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Home » Kid Approved » Bourbon Chicken

Bourbon Chicken

Published: May 20, 2020 · Modified: Aug 18, 2020 by Ashley Lecker · This post may contain affiliate links · 4 Comments

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This is the most delicious and easy recipe for Bourbon Chicken- aka Food Court Chicken. This chicken saucy, savory, and sweet. It also cooks in one pan in less than 30 minutes using convenient pantry ingredients!

bourbon chicken on a plate

One-pot meals are a staple in our house. As the months get warmer meals that I can put on the grill or quickly make are my favorite because we can have something on the table quickly and enjoy the evening.

I love evening walks in the warmer months, bonfires, and outdoor evenings at home on our patio. I also love not having to put in a lot of work with dishes and meal prep so we can maximize our night.

This recipe for Bourbon Chicken will be a favorite on your meal plan rotation. It is simple, uses pantry ingredients, and ready in less than 30 minutes.

Sometimes called "Food Court Chicken" in our house because it reminds me of those delicious little sauced bites of chicken at the mall food court. It was one of my favorite things to get, along with a pretzel, when cruising the mall in my middle and high school days.

The sauce for this chicken is so delightfully simple- I love the combination of sweet and savory. If you like a little more heat you can add a few dashes of hot sauce to the sauce before adding it to the chicken.

close-up of bourbon chicken on a plate

What do you need to make Bourbon Chicken?

  • vegetable or canola oil
  • boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • ground ginger
  • garlic powder
  • black pepper
  • soy sauce
  • bourbon
  • water
  • rice vinegar
  • brown sugar
  • cornstarch
  • large rimmed skillet
bourbon chicken on a plate

How do you make Bourbon Chicken?

  1. Cut the chicken bite sized pieces.
  2. In a bowl whisk together the ginger, pepper, soy sauce, bourbon, water, garlic, rice vinegar and brown sugar. Set aside.
  3. In a large rimmed skillet, heat the oil on medium high heat.
  4. Add the chicken and cook the chicken starts to brown, about 7-8 minutes.
  5. Add the bourbon mixture and stir to coat. Allow the liquid to come to a simmer and reduce heat to medium. Simmer uncovered for about 15 minutes. Stir every few minutes.
  6. Add in the cornstarch and water mixture to the chicken and stir. The sauce will thicken after a few minutes.
  7. Remove from heat and serve over rice.
  8. Serve over rice.
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Have a few questions? I can help!

Can I use a different type of meat or cut of chicken?

For sure! Thighs work great in this recipe. I also love making it using pork loin as well.

What can I use in place of bourbon?

Any dark liquor works. Whiskey is a great alternative. You could also use a juice, like apple, if bourbon does not work for you.

Do I need rice vinegar?

You need vinegar, but you can use apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar in place. In all honestly, any will work, but those are the best substitutes.

Can I add some veggies?

Of course, I like to add broccoli sometimes. I typically add it about half way through the sauce simmering around minute 4 so it cooks perfectly.

bourbon chicken on a fork

Looking for more delicious one-pot recipes?

One Pot Chicken Parmesan Pasta

One-Pot Chicken Feta Alfredo

One Pot Pesto Feta Pasta with Asparagus

One-Pot Chili Mac

One-Pot Ham and Cheese Pasta

bourbon chicken on a fork

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close-up of bourbon chicken on a plate

Bourbon Chicken

5 from 3 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 20 mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 4 people

Ingredients
 
 

  • tablespoon vegetable or canola oil
  • 1 ½ lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • ½ teaspoon ground ginger
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ⅓ cup soy sauce
  • ⅓ cup bourbon
  • ⅓ cup water
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • ⅓ cup brown sugar
  • 1 ¼ tablespoon cornstarch
  • 3 ½ tablespoon cold water

Instructions
 

  • Cut the chicken bite sized pieces.
  • In a bowl whisk together the ginger, pepper, soy sauce, bourbon, water, garlic, rice vinegar and brown sugar. Set aside.
  • In a large rimmed skillet, heat the oil on medium high heat.
  • Add the chicken and cook the chicken starts to brown, about 7-8 minutes.
  • Add the bourbon mixture and stir to coat. Allow the liquid to come to a simmer and reduce heat to medium. Simmer uncovered for about 15 minutes. Stir every few minutes.
  • Dissolve cornstarch into the cold water. Add in the cornstarch and water mixture to the chicken and stir. The sauce will thicken after a few minutes.
  • Remove from heat and serve over rice.
  • Serve over rice.
Tried this recipe? I'd love to see it! Mention @CheeseCurdInParadise or tag #cheesecurdinparadise on Instagram!
pintrest image with chicken and title text
« Nacho Cheese Dorito Meatloaf
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Ramona

    July 17, 2020 at 4:01 pm

    We made this last night and my kids went crazy before having a first bite! It looks amazing and also tastes amazing. I would definitely make this again, thank you for sharing!

    Reply
  2. Uma Srinivas

    July 20, 2020 at 10:43 am

    Bourbon chicken sounds interesting! One my friend loves chicken dishes.. i will send her this recipe and ask her to give you feedback!

    Reply
  3. Sharon

    July 20, 2020 at 10:48 am

    Delicious!! Took me right back to my own"crusing around the mall" days. 😉 Thanks for sharing! This goes into the rotation.

    Reply
  4. Ellen

    April 18, 2021 at 6:38 am

    I am so on board with one-pot meals! My husband loves bourbon chicken and I never make it at home. Now I can! So glad I found this easy recipe.

    Reply

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Hi, I am Ashley. I am a busy mom and wife working to make family, food, and life an adventure!

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