You have probably been offered a free sample of Bourbon chicken while minding your own business in a mall food court. If you’ve ever wondered where the bourbon is in the chicken or where it got its name, you’ve come to the right place.
Have you ever walked through a mall food court, minding your own business, when a piece of chicken on a toothpick is held enticingly in your path? It was probably Bourbon Chicken. The reason it’s used for samples? It’s sticky, sweet, and irresistible. We suggest you skip the mall and satisfy your mall food court cravings at home instead.
If you’ve ever wondered if it has bourbon in it or exactly how it got its name, you’ve come to the right place. We have all the juicy details of this bold, American chicken dish.
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.
Where and How to Buy Bourbon Chicken Seasoning Mix
If you head to your local supermarket, you might be able to find a mix for bourbon chicken. If you strike out, your best bet is to make your own spice blend.
If you want to make it incredibly easy on yourself, your best bet is to get our Bourbon Chicken Spice & Easy — you might as well stock up and save a little money with the 3-pack! This Meal Starter Spice Mix has everything you need to get started on the signature dish. If you’d rather view the Spice & Easy blends in person, our store locator feature can guide you to where you can view our products on the shelves.
What spices and seasonings are in bourbon chicken?
Don’t let the name of the chicken confuse you. The misleading name of the chicken dish doesn’t actually have any bourbon in the recipe. So, what does bourbon have to do with the chicken?
Bourbon chicken is named after Bourbon Street in New Orleans, which was named after France’s ruling family in 1721, the House of Bourbon, which was named after the historic French province, Bourbonnais.
That being said, some recipes for bourbon chicken do call for bourbon. Good for them. As a potentially costly and polarizing ingredient, especially for those with kiddos, we chose to forgo the spirits after rigorous recipe testing and customer polling. Add a splash of bourbon if you like, but we (and our trusted recipe testers) think it tastes great as is.
Bourbon Street Marker. Photo Credit: https://www.frenchquarter.com/bourbon-street/
You Won’t Find A Better Recipe For Bourbon Chicken Than This One!
FAQ
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