Easy Bourbon Chicken
Everyone loves this sweet and savory Bourbon Chicken recipe tossed in a delicious sauce made with apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, soy sauce, garlic, and bourbon.
Servings: 6
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs cut into 1-inch pieces (you can also use chicken breasts)
- ¼ cup cornstarch
- salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil divided
- 3 scallions thinly sliced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 cup low sodium chicken broth
- ¼ cup low sodium soy sauce
- ¼ cup bourbon
- ¼ cup light brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons apple juice
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- toasted sesame seeds for garnish, optional
- sliced green onions for garnish, optional
- cooked rice for serving
Instructions
- Coat the chicken. In a large mixing bowl, toss the chicken pieces with cornstarch, salt, and pepper.
- Pan-fry the chicken. Heat a wok or a large skillet over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon vegetable oil to the wok, then add the chicken pieces. Cook the chicken for about 6 to 8 minutes, or until browned and cooked through. If your skillet isn’t big enough to fit all the chicken pieces in one single layer, cook the chicken in batches. Remove chicken from skillet; cover and set aside.
- Sauté the aromatics. Add the remaining vegetable oil to the skillet and set it back on the burner over medium heat. To the hot oil, add the sliced scallions and cook for 30 seconds. Stir in the garlic and cook for 20 seconds, stirring frequently.
- Meanwhile, make the sauce. In a mixing bowl, combine the chicken broth, soy sauce, bourbon, brown sugar, apple juice, apple cider vinegar, and ground ginger; whisk until thoroughly incorporated. Pour the sauce into the hot wok or skillet with the aromatics, cook for 3 minutes, and bring to a steady simmer.
- Combine. Add the chicken back to the skillet and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for about 5 to 8 minutes, or until the sauce is thickened. Remove from heat.
- Finish and serve. Garnish with sesame seeds and sliced green onions, and serve over rice, noodles, etc.
Notes
- Spice It Up: Enhance the heat with a dash of Sriracha or cayenne pepper, adjusting to your spice preference.
- Noodles: Skip the rice and toss hot, cooked lo mein or linguine into the skillet, letting the noodles absorb the rich sauce for an instant noodle bowl.
- Add Veggies: Toss in onions, mushrooms, and peppers with the chicken or add steamed broccoli into the mix.
- Adjust To Taste: Customize the sauce by adjusting the sugar, vinegar, or bourbon to suit your tastes perfectly.
Nutrition
Calories: 319kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 144mg | Sodium: 534mg | Potassium: 488mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 96IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 34mg | Iron: 2mg
