Easy Bourbon Chicken

Bourbon Chicken (Better Than Takeout) smothers tender chunks of chicken in a homemade bourbon sauce for a quick and easy weeknight meal! One of my favorite take-out style dishes made with bourbon, brown sugar, ketchup, ginger, garlic, soy sauce, vinegar, and more for a delicious recipe that packs a serious flavor punch!

This Bourbon Chicken Sauce is better than takeout!

This Bourbon Chicken has a sticky homemade sauce that’s the perfect balance of salty and sweet, making this dish taste like you just grabbed it from Bourbon Street! After eating it just once, I bet you’ll reach past the take-out menu to grab this recipe card every time!

Serve this over white rice for a complete meal your whole family will love!

Easy Bourbon Chicken Recipe Ingredients

This Bourbon Chicken Recipe comes together quickly and easily! To start, just coat diced chicken breasts with salt and pepper before cooking them on the stovetop in olive oil.

If you prefer, you can use chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts. Chicken thighs are known for being juicer so they’re definitely a great option for this recipe!

Then bring this Bourbon Chicken to life by mixing together the sauce using:

• soy sauce
• chicken broth
• ketchup
• Bourbon
• light brown sugar
• apple cider vinegar
• garlic paste
• ground ginger

Once it simmers, you’ll add in a water and cornstarch mixture to thicken it up to sticky perfection! When it’s time to enjoy, just garnish with green onions and sesame seeds!

All that’s left is deciding if you’ll serve this over white rice or mix it into a stir fry! Or both!

I love this dish!!! Will definitely put this on my rotation The sauce is so yummy!!!

– Barbara

How To Make Bourbon Chicken

1. Coat the diced chicken breast with salt and pepper.
2. Cook the chicken in olive oil over medium-high heat. Then transfer it to a bowl and set it aside.
3. Whisk together the soy sauce, chicken broth, brown sugar, ketchup, bourbon, apple cider vinegar, garlic, and ginger in a large bowl. Next, pour the sauce into the pan and let it simmer.
4. Mix together the water and cornstarch in a small bowl until smooth. Then add it to the bourbon mixture and whisk together, allowing it to simmer all together until it thickens.
5. Add the chicken, tossing to coat. Serve over rice, and enjoy!

How to serve this Easy Bourbon Chicken Recipe

We love serving this chicken recipe over rice because it soaks up all the delicious sauce. It can also be served on it’s own with veggies on the side.

How To Store Bourbon Chicken Sauce

Keep any leftover Bourbon Chicken in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 to 4 days. Leftovers can also be frozen for up to one month.

To do so, place them in a Ziploc bag and squeeze out the excess air before placing them in the freezer.

Can I Use This Sauce Over Fried Chicken?

Yes, you can! Crispy, crunchy Bourbon Chicken would be super delicious!

Do I Have To Use Bourbon In This Recipe?

Since Bourbon is the signature ingredient in this recipe, I don’t really recommend substituting it out. Doing so would alter the final taste of this recipe. If, for some reason, you choose to, I suggest swapping it out for 1/4 cup of apple juice.

Is bourbon chicken cooked with alcohol?

Yes, 1/4 cup of Bourbon Whiskey is used in this recipe, that’s what gives it it’s name and unique flavor.

More Chicken Dinner Recipes To Try

• One Pan Greek Chicken Quinoa – A flavorful, healthy dinner option that’s loaded with seared chicken!
• Instant Pot Chicken Alfredo – Tender, juicy pieces of sauteed chicken served in creamy, cheesy sauce!
• Honey Ginger Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner – An easy, one-pan meal that’s packed with delicious flavor!
• Harissa Chicken Tray Bake – Crispy chicken is smothered with spicy Harissa paste and then roasted!
• Cajun Chicken Pasta – Spicy cajun-rubbed chicken laid on top of linguine pasta that’s covered in a creamy sauce with a kick!

This recipe was originally published in September 2017 and was updated in April 2021 with a new recipe and photos.