Description
Succulent bourbon chicken brings Southern comfort to your dinner table with a perfect balance of sweet and tangy flavors. Kentucky-inspired sauce coats tender chicken pieces, offering a delightful meal you’ll crave again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 1.5 pounds (680 grams) boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
Sauce Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) bourbon whiskey
- 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) soy sauce
- 1/2 cup (100 grams) brown sugar
- 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) ketchup
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) water
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
Aromatics and Spices:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional for heat)
Garnish:
- Sliced green onions
- Sesame seeds
Instructions
- Sear chicken pieces in heated olive oil over medium-high heat until golden brown and fully cooked, approximately 5-7 minutes. Transfer chicken to a separate plate.
- Deglaze the skillet with bourbon, allowing the alcohol to evaporate for 2-3 minutes while scraping any browned bits from the pan.
- Create the sauce by combining soy sauce, brown sugar, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, minced garlic, grated ginger, and red pepper flakes. Simmer the mixture for 5 minutes until it slightly reduces.
- Prepare a cornstarch slurry by whisking water and cornstarch together, then slowly incorporate into the simmering sauce to thicken, continuing to cook for an additional 2-3 minutes.
- Reintroduce the cooked chicken to the skillet, gently coating each piece with the glossy sauce and warming through for another 2-3 minutes.
- Finish the dish by sprinkling fresh green onion slices and toasted sesame seeds over the chicken for added texture and visual appeal.
Notes
- Alcohol-Free Option: Substitute bourbon with apple juice or chicken broth to create a kid-friendly version without losing depth of flavor.
- Sauce Consistency Control: Adjust cornstarch slurry gradually to achieve desired sauce thickness, adding small amounts to prevent over-thickening.
- Protein Versatility: Swap chicken with tofu, shrimp, or beef for diverse dietary preferences while maintaining similar cooking techniques.
- Spice Customization: Reduce or increase red pepper flakes to personalize heat level, catering to individual spice tolerance and preferences.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 230 kcal
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg