze the bottom of the pan and make sure to get all of the browned bits up and off of the bottom of the pan. Bring sauce to a boil.
- Once the sauce is boiling turn heat down to low and allow to simmer 5-7 minutes, stirring often.
- Once sauce is done simmering, remove from heat and allow to sit for 5 minutes to thicken.
- Serve over white rice and enjoy.
Nutrition
Hope you enjoyed this easy to make Bourbon Chicken Recipe! Before you go, here are a few more delicious recipes you might enjoy today!
- HOMEMADE SPAGHETTI SAUCE
- BLUEBERRY CREAM CHEESE DANISH
- WHITE CHOCOLATE REESE'S PEANUT BUTTER FUDGE BITES
- ZUCCHINI ZOODLES IN A LOW CARB SPAGHETTI SAUCE
- FREEZER BREAKFAST BURRITOS
- SECRET INGREDIENT FRY SAUCE
- SLOW COOKER FRENCH DIP SANDWICHES WITH AU JUS
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- CHEESEBURGER CASSEROLE
Comments
Leah says
One of the best recipes I have tried!’
Connie crider says
Can I use sesame seed oil instead of sesame oil?
Shauna says
I think it should be ok to do that yes!
Angela Errington says
just saw this recipe and wondered if you could use it when making chicken wings instead of bbq sauces, etc. I have about 4 lbs of wings/drummets and would love to try making them with this sauce. thanks for any help you can give me. have a great day.
Shauna says
You can definitely use this for your chicken wings! If you are making all 4 lbs at once, what I would recommend is first off at least doubling the recipe. Taking half of the sauce, toss the wings in it and put them in the oven. Halfway through baking, take them out and brush more sauce on the wings. After they are done cooking, toss them in any remaining sauce to get them extra saucy if you like them that way. That's how I would do it!
Cassidy says
I'm going to try it, with a few adjustments... Gluten Free.
Shauna says
Let me know what you change and how it tastes!
Meyersgold says
About the bourbon, were you aware the all of the alcohol evaporates during the cooking leaving the great bourbon taste. We had it with the apple juice tonight and it was a winner. Thanks
Mary Fusco says
Made this today and it was absolutely delicious. It is definitely a keeper.
Heidi says
I made this last night and it was a hit. My husband told me next time we will have to double the recipe. He said that would be great when he goes on the road. My daughter loved it also. Will be making it again and again.
Jason says
The pic shows sesame seeds, ingredients do not list it. Also, ingredients show onion powder, but don’t use it in the recipe. Obviously, just added it in with the sauce stuff.
We used maple whiskey, and substituted coconut aminos for soy sauce due to a soy allergy.
Awesome stuff!!!
Scott says
Regular sesame oil, or toasted?
Shauna says
I believe that we used just regular sesame oil. I've never tried it with toasted sesame oil but I think it'd be worth a try!
Barbara Cresta says
Going to try this tomorrow night. My husband just went to the store and came back with Toasted Sesame Oil. I am sure hoping it works as well as the plain sesame oil. I gave it 4 stars because it really sounds delicious and got such great reviews.
Sheryl Hastings says
I just made this a couple of nights ago and it was AMAZING! I did double the sauce recipe because we wanted to add lots of broccoli. Will make it again, and again, and again!
Jennifer says
Your description of the sauce mentions red pepper flakes, but not mentioned in the recipe. How much and where would it be added? Was delicious!
Shauna says
The red pepper flakes are optional and add a bit of heat to the dish. If you end up adding them in, it would be added when you mix all the ingredients for the sauce together. I would recommend starting with 1/8 to 1/4 of a teaspoon and seeing how it is. You can always add more depending on how spicy you want it, but that's what I would recommend.
Beth says
Absolutely delicious!!
cris says
I will try again, mine came out too salty not sweet.
Shauna says
Oh no! Let us know if it happens again!
Gail says
Chris, did you use a low-sodium soy sauce? That might help.
Andrea says
Ridiculously delicious! Easy to follow directions, ingredients already on hand! I will make this over and over! Thanks for sharing!
Carol Lewis says
I liked the taste it was yummy with apple juice and all the other ingredients. thanks
Andrea says
Very delish,I think it would good with pork Otoo,I thought the sauce was perfect....thanks for sharing
Joe says
Hi I did it with pork tenderloin medallions and it was great. Good idea