Description
Delicious bourbon chicken delivers Southern-inspired comfort straight from Louisiana kitchens. Juicy chicken pieces glazed with sweet-tangy bourbon sauce promise a quick, mouthwatering meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 3 pounds (1.36 kilograms) chicken breasts, boneless and skinless, chopped into 1-inch pieces
Sauce Ingredients:
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) chicken broth, low-sodium
- ⅔ cup (160 milliliters) soy sauce, low-sodium
- 1 cup (220 grams) brown sugar, dark or light
- ¼ cup (60 milliliters) bourbon
- ⅓ cup (80 milliliters) apple juice
- ⅓ cup (80 milliliters) ketchup
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) apple cider vinegar
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
Seasoning and Thickening Ingredients:
- 4 tablespoons (32 grams) cornstarch
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) vegetable oil
Instructions
- Prepare a seasoning mixture by combining cornstarch, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl. Thoroughly coat chicken pieces in this blend, ensuring each morsel is evenly covered.
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high temperature. Carefully brown chicken pieces in batches, cooking approximately 3 minutes per side until golden and nearly cooked through. Transfer browned chicken to a separate plate.
- In the same skillet, quickly sauté minced garlic until its aromatic essence is released, about 30 seconds.
- Pour chicken broth, soy sauce, apple juice, ketchup, bourbon, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, ground ginger, onion powder, and crushed red pepper flakes into the skillet. Bring the liquid to a vigorous boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer.
- Reintroduce the cooked chicken into the simmering sauce, stirring to coat each piece completely. Allow the mixture to simmer, reducing the sauce by half and ensuring chicken is fully cooked, approximately 10 minutes.
- For a thicker consistency, create a quick slurry by mixing cornstarch with water. Incorporate this into the sauce and continue simmering for an additional 2 minutes until the desired thickness is achieved.
- Plate the bourbon-infused chicken over a bed of steamed rice, allowing the grains to absorb the rich, flavorful sauce. Garnish with optional chopped green onions for a fresh touch.
Notes
- Bourbon chicken’s origins trace back to New Orleans’ food stalls, where Chinese and Cajun cuisines beautifully collided.
- Marinating chicken overnight intensifies flavor profiles, transforming a simple meal into a culinary adventure.
- Whiskey or apple juice can substitute bourbon, making this recipe adaptable for various dietary preferences and restrictions.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Chinese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 488
- Sugar: 30 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 66 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg