Bourbon Chicken Recipe

Easy Bourbon Chicken that’s crispy, sweet, sticky and tastes just like the kind you grew up eating at the mall!

Making this Crispy Bourbon Chicken actually makes me feel like a teenager. A teenager who was a rebel and once actually took Chinese food into the movie theater!

A quick apology to those people who had to watch Dude Where’s My Car in LA in the late 90’s in a Chinese food scented theater. My bad.

It was kind of the perfect movie to do that in though because the Chinese takeout drive thru scene still makes me belly laugh.

Back to the task at hand, Bourbon Chicken. This chicken is so deliciously sweet and sticky and has a deep bourbon flavor with hints of the apple juice. It’s good. Super good.

Is there bourbon in bourbon chicken? Yes! There absolutely is, but it cooks down in the sauce so much it just adds a certain unique flavor and won’t impair your driving. If you prefer to skip the bourbon, just double the apple juice.

Easy Bourbon Chicken

Easy Bourbon Chicken that’s crispy, sweet, sticky and tastes just like the kind you grew up eating at the mall!

Prep: 15min

Total: 40min

Yield: 8

Serving Size: 1 serving

Nutrition Facts: calories 208 kcal, Carbohydrate 8 g, Protein 15 g, Fat 10 g, Saturated Fat 1 g, Cholesterol 67 mg, Sodium 1437 mg, Sugar 4 g, servingSize 1 serving

Ingredients:

• 5-6 skinless (boneless chicken breasts – about 3 pounds)
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch (divided)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 4 tablespoons canola oil
• 2 cloves garlic (minced)
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup apple juice
• 1/4 cup bourbon
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 2/3 cup lite soy sauce (lower sodium)
• 1/3 cup ketchup
• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 1 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

Instruction:

1. Cut the chicken into 1 inch pieces and in a large bowl toss it with 2 tablespoons of the cornstarch, salt, and pepper.
2. Add 2 tablespoons of canola oil into your nonstick skillet on medium high heat and let it heat until adding the first piece of chicken sizzles.
3. Add half the chicken pieces and cook for 3 minutes without stirring.
4. Turn the chicken pieces and cook and additional three minutes.
5. Remove the chicken from the pan.
6. Use the remaining oil to cook the second half of the chicken the same way.
7. Remove the chicken from the pan.
8. Add in the garlic and cook for 20 seconds until you can just smell it.
9. Add in the water, apple juice, bourbon, chicken broth, lite soy sauce, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, onion powder, ground ginger and red pepper flakes.
10. Bring to a boil then add back in the chicken.
11. Cook for 10-15 minutes or until the sauce is reduced by about half.
12. Add the remaining tablespoon of cornstarch to a small glass with a tablespoon of water and stir.
13. Add into the pan and stir.
14. Cook until the sauce is thickened. Serve immediately.

Bourbon Chicken

FAQ

What is bourbon chicken sauce made of?

Does bourbon chicken have alcohol in it?

Is bourbon chicken Chinese or Cajun?

Why is bourbon chicken called bourbon?