This easy Bourbon Chicken makes a fantastic quick meal on nights when you don’t have time to cook. It’s a simple yet flavorful dinner that is even great on a busy weeknight so you can ensure the whole family has full bellies. Plus, you may serve it with whatever you want! We love rice so it can soak up the extra sauce.
Jump to:
The bourbon chicken sauce hits all the notes —- savory, umami, sweet, and a hint of spice. As it cooks down, it becomes thick and sticks to each piece of chicken to ensure you will get a flavor bomb in each bite.
If you like Asian-inspired dinner recipes, you will love this easy beef teriyaki, sweet and sour chicken, and our honey sesame chicken.
Why You’ll Love This Bourbon Street Chicken Recipe
- 30-minute meal: From start to finish, this bourbon chicken is ready to devour in less than 30 minutes
- Versatile recipe: Pair it with any side you want and tweak the ingredients to fit your flavor preferences!
- Balanced flavors: The sauce has depth and balance, creating the perfect bite.
Ingredients
Below is everything you need to make this bourbon chicken recipe. It includes spices to season your chicken thighs as well as components for the delectable bourbon sauce.
- Chicken thighs: We like to use chicken thighs in this recipe because they are a super juicy and flavorful cut. Feel free to use chicken breasts instead, just adjust the cooking time so they don’t dry out.
- Spices: We use onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, and black pepper. They are simple seasonings that add flavor without overpowering the bourbon sauce.
- Butter: The butter adds fat and richness to the sauce which helps it coat the pieces of chicken.
- Soy sauce: For umami and savory flavor, soy sauce is a traditional Asian ingredient in most sauces, including this one. Feel free to use low-sodium soy sauce if you prefer. Try coconut aminos for a gluten-free option!
- Hoisin sauce: This is a thick, sweet, and savory sauce that perfectly complements the bourbon and other ingredients.
- Bourbon: Use any variety and brand of bourbon that you like. It will be cooked down so you won’t need to worry about the alcohol content.
- Brown sugar: To add sweetness and depth, brown sugar is perfect. It has caramel and molasses notes that we love with the ginger flavor.
- Ginger and garlic: We add ginger and garlic for sharp, pungent flavors that round out the sauce.
- Cornstarch: This thickens the sauce to just the right consistency.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Spice it up: Add red pepper flakes or sriracha for a spicy kick.
- Maple flavors: Replace all or some of the brown sugar with maple syrup for a different flavor profile.
- Honey bourbon chicken: For a subtle floral note, use honey in place of brown sugar for sweetness.
How to Make Bourbon Chicken
Here are the instructions on how to make the best bourbon chicken at home. Ensure all of your ingredients are measured ahead of time to make the cooking process quicker and easier. Season your chicken thighs with the spices, too!
Step 1: Cook the chicken. Cook the seasoned chicken with olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat for about 3-4 minutes on each side or until browned and fully cooked through. Remove it from the pan and set it on a plate to rest.
Step 2: Combine the sauce ingredients. Mix the soy sauce, hoisin sauce, bourbon, water, brown sugar, ginger, garlic, and cornstarch in a small bowl. Ensure that there are no lumps.
Step 3: Melt the butter. Add the butter to the skillet and allow it to melt.
Step 4: Cook the sauce. Add the sauce mixture and cook for about 2-3 minutes or until it becomes thick and glossy. Slice the cooked chicken thighs and add it to the sauce. Toss to coat and warm the chicken
Step 6: Serve. Enjoy over rice and garnish with green onions and sesame seeds.
HINT: Cook the sauce longer if needed.
If it seems like the sauce hasn’t reached your desired consistency, let it reduce a bit longer before you add the chicken.
Storage Directions
- Storing: Place your leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator. You can also transfer the cooled chicken to a freezer-safe container and freeze it for up to 3 months. Thaw it completely before reheating.
- Reheating: To reheat the chicken, place it in a saucepan over low heat until warm or in the microwave for 2-3 minutes.
- Make Ahead: Cook the chicken and prepare the sauce up to 24 hours in advance and store it separately in the refrigerator. Heat the ingredients together in a skillet over medium-low heat until warm.
Serving Suggestions
- Serve this bourbon street chicken over simple white rice or noodles with steamed broccoli. Fried rice is great, too.
- Make a refreshing cucumber and tomato salad to serve alongside this recipe.
- Finish off a flavorful meal of bourbon chicken with a slice of peanut butter pretzel pie.
- Use this homemade sandwich bread to sop up extra sauce!
Expert Tips
- Cook the chicken in batches: If you want to brown the chicken properly, cook it in batches so the pan isn't overcrowded, causing the chicken to steam.
- Use leftover chicken: Make the bourbon sauce and add leftover chicken from another dinner for a quick version.
- Add more water: If the sauce is too thick, whisk in another splash of water.
Recipe FAQs
Yes! Mix the sauce ingredients in a bowl and add it to the slow cooker with the chicken. Cook on high for 2 hours or on low for 3-4 hours.
Sure! Cook the chicken on the saute setting. Then, add the butter and bourbon and let it simmer for a few minutes. Add the remaining sauce ingredients and the chicken. Pressure cook for 10 minutes and then naturally release the pressure.
Apple cider makes a great non-alcoholic substitute if you do not want to use bourbon.
More Delicious Chicken Dishes
We would love it if you would leave a 5 Star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating below. Then follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest! Share your favorite recipes or ask questions in my Facebook Group.
Bourbon Chicken
Equipment
Ingredients
- 6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Bourbon Sauce
- 2 tablespoons butter
- ½ cup low-sodium soy sauce
- ¼ cup hoisin sauce
- ¼ cup bourbon can be substituted for apple cider
- ½ cup water
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- 2 teaspoons garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
For Serving
- green onions sliced
- white rice
Instructions
- Season the chicken with onion powder, garlic powder, black pepper, and paprika. Then, add olive oil and chicken in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook for 3-4 minutes on each side or until fully cooked.
- While the chicken is cooking, add soy sauce, hoisin sauce, bourbon, water, brown sugar, ginger, garlic, and cornstarch to a medium bowl. Whisk until there are no lumps.
- Remove chicken and let rest on a plate.
- Lower heat to medium, add butter to the skillet and melt. Then, add bourbon sauce to melted butter. Cook for 2-3 minutes, occasionally stirring until the sauce thickens.
- Slice the chicken and add to the sauce. Cook until warmed through.
- Serve over rice and garish with green onions.
Notes
- Cook the chicken in batches: If you want to brown the chicken properly, cook it in batches so it doesn’t steam.
- Use Chicken Breasts: If you are not a fan of chicken thighs. This recipe is so good with chicken breasts as well.
- Use leftover chicken: Make the bourbon sauce and add leftover chicken from another dinner for a quick version.
- Add more water: If the sauce is too thick, whisk in another splash of water.
Nutrition
*All nutrition information provided is automatically calculated and is an estimate and will vary based on ingredients, brands, and changes in cooking methods listed in the recipe. If you need exact numbers on your ingredients, I would recommend calculating them with your prefered nutrition calculator.
Ryan Allen
This yummy chicken will make you nostalgic of the chicken you used to get in the mall. But so much better!