With tender pieces of chicken stir-fried in a sweet and tangy sauce over a bed of fluffy steamed rice, no one complains when sticky Bourbon Chicken is on the menu! This easy recipe is a lighter twist on the original New Orleans Chinese-American recipe.
Traditional Bourbon chicken is a stir-fry-style recipe that features pieces of fried chicken thighs in a sweet, sticky, and savory brown sugar bourbon glaze.
It tastes sweet, a little salty, and tangy, similar to other popular Chinese-American dishes like General Tso Chicken and Healthy Orange Chicken.
While the original recipe originated in New Orleans, these days, you can find Bourbon chicken well beyond the French Quarter.
It’s a frequent menu item at shopping mall food courts and at many Chinese takeout restaurants around the country.
And with this easy Bourbon chicken recipe, you can bring all of its deliciousness into your very own kitchen.
If you use bourbon in your sauce, some of the alcohol will cook off, and you’ll be left with a little bourbon flavor. If you plan to make this dish for children, the residual alcohol content is something to consider. You would need to cook the sauce for at least three hours to remove all traces of alcohol.
Substitution Tip
While I prefer chicken thighs for this recipe, you can swap them for chicken breasts if you prefer that cut of meat for your protein.
- Cornstarch. Cornstarch helps the outside of the chicken brown to mimic the deep-fried original, and it thickens the sauce.
- Soy Sauce. Gives the sauce a boost of umami flavor.
- Bourbon. This recipe’s namesake. While the flavor isn’t strong, it helps balance the sauce and is the secret to the BEST Bourbon chicken with authentic flavor.
- Maple Syrup. Helps make the sauce sweet, sticky, and delicious.
- Brown Sugar. A modest amount for additional sweetness. It also helps thicken the sauce.
- Apple Cider Vinegar. Adds necessary acidity to the sauce mixture.
- Green Onions. Adds color, crunch, and a mild onion flavor. Perfect for a garnish.
Looking for some extra pizzaz? Toss in some sesame seeds for texture and red pepper flakes for a little kick!
- Stir the chicken and part of the cornstarch together.
- In a separate small bowl, whisk the sauce ingredients and remaining cornstarch together.
- Cook the chicken.
- Pour in the sauce and stir. Simmer for 2 to 4 minutes, then garnish with green onions. Serve with rice, and ENJOY!
- To Store. Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- To Reheat. Rewarm chicken in a skillet on the stovetop over medium-low heat or in the microwave.
- To Freeze. Freeze leftovers in an airtight, freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
How to Make Bourbon Chicken
The Bourbon chicken sauce uses sweet, salty, and acidic ingredients to achieve the right balance.
Typically, it is served with rice, though you can certainly turn it into lettuce wraps, mix in sautéed vegetables or Roasted Broccoli (what we usually do), or serve it with a crisp salad, like this Asian Cabbage Salad.
- Chicken Thighs. Bourbon chicken thighs are mouthwateringly juicy! The thigh meat stays tender, is more flavorful, and won’t dry out during cooking.
The secret to making Bourbon Chicken! | Quick & Easy Recipe
FAQ
Can kids eat bourbon chicken?
Does bourbon chicken really have bourbon in it?
Can kids eat bourbon wings?
Can I have bourbon chicken while pregnant?
Does Bourbon chicken have alcohol?
Most recipes, including this one, for bourbon chicken, do contain alcohol. Bourbon is similar to whiskey but is slightly different in that bourbon mash must contain at least 51% corn. Additionally, it is 160 proof or less, they must be stored in charred new oak barrels at 125 proof or less and cannot contain any additives.
Scotch vs Bourbon: Which is healthier?
Both the whiskey variants cannot be termed healthy as they only deteriorate health condition. They contain ethanol as the primary substance which has a negative impact on body functioning, specifically on liver. Besides, alcohol yields 7 kilocalorie of energy per 1 milligram which increases the visceral fat levels in the body. Alcoholic beverages are responsible for fatty liver disease, liver cirrhosis, kidney malfunctions and fetal impairments.
What is Bourbon chicken?
Bourbon chicken is a dish named after Bourbon Street in New Orleans, Louisiana and for the bourbon whiskey ingredient. The dish is commonly found at Cajun-themed and Chinese restaurants. The recipe includes soy sauce, brown sugar, and bourbon whiskey in the base, and the chicken is marinated in this sauce.
What does Bourbon chicken taste like?
Log in here. Traditional Bourbon chicken is a stir-fry-style recipe that features pieces of fried chicken thighs in a sweet, sticky, and savory brown sugar bourbon glaze. It tastes sweet, a little salty, and tangy, similar to other popular Chinese-American dishes like General Tso Chicken and Healthy Orange Chicken.