Bourbon Chicken

This meal is as easy as browning the chicken, pouring in the bourbon soy sauce mixture, adjusting for thickness, and simmering until cooked. Pinky swear, this bourbon chicken recipe whips up in less than 30 minutes. And it’s freezer-friendly, too, making it perfect for busy weeknights! Plus, the sauce! 🤤 Trust me, you’re gonna want to make extra. The sauce is incredible and perfect for drizzling over a steaming bed of white rice. I make mine pourable for this exact purpose, but you can always thicken the sauce if you like it stickier. Bourbon chicken and teriyaki chicken are similar because they both balance sweet and savory flavors in a to-die-for sauce. However, bourbon chicken has some ingredients you won’t find in teriyaki, such as ketchup, chicken stock, and (obvs) bourbon. Though the added ingredients make a difference, both dishes are 10/10 delicious! 😋

Recipe Ingredients

How to Make Bourbon Chicken

Season the chicken with salt and white pepper. (Photo 1) Make the Sauce – Whisk the bourbon, soy sauce, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, chicken stock, cornstarch, and brown sugar. Set aside. (Photo 2) Heat the skillet with about 2 tablespoons of oil, then add the chicken to the hot skillet. Let it rest for about 30 seconds before stirring. Cook for 4-5 minutes or until the chicken fully cooks. (Photo 3) Season – Add garlic and ginger to the chicken and cook for another 2-3 minutes. (Photo 4) Assemble – Pour the sauce mixture over the chicken and bring to a boil. Turn the heat down to low and simmer for 3-5 minutes or until the sauce thickens. Add the red pepper flakes and adjust the thickness of the sauce with broth, if desired. (The sauce will thicken a little more as it cools.) (Photos 5-7) Serve – Sprinkle with green onions and serve over rice. Garnish with sesame seeds, if desired. (Photo 8)

Recipe Variations

Tips and Tricks

Make-Ahead Instructions

Bourbon chicken is ideal for making ahead. Simply make it and store it in the fridge a day or two ahead of time, and then reheat it over medium heat on the stove. You can also freeze this dish for up to three months. Thaw it in the fridge the night before you want to serve it up, and reheat it on the stove until hot.

Serving and Storage Instructions

Serve this goodness hot atop a bed of white rice. If you have leftovers, keep them in the fridge in an airtight container for 3-5 days or freeze them for up to 3 months.

What Goes With Bourbon Chicken

Jasmine rice is a favorite with bourbon chicken. But coconut fried rice also works great. Stir-fried veggies or grilled bok choy on the side deliver a healthy meal. 🤩