Description
Recreate mall favorite Food Court Bourbon Chicken at home with juicy chicken bites coated in a glossy, sweet bourbon sauce. Quick, easy, and perfect over rice!
Ingredients
1 Tbsp olive oil
2 lb chicken thighs, skinless
1 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp black pepper (about 4 turns of the pepper mill)
1/3 cup soy sauce
1/3 cup bourbon (or substitute apple or cranberry juice; reduce brown sugar slightly if using juice)
1/2 cup water
1 Tbsp rice vinegar (or white wine vinegar or plain white vinegar)
1/2 cup brown sugar, tightly packed
1 Tbsp cornstarch dissolved in 3 Tbsp cold water
Instructions
Cut chicken thighs into 1-inch pieces, trimming excess fat or skin.
In a small bowl, mix ground ginger, black pepper, soy sauce, bourbon (or juice), water, garlic powder, vinegar, and brown sugar. Set aside.
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken pieces and cook, stirring every 1-2 minutes, until juices evaporate and chicken browns, about 8-10 minutes.
Pour in the bourbon sauce mixture and stir well. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium and simmer uncovered for 15 minutes.
Stir in cornstarch slurry and cook until sauce thickens.
Serve hot over rice and garnish with sliced green onions or sesame seeds if desired.
Notes
Swap bourbon with apple or cranberry juice for a family-friendly version.
Want extra sauce? Double the sauce ingredients for more to drizzle over rice.
Chicken breast can be substituted for thighs but may be slightly less juicy.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 445 kcal
- Sugar: 22 g
- Sodium: 1110 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 33 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 33 g
- Cholesterol: 165 mg