Instructions are included for 30 minutes on top of the stove or 8 hours in the slow cooker. It's the best busy weeknight meal idea ever!
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❤️ Why you'll love it
- Skip the lines in mall food courts and still satisfy your cravings for a food court favorite.
- Save money on dining out at your favorite Chinese restaurant by making this copycat recipe at home.
- Takes less than 30 minutes from start to finish when making on the stovetop which can make an busy weeknight dinner.
- Sweet and sticky this homemade easy bourbon chicken recipe is perfect for picky eaters and kids.
We eat a lot of chicken and the more ways I can make it the better. Bourbon chicken hits our table on the regular - the only other recipe we like as much is chicken spaghetti.
🧾 Ingredients
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- boneless skinless chicken breasts
- cornstarch
- coconut oil
- garlic
- chicken stock
- orange marmalade
- bourbon
- soy sauce
- ketchup
- apple cider vinegar
- light brown sugar
- onion powder
- ground ginger
- crushed red pepper flakes
🔪 Instructions
This is an overview of the instructions. You'll find the full instructions in the green recipe card at the bottom of the page.
- Coat the chicken in cornstarch
- Brown the chicken in a heavy skillet.
- Add in the bourbon sauce ingredients and bring to a boil.
- Simmer sauce and chicken until chicken is done and sauce is thickened.
🥄 Equipment
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You'll need the following items to make this recipe successfully.
🥫 Storage
Leftovers can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for up to three days.
You can also store leftovers in a freezer-safe container in the freezer for up to three months.
📖 Variations
- Want a thicker sauce? Add in a cornstarch slurry to your sauce to thicken it more.
- For a sweeter sauce, add in an extra ¼ cup of brown sugar.
- Prefer more spice in your bourbon chicken? Double the amount of crushed red pepper flakes in this recipe.
- If you are a fan of pork, use cut up boneless pork chops to make this recipe instead of chicken breasts.
- Sesame seeds and sliced green onions make for great garnishes for this chicken.
- Serve over pasta, rice or cauilflower rice depending on your preferences.
💭 Tips
Expert Tip: The sauce thickens as it stands - don't worry if it seems a little thin when you first remove it from the heat.
This is better than any Bourbon Chicken that I've had anywhere. The flavor will change a little depending on the brand of bourbon you use and the brand of ginger ale if you use that instead.
I'd suggest something really strong like the Jamaican Ginger Beer.
This has the best texture the first day but it's pretty darn amazing on the second day as well!
- Use boneless, skinless chicken thighs for juicier, more tender chicken.
- If you like it extra spicy add some hot sauce and be sure to use spicy ketchup.
- You can make this Bourbon Chicken recipe ahead of time - just store it in an airtight container for up to 4 days or store it in the freezer for up to a month.
- The biggest secret to making this successfully is to use a big, heavy pan. I use my cast iron skillet.
- You can also dredge the chicken in cornstarch, dip in egg, then roll in crushed cornflakes and deep fry before adding to the sauce just before serving. It makes it extra crispy!
- Cubed boneless pork works in this recipe, too!!
👩🍳 FAQs
I think ginger ale is a great substitute for bourbon in chicken recipes. other possibilities are apple juice or pineapple juice.
Who invented bourbon chicken?
It's not an Asian dish, although it definitely has an Asian flavor to it. Bourbon chicken was actually invented on Bourbon Street in New Orleans.
Sure! This easy recipe works well with chicken, tofu, tempeh, pork, and I even like it with beef.
It's a popular fast food item at most mall food courts that's very similar to brown sugar chicken - but more casual. Boneless chicken is tossed in a seasoned coating then pan-fried to give it color and flavor before it's simmered in a thick, sweet-tangy-spicy sauce that's lightly flavored with orange.
📚 Related recipes
Love that sweet garlicky sauce? Try these similar recipes!
The Honey Garlic Meatballs or slow cooker honey garlic pork chops are very similar in flavor to this recipe!
We love these quick and easy meals!
- King Ranch Chicken takes about 20 minutes and it is pure, carb loaded comfort.
- Diner Style Hot Turkey Sandwich is one of my favorite memories of childhood! We'd eat these at the counter in the diner sitting on big, chrome, twirly topped stools.
- Dr Pepper Sticky Chicken is a similar dish but with fewer ingredients and Dr Pepper flavor.
- Deviled Chicken is an old fashioned favorite that's sort of like a cross between fried chicken and bbq chicken.
🍽️ Serve with...
Serve this copycat mall favorite with rice or noodles - it's even more addictive than the stuff at the food court!
- These Maple Roasted Carrots are sweet and make for the perfect side dish with most meals.
- You can never go with this easy Spicy Roasted Cauilflower recipe for a low-carb side dish.
- Cucumber Salad is creamy and refreshing and makes for a great no-cook side dish.
- Summer Fruit Salad is fresh, sweet and tangy and a tasty healthy side dish.
- Banana Pudding is a old-fashioned sweet and creamy dessert that whole family will enjoy.
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need. Don't forget that you can click on "add to collection" to save it to your own, private recipe box!
If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Bourbon Chicken
Print Pin Recipe SaveEquipment Needed
Ingredients
- 3 pounds boneless chicken breasts, or boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 4 tablespoons coconut oil, or light vegetable oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup chicken stock
- ⅓ cup orange marmalade, , or apple jelly
- ¼ cup bourbon, or ginger ale if you prefer not to use alcohol
- ⅔ cup soy sauce
- ⅓ cup ketchup, spicy ketchup preferred
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
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Instructions
Stovetop
- Mix 3 tablespoons of cornstarch, salt, and pepper in a bowl.
- Cut the raw chicken into bite sized pieces.
- Pat dry.
- Add it to the cornstarch mixture and toss until coated on all sides.
- Add 2 tablespoons of oil to a heavy skillet on medium high heat. I use cast iron.
- Heat the oil until it shimmers then add about half the chicken pieces.
- Cook for 3 minutes without stirring.
- Turn carefully and cook for 3 more minutes.
- Remove from the pan.
- Add more oil if needed and repeat with the remaining chicken.
- Remove chicken to a platter and keep warm.
- Add the chopped garlic and saute for just a few seconds.
- Add the chicken stock, orange marmalade, bourbon, soy sauce, ketchup, vinegar, brown sugar, onion powder, ground ginger, and red pepper flakes.
- Bring to a boil.
- Carefully spoon the chicken back into the pan.
- Simmer for 15 minutes or until the sauce is reduced and thick, stirring often.
- If you need it thicker add an extra tablespoon of cornstarch to 2 tablespoons of water and stir into the sauce.
- Cook until the sauce is thick.
- Serve immediately over noodles or rice.
Slow Cooker
- No need to dredge the chicken or sear it as above. You won't need the oil but you will need the cornstarch.
- Add all ingredients except the cornstarch to the slow cooker.
- Cook on low 6 to 8 hours.
- Combine 3 tablespoons of water with the reserved cornstarch and mix until smooth.
- Stir into the cooked chicken mixture in the slow cooker.
- Turn heat to high and let thicken for about 10 to 15 minutes. Stir occasionally.
Notes
- Use boneless, skinless chicken thighs for juicier, more tender chicken.
- If you like it extra spicy add some hot sauce and be sure to use spicy ketchup.
- You can make this Bourbon Chicken recipe ahead of time - just store it in an airtight container for up to 4 days or store it in the freezer for up to a month.
- The biggest secret to making this successfully is to use a big, heavy pan. I use my cast iron skillet.
- You can also dredge the chicken in cornstarch, dip in egg, then roll in crushed cornflakes and deep fry before adding to the sauce just before serving. It makes it extra crispy!
- Cubed boneless pork works in this recipe, too!!
Nutrition Facts
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With three daughters and a couple of granddaughters in my life it's no secret to anyone that I like to shop. Living just outside of Dallas means that the opportunity to do so presents itself... often.
There's just something about taking a day off to head to the mall with one (or more) of the girls and adding to my shoe collection that's the perfect shopping therapy.
Then, as much as I like a good restaurant, the lure of the food court and all of that disgustingly processed but oh-so-yummy fast food always gets to me.
I swear I black out and when I come to my senses I'm standing in front of one of the vendors pushing my credit card into their hands, my mouth full of lo mein, meatball sandwich, or bourbon chicken.
Learning to make Bourbon Chicken at home was life changing and diet challenging!
First published April 12, 2018. Last updated January 4, 2022 for more information, better images, and better reader experience.
Kathy
Could this recipe also be used for Salmon? If so, would you also cut the salmon into small pieces? Thanks!!!!
Marye
I've never tried, I' m sorry. I can't say.
Leanna Louise
I'm assuming you put the bourbon in with the rest of the sauce ingredients but its not listed in the directions. Could you clarify?
Marye
Correct - I've fixed it. 🙂
Lisa
Can you also make this in the crockpot??
Marye
I am sure you could