Description
Succulent bourbon chicken brings Southern comfort to your dinner table with tender meat glazed in a rich, sweet-tangy sauce. Quick preparations and simple ingredients make this dish a crowd-pleasing favorite you’ll want to savor again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
Sauce Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup bourbon
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Aromatics and Seasonings:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Sliced green onions for garnish
Instructions
- Sear chicken pieces in a hot skillet with olive oil at medium heat until golden brown and crispy, approximately 6-8 minutes, seasoning with salt and pepper.
- Create a vibrant bourbon sauce by whisking together bourbon, soy sauce, brown sugar, chicken broth, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, minced garlic, and red pepper flakes in a separate mixing bowl.
- Pour the aromatic sauce over the seared chicken, allowing it to simmer and infuse the meat with deep, rich flavors for 8-10 minutes until the liquid slightly condenses.
- For a more luxurious sauce consistency, dissolve cornstarch in water and gently incorporate into the simmering mixture, continuing to cook for an additional 2-3 minutes until the sauce reaches a glossy, thickened texture.
- Elevate the dish’s presentation by sprinkling freshly sliced green onions over the bourbon chicken and serve atop fluffy steamed rice, creating a harmonious and appetizing meal.
Notes
- Choose chicken thighs for maximum flavor and juiciness, as they stay more tender during cooking compared to chicken breasts.
- Adjust red pepper flakes based on personal spice tolerance, adding more for heat lovers or reducing for milder palates.
- Create a gluten-free version by substituting regular soy sauce with tamari or coconut aminos.
- Swap bourbon with apple juice or chicken broth for a non-alcoholic alternative that maintains similar depth of flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 224 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 420 mg
- Fat: 11 g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 9 g
- Fiber: 0.3 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg