Bourbon chicken always reminds me of the mall food courts so it was never my favorite dish growing up. However, once I started making it at home, it went into my weekly meal rotation because it's so much better home cooked.
What is Bourbon Chicken?
Bourbon chicken is a sweet, sticky, soy-based dish most people know from mall food courts. Some say bourbon chicken originated on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, where it was sold by street vendors and named after the famous strip. Others swear the name comes from the whiskey itself, since bourbon adds a deep, caramel-like flavor to the sauce.
What most food historians lean toward is the Bourbon Street theory, especially since early versions of the dish didn't include whiskey at all. The recipe likely came from Chinese-American cooking traditions and became a staple of American mall culture over the decades.
In my version, I do include bourbon for extra depth but the alcohol cooks down anyway leaving the flavors without much of the alcohol content. However, I include a substitute if you prefer not to use bourbon.
Why You'll Love This Bourbon Chicken Recipe
- Better than takeout: That sticky, glossy sauce coats every piece of chicken and tastes like it came from your favorite restaurant.
- Flexible cooking methods: Air fryer, pan-fry, or oven, make it however works for your kitchen setup.
- Easy to make non-alcoholic: A simple apple juice and apple cider vinegar swap gives you the same depth without the bourbon.
Equipment You'll Need
- Large mixing bowl
- Air fryer, large skillet, wok, or baking sheet
- Large skillet (for the sauce)
- Tongs
- Meat thermometer
Ingredients
Chicken
- Chicken thighs: Boneless, skinless thighs stay juicy and tender
- Soy sauce
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Salt
- White pepper: Milder and slightly floral compared to black pepper
Sauce
- Bourbon: Adds smoky, caramel depth to the sauce or swap for apple juice and apple cider vinegar for a non-alcoholic version.
- Apple juice
- Low sodium soy sauce
- Rice vinegar
- Ketchup
- Light brown sugar
- Garlic
- Ginger: Fresh minced ginger adds a warm, slightly spicy backbone to the sauce.
- Cornstarch
- Salt
- Black pepper
Customizations
- Make it spicy: Add a teaspoon of sriracha or red pepper flakes to the sauce for some heat.
- Go non-alcoholic: Swap the bourbon for 2 tablespoon apple juice and 2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar.
- Use chicken breast: It works, but slice it thin and watch the cook time since breast dries out faster than thighs.
- Swap the protein: This sauce works beautifully on shrimp or tofu if you want to mix things up.
How to Make Bourbon Chicken
Marinate the Chicken
In a large bowl, combine the chicken thighs with soy sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and white pepper.
Toss to coat and let it marinate for 10-15 minutes while you prep everything else.
Make the Sauce
In a bowl or measuring cup, whisk together the bourbon, apple juice, soy sauce, rice vinegar, ketchup, brown sugar, minced garlic, minced ginger, cornstarch, salt, and black pepper. Set it aside.
Cook the Chicken
Preheat your air fryer to 425F. Cook the chicken in a single layer in batches for 11-14 minutes until browned and cooked through to 165F internal temperature.
Alternatively, pan-fry for 3-5 minutes per side in a hot skillet, or bake at 400F for 25-30 minutes.
Cook the Sauce
While the chicken cooks, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Pour in the sauce and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly, until it thickens and turns glossy.
Toss and Serve
Turn off the heat and add the cooked chicken to the skillet. Toss quickly to coat, and don't forget to reserve a little extra sauce on the side for dipping.
Serve over steamed rice and your sides of choice.
Storage
Store leftover bourbon chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Reheat in a skillet over medium-low heat with a splash of water to loosen the sauce, or microwave in 30-second intervals until warmed through.
Tips to Make the Perfect Bourbon Chicken
- Don't skip the marinade: Even 10 minutes makes the chicken more flavorful and helps it brown better during cooking.
- Cook in batches: Crowding the air fryer or pan leads to steaming, not browning, and you want that caramelized edge on the chicken.
- Watch the sauce closely: It goes from perfect to too thick fast so pull it off the heat as soon as it coats the back of a spoon.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does bourbon chicken actually have bourbon in it?
It depends on the recipe. Some recipes do not include any alcohol but my recipe adds real bourbon to give the sauce a rich, smoky depth that's hard to beat. However, I included an easy non-alcoholic swap if you prefer.
Can I make bourbon chicken without alcohol?
Absolutely! Swap the bourbon for 2 tablespoon apple juice and 2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar. It mimics that sweet, slightly tangy depth without any alcohol, and honestly most people can't tell the difference.
What's the best way to cook the chicken for this recipe?
The air fryer gives you the best browning with the least effort. That said, pan-frying gives you great caramelization, and baking works well if you're cooking a larger batch.
What should I serve with bourbon chicken?
Steamed white rice is the classic choice, but fried rice, lo mein noodles, or even cauliflower rice all work great. Add a simple side of steamed broccoli or stir-fried bok choy and you've got a full meal.
Can I make bourbon chicken ahead of time?
Yes! Make the full recipe, store it in the fridge, and reheat gently on the stove or microwave. This is great for meal prep as well.
Related Recipes You'll Love
- Honey Butter Chicken
- Five Spice Chicken
- Chicken Bulgogi
- Char Siu Chicken
- Honey Garlic Chicken
- Hot Honey Sriracha Chicken
Bourbon Chicken
Ingredients
Chicken
- 1.5 pounds chicken thighs boneless, skinless, cut into 1– inch pieces
- 2 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Dash of white pepper
Sauce
- ¼ cup bourbon for non-alcoholic version: 2 tablespoon apple juice + 2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- ½ cup apple juice
- ⅓ cup soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoon ketchup
- ½ cup light brown sugar
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 3 teaspoon minced ginger
- 3 teaspoon corn starch
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the chicken thighs with soy sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and white pepper. Toss to coat and marinate for 10-15 minutes.1.5 pounds chicken thighs, 2 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon salt, Dash of white pepper
- Make the sauce by combining bourbon, apple juice, soy sauce, rice vinegar, ketchup, brown sugar, minced garlic, minced ginger, cornstarch, salt, and black pepper. Set aside.¼ cup bourbon, ½ cup apple juice, ⅓ cup soy sauce, 1 tablespoon rice vinegar, 2 tablespoon ketchup, ½ cup light brown sugar, 4 cloves garlic, 3 teaspoon minced ginger, 3 teaspoon corn starch, ¼ teaspoon salt, Freshly ground black pepper
- Preheat your air fryer to 425°F for a few minutes. Cook the chicken in a single layer, in batches if needed, for 11-14 minutes until browned and cooked through to 165°F. Alternatively, pan-fry for 3-5 minutes per side or bake at 400°F for 25-30 minutes until chicken reaches 165°F internal temperature.
- While the chicken cooks, heat a large skillet over medium heat, add the sauce, and cook for 2-3 minutes until thickened and glossy.
- Turn off the heat then add the cooked chicken to the skillet and quickly toss to coat (make sure to reserve some sauce for dipping later). Serve over rice with your sides of choice.
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