Description
Bourbon Chicken packs a punch of sweet and tangy flavor that’ll make your taste buds dance with joy. Succulent chicken pieces simmered in a rich sauce bring Southern comfort straight to your dinner table.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1 ½ pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
Sauces and Sweeteners:
- ½ cup low-sodium soy sauce
- ½ cup packed light brown sugar
- ¼ cup bourbon
Seasonings and Thickeners:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water
- Green onions
Instructions
- Warm 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers and easily coats the pan’s surface.
- Add 1 ½ pounds bite-sized chicken thigh pieces. Sear for 6-7 minutes, rotating occasionally, until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Transfer chicken to a clean plate, leaving delicious brown bits in the skillet.
- Pour ½ cup soy sauce, ½ cup brown sugar, ¼ cup bourbon, 2 minced garlic cloves, 1 tablespoon grated ginger, and ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes into the same skillet.
- Whisk ingredients together and simmer gently for 3-4 minutes until the liquid starts bubbling and ingredients combine smoothly.
- Blend 2 tablespoons cornstarch with 2 tablespoons water in a small bowl until completely smooth.
- Gradually stream cornstarch mixture into the simmering sauce, continuously whisking for 1-2 minutes until sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
- Return chicken to the skillet, gently tossing to ensure each piece gets evenly glazed with the bourbon sauce.
- Cook for an additional 2 minutes, allowing chicken to reheat and absorb the rich flavors.
- Sprinkle freshly chopped green onions over the top just before serving for a bright, sharp contrast.
Notes
- Swap bourbon for apple juice or chicken broth if avoiding alcohol, keeping the rich flavor profile intact.
- Cut chicken into uniform bite-sized pieces to ensure even cooking and consistent sauce coating.
- Use a meat thermometer to check chicken reaches 165°F internal temperature for safe consumption.
- For a low-carb version, replace brown sugar with a sugar substitute or monk fruit sweetener to reduce overall carbohydrates.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Sautéed
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 405 kcal
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 770 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 27 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg