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Delicious Bourbon Chicken dish with a sweet and savory glaze

Bourbon Chicken

A quick and budget-friendly Bourbon Chicken recipe that infuses sweet and savory flavors into tender chicken, perfect for a cozy meal.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Comfort Food
Calories: 300
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 4 large large chicken breasts, chopped into bite-sized pieces and patted dry Dryness helps browning
  • 2 tbsp sesame oil
  • ½ tsp pepper
  • ½ tsp onion powder
  • ¼ cup apple juice (or bourbon if available) Use apple juice if you prefer no alcohol
  • ¼ cup ketchup
  • ½ cup soy sauce
  • ¼ cup water
  • ⅔ cup brown sugar
  • ½ tsp ground ginger
  • 3 tsp minced garlic Fresh garlic = bigger flavor
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch For coating the chicken
  • 1 tsp cornstarch For the sauce
  • ¼ cup green onions, sliced Slice just before serving

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Chop the chicken into bite-sized pieces and pat dry with paper towels.
  2. Toss the chicken with 1 tbsp cornstarch in a large bowl until every piece has a light coat.
Cooking
  1. Heat 2 tbsp sesame oil in a large skillet over medium heat; then add the chicken.
  2. Cook until no pink remains, about 5–7 minutes.
  3. Drain off excess juices, then keep the pan over medium heat until edges get golden and slightly crisp, about 3 more minutes.
  4. Meanwhile, whisk together pepper, onion powder, apple juice (or bourbon), ketchup, soy sauce, ¼ cup water, brown sugar, ginger, minced garlic, and 1 tsp cornstarch in a bowl until smooth.
  5. Once chicken is browned, pour the sauce into the skillet and scrape up the browned bits from the pan.
  6. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 5–7 minutes until the sauce thickens and coats the chicken.
  7. Remove from heat and let rest for 5 minutes before serving over rice with sliced green onions on top.

Notes

Time-saver: Chop the chicken and store it in the fridge the night before to speed dinner prep. Common mistake: Don’t crowd the pan to prevent steaming; work in batches if needed. Simple variation: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a splash of rice vinegar for brightness.