Skip takeout and make this simple copycat Bourbon Chicken recipe! Tender and juicy chicken thighs coated in a thick, sweet and savory bourbon chicken sauce.
BOURBON CHICKEN RECIPE
If you grew up getting those heavenly chicken samples from the food court at the mall, you can stop dreaming about them and make them at home! This copycat bourbon chicken gives you the ultimate flavors. Tender and juicy chicken thighs coated in a thick, sweet and savory bourbon sauce that brings this dish all together. Serve this chicken dish over rice with a side of veggies.
WHAT YOU NEED-
- Chicken– For the best results, you want to use boneless skinless chicken thighs. You can also swap for boneless skinless chicken breast.
- Oil– To marinate the chicken, I like to coat the chicken in sesame oil. You can also just use canola oil or olive oil.
- Flavor– Season the chicken with salt, pepper, paprika and garlic powder. I like using these classics and nothing more since the main flavors come from the bourbon chicken sauce.
- Butter– For the bourbon sauce, you want to use unsalted butter. Avoid using salted butter since the soy sauce and hoisin sauce is high in sodium.
- Garlic– Freshly minced garlic or canned jarred garlic will work for this sauce.
- Bourbon– The main ingredient for this sauce is the bourbon! I just got a mini 50ml bottle of Jim Beans Bourbon Whiskey to avoid buying an entire bottle of bourbon. You can use your favorite bourbon for the sauce.
- Brown Sugar– To give the sauce its sweetness, the recipe calls for brown sugar. Light or dark brown sugar will work.
- Soy Sauce– Use either regular or low sodium soy sauce for this bourbon chicken sauce.
- Hoisin Sauce– Another key ingredient for this sauce is the hoisin sauce. It brings all the flavors together giving you that classic, nostalgic bourbon chicken.
- Cornstarch Slurry– To thicken the sauce, you want to use a cornstarch slurry, which is just cornstarch and water whisked together.
HOW TO MAKE BOURBON CHICKEN
You can have this simple bourbon chicken recipe ready in no time, the perfect weeknight dinner idea!
- Marinate the chicken thighs in oil and seasoning.
- Saute in a large skillet with oil and cook until the chicken is fully cooked, flipping halfway through.
- Remove from the skillet and let rest for 4-5 minutes. Then slice into thin strands, cover and let rest while you prepare the sauce.
- Saute butter and garlic in the same skillet until the garlic is fragrant.
- Add the rest of the ingredients and mix to combine and simmer until the sauce thickens.
- Once the sauce thickens, add the sliced chicken to the skillet, mix and cook on low for 6-8 minutes. .
- Remove from the heat and serve immediately with desired sides.
SERVING IDEAS-
Pair this flavorful bourbon chicken recipe with the right sides for the perfect dinner!
- Fried Rice
- Cilantro Lime Rice
- Sauteed Vegetables
- Kani Salad
- Hibachi Veggies
- Steamed Rice
QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE:
Yes! For the best results, I recommended using chicken thighs, but you can also use boneless skinless chicken breast.
Yes, the key ingredient to get that perfect bourbon chicken sauce flavor is bourbon! You can also use whiskey.
You can totally add your favorite veggies to this dish! I like adding onions, carrots, mushrooms, zucchini, and broccoli. You can use your favorite vegetables.
You can reheat the bourbon chicken in the microwave or on the stove top in a skillet.
Yes, if you like a little heat, you can totally add some sriracha hot sauce to the sauce for a kick!
This bourbon chicken, when stored in the fridge, can stay fresh for up to 3-4 days.
OTHER ASIAN INSPIRED RECIPES-
If you love the Asian-cuisine, try my other delicious copycat recipes:
Bourbon Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil or canola or olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp paprika
- ½ tsp ground black pepper
- 1 Tbsp sesame, canola, or olive oil for sautéing
Bourbon Chicken Sauce-
- 1 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1/4 cup bourbon 50 ml bottle
- 1/3 cup soy sauce
- 1/2 cup hoisin sauce
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
Cornstarch Slurry-
- 2 ½ tsp cornstarch
- 1 Tbsp water
Instructions
- Add the chicken thighs to a bowl and toss with oil and seasonings until the chicken is fully coated.1 1/2 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs, 1 Tbsp sesame oil, or canola or olive oil, 1 tsp salt, ½ tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp paprika, ½ tsp ground black pepper
- Heat a large skillet with oil over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the seasoned chicken to the skillet and cook for about 5-6 minutes. Flip the chicken and cook for another 5-6 minutes, until the chicken is fully cooked. (Until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165F.)1 Tbsp sesame, canola, or olive oil, for sautéing
- Once the chicken is cooked, remove from the skillet and allow to rest for 3-5 minutes.
- Slice the chicken thighs into thin strips and cover to keep warm.
- In the same skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. (Leave the leftover oil and juice for added flavor.)1 Tbsp unsalted butter
- Once the butter has melted, add the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds, or until fragrant. Then, add the remaining ingredients for the bourbon chicken sauce to the skillet and mix to combine.3 garlic cloves, minced, 1/4 cup bourbon, 50 ml bottle, 1/3 cup soy sauce, 1/2 cup hoisin sauce, 1/4 cup brown sugar
- Keep the sauce cooking over medium heat and stir in the cornstarch slurry. Allow the bourbon sauce to simmer for about 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce has thickened.2 ½ tsp cornstarch, 1 Tbsp water
- Once the sauce has thickened, add the sliced chicken thighs back to the skillet. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 6-8 minutes, stirring occasionally, so the chicken can soak up the sauce.
- Remove from the heat and serve over rice or with your favorite side dish. Enjoy!
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