Description
Indulge in the delightful flavors of Easy Bourbon Chicken, a mouthwatering dish that combines sweet and savory elements for an unforgettable meal. Perfect for weeknight dinners or special gatherings, this recipe features tender chicken pieces coated in a sticky bourbon sauce that elevates your dining experience to new heights. In just 15 minutes of preparation and minimal cooking time, you can serve up a restaurant-quality dish that will impress family and friends alike. Whether enjoyed over fluffy rice or nestled in lettuce wraps, this easy bourbon chicken is sure to become a favorite in your household.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts (1-inch pieces)
- 4 tablespoons cornstarch
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 4 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- ⅔ cup low-sodium soy sauce
- ⅓ cup apple juice
- ⅓ cup ketchup
- ¼ cup bourbon (or substitute)
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- Optional: crushed red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Coat the chicken: In a medium bowl, mix cornstarch, salt, and pepper. Toss diced chicken until evenly coated.
- Brown the chicken: Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add coated chicken in batches, cooking for about 3 minutes on each side until browned but not fully cooked. Remove from skillet.
- Prepare the sauce: In the same skillet, sauté garlic for about 30 seconds. Add broth, soy sauce, apple juice, ketchup, bourbon, vinegar, brown sugar, ginger, onion powder, and optional red pepper flakes. Bring to a gentle boil.
- Simmer with chicken: Return browned chicken to the skillet and simmer on low heat for about 10 minutes until sauce is reduced by half.
- Thicken if desired: Mix additional cornstarch with cold water and stir into the sauce; simmer for another two minutes.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Skillet
- Cuisine: Asian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 piece (approximately 170g)
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 650mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 33g
- Fiber: <1g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: For a kid-friendly version, omit the bourbon and add extra apple juice. Serve over rice or noodles for a complete meal.