Description
How to make tender bourbon chicken with soy sauce, brown sugar and garlic that tastes better than takeout and comes together in 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Base
- 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
Bourbon Glaze
- 1/2 cup bourbon whiskey
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 tbsp ketchup
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
Thickening and Garnish
- 2 tbsp cornstarch
- 3 tbsp cold water
- 2 green onions, sliced
- 1 tbsp sesame seeds
Instructions
- Prep Chicken: Cut chicken thighs into uniform bite-sized pieces and pat completely dry with paper towels. This ensures even cooking and better browning when we sear them.
- Make Sauce: Whisk together bourbon, soy sauce, brown sugar, vinegar, ketchup, Worcestershire, and red pepper flakes in a bowl. Mix until sugar completely dissolves and set aside.
- Sear Chicken: Heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken pieces in single layer and cook 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through.
- Add Aromatics: Push chicken to one side of pan, add diced onion to empty space and cook 2-3 minutes until softened. Add garlic and ginger, cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add Sauce: Pour bourbon mixture over chicken and vegetables. Bring to a simmer and cook 5-6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until sauce reduces by about half and darkens.
- Thicken Glaze: Mix cornstarch with cold water to create smooth slurry. Stir into simmering sauce and cook 1-2 minutes until sauce thickens and coats chicken beautifully.
- Finish and Serve: Remove from heat and let rest 2 minutes for sauce to set. Garnish with sliced green onions and sesame seeds before serving over rice or noodles.
Notes
- Pat chicken completely dry before cooking for proper browning and texture.
- Let sauce reduce by half before thickening or it won’t coat properly.
- Store in refrigerator up to 4 days or freeze up to 3 months.
- Double the sauce recipe and freeze half for quick future meals.
- Apple juice can substitute for bourbon if avoiding alcohol.
- Serve over rice, noodles, or with steamed vegetables for complete meal.
Allergy Information: Soy, Gluten
Nutrition
- Calories: 385 calories
- Fat: 14g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Protein: 32g