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Savory pieces of chicken combine with a sweet bourbon sauce to create this Honey Bourbon Chicken recipe. This dish cooks in one skillet on the stovetop in under 30 minutes!
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Pin ItSticky bourbon chicken combines cajun and asian flavor. It’s great for busy weeknights as it’s super easy to make and cooks in one skillet.
Tender bites of chicken are coated in a delicious bourbon chicken sauce. It’s slightly sweet, savory and a little bit tangy. Serve this chicken dish with rice or any of your favorite side dishes.
You can easily adapt to make this recipe for the entire family, just substitute the bourbon for apple juice. The juice cooks down into the sauce to maintain the same great flavor.
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Origins of Bourbon Chicken
Despite showing up at Asian restaurants and mall food courts, Bourbon Chicken is believed to have originated in the South. The exact origins are often disputed, but one story claims the dish originated in a Chinese restaurant on Bourbon Street in New Orleans. Whether the original dish actually contained bourbon is unclear.
Another story says that this dish is named Bourbon Chicken because the sauce contains bourbon. Although it’s unclear where the dish originated, it’s clear that this dish is a hit.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Tangy, sweet and savory sauce: So much flavor is packed into this sticky sauce. It’s made with a few pantry staple ingredients, and you can adapt to make it kid-friendly without the use of bourbon.
- It’s quick and easy: No need to marinate the chicken. The chicken cooks in one pan and the sticky sauce cooks with the chicken.
- Great for leftovers or meal prep: It’s like take out food you can make at home. This honey bourbon chicken recipe tastes even better as leftovers and works great for meal prep.
What is honey bourbon sauce made of?
The honey bourbon sauce for this recipe is made with fresh garlic, fresh ginger, chicken broth, soy sauce, honey, bourbon, rice wine vinegar, sesame oil and crushed red pepper flakes.
If you don’t want to use bourbon, no problem! You can substitute the bourbon with apple juice or apple cider for a similar tangy sweet flavor. Do not use apple cider vinegar, as this is not the same. You can also use coconut aminos or tamari instead of the soy sauce.
Many bourbon chicken recipes use brown sugar instead of honey, and you can substitute the honey with brown sugar, if you prefer.
Kid-friendly: Using apple juice instead of bourbon makes this dish a flavorful meal for the whole family.
Expert Tips
- Use chicken thighs for more flavor: You can use either chicken breasts or skinless chicken thighs for this recipe, but we use chicken thighs for the best results as they have more flavor.
- Cut the chicken into small bite-sized pieces: This ensures the chicken cooks quickly and evenly. It also ensures the chicken is coated well in the sauce mixture.
- Use less sugar, if desired: This recipe calls for 1/4 cup honey, but you can cut this amount down if you prefer less sweetness.
What to Serve with Bourbon Chicken
You can serve the chicken over white or brown rice and garnished with freshly chopped green onions. Or serve it with a side of veggies like Sautéed Carrots or Roasted Potatoes and Broccoli. Pan Fried Pineapple is also a great addition if you’re looking for something sweet.
We also love serving this easy bourbon chicken with classic southern sides like Broccoli Crunch Salad, Sautéed Corn, Twice Baked Mashed Potatoes and Roasted Zucchini and Squash.
Storage
Store leftover honey bourbon chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To freeze, place leftovers in a freezer safe container and store in the freezer for up to 2 months.
Thaw the chicken in the refrigerator then reheat in a nonstick skillet, until warmed through, stirring, until a thermometer inserted into the chicken registers 165°F, about 10 minutes.
Bourbon chicken makes great leftovers for the next day!
Easy Honey Bourbon Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds skinless boneless chicken breasts or thighs
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
- 1/3 cup reduced sodium chicken broth
- 1/3 cup low sodium soy sauce
- 1/4 cup honey
- 3 tablespoons bourbon, (or apple juice)
- 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper, or more to taste
- Cooked rice, for serving
- Sliced green onions, for serving
Instructions
- Cut the chicken into 1-inch pieces, then place them in a large bowl and toss with 2 tablespoons cornstarch until well coated.
- Heat the oil in a large skillet. Add the chicken, season with salt and pepper to taste, and cook for 5 to 6 minutes, until cooked through and golden brown. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
- Add the remaining tablespoon of cornstarch to a small bowl, then add the garlic, ginger, broth, soy sauce, honey, bourbon, vinegar, sesame oil and red pepper. Whisk well.
- Pour the sauce mixture into the skillet and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until thickened.
- Return the chicken and juices to the skillet. Stir to coat and cook for 2 minutes, or until warmed through.
- Serve over rice and garnish with green onions.
Notes
- Bourbon: You can substitute the bourbon with apple juice or apple cider for a similar tangy sweet flavor. Do not use apple cider vinegar as it is not the same.
- Soy Sauce: Use coconut aminos or tamari instead.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
