Easy Bourbon Chicken Recipe
This Easy Bourbon Chicken recipe features tender, bite-sized pieces of chicken breast coated in a flavorful cornstarch crust, pan-seared to a golden brown, and simmered in a rich, tangy bourbon sauce made from soy sauce, apple juice, ketchup, and brown sugar. Perfect served over steamed rice, this dish combines sweet, savory, and slightly spicy elements for a comforting weeknight meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Coating
- 3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, chopped into 1-inch pieces
- 4 tablespoons cornstarch (plus ½ – 1 tablespoon extra for thickening, optional)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
Sauce
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (or sesame oil for more flavor)
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup chicken broth (low-sodium preferred)
- ⅔ cup soy sauce (low-sodium preferred)
- ⅓ cup apple juice
- ⅓ cup ketchup
- ¼ cup bourbon (for kid-friendly version substitute with apple juice or additional chicken broth)
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar (adjust to taste)
- 1 cup brown sugar (light or dark)
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional for spice)
Instructions
- Toss chicken with cornstarch: In a medium bowl, mix 4 tablespoons cornstarch with salt and pepper. Add the chopped chicken pieces and toss well until all pieces are completely coated with the cornstarch mixture.
- Brown chicken: Heat vegetable or sesame oil in a large skillet or pot over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the coated chicken pieces in a single layer without crowding, cooking undisturbed for 3 minutes. Turn the chicken pieces and cook another 3 minutes until browned on all sides. The chicken does not need to be fully cooked at this point. Remove and set aside; cook in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding.
- Make the sauce: Reduce heat to medium; add minced garlic to the skillet and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant. Add chicken broth, soy sauce, apple juice, ketchup, bourbon, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, ground ginger, onion powder, and crushed red pepper flakes. Stir well and bring the mixture to a gentle boil.
- Simmer the chicken: Lower the heat to low and return the browned chicken pieces to the sauce. Let it simmer uncovered for about 10 minutes until the sauce reduces by half and the chicken is cooked through.
- Optional: thicken sauce: If desired, mix ½ to 1 tablespoon cornstarch with 1-2 tablespoons cold water to create a slurry. Stir this into the simmering sauce and cook for an additional 2 minutes until thickened. Remove from heat and serve.
Notes
- For a kid-friendly version, omit the bourbon and replace it with an equal amount of apple juice or chicken broth.
- Use sesame oil instead of vegetable oil to add a nuttier flavor profile.
- Adjust the amount of crushed red pepper flakes to make the sauce spicier or milder according to your preference.
- Serve the bourbon chicken hot over steamed white rice or jasmine rice for a classic pairing.
- Add vegetables like bell peppers or broccoli during the simmering stage for a more complete meal.
Keywords: Bourbon chicken, easy chicken recipe, skillet chicken, sweet and savory chicken, bourbon sauce
Find it online: https://delishfamilyrecipe.com/easy-bourbon-chicken-recipe/
