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This takeout-style Bourbon Chicken is a sweet, savory, and sticky dish with bold flavors that come from a rich glaze of bourbon, brown sugar, soy sauce, and garlic. It’s easy to make at home and way better than mall food court fare!

🍴 Ingredients

• 1 ½ lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• ¼ cup bourbon (or substitute with apple juice)
• ¼ cup soy sauce
• ¼ cup brown sugar
• 2 tbsp ketchup
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• ¼ tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
• 1 tbsp cornstarch mixed with 2 tbsp water (slurry)
• Green onions and sesame seeds for garnish (optional)

🔥 Instructions

Sear the Chicken:
In a large skillet or wok, heat the vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken pieces and cook until browned and cooked through, about 6–8 minutes. Remove the chicken and set aside.

Make the Sauce:
In the same pan, add bourbon, soy sauce, brown sugar, ketchup, vinegar, ginger, garlic, and red pepper flakes. Stir well and bring to a simmer over medium heat.

Thicken the Sauce:
Add the cooked chicken back to the pan. Pour in the cornstarch slurry and stir continuously until the sauce thickens and coats the chicken in a glossy glaze.

Garnish and Serve:
Remove from heat and garnish with sliced green onions and sesame seeds if desired. Serve over steamed rice or with stir-fried vegetables.

📦 Amazon Must-Haves to Help You Make the Best Bourbon Chicken

• 🍳 Nonstick Wok or Skillet – Ideal for quickly searing chicken and simmering sticky sauces evenly.
• 🍶 Glass Measuring Cups – Perfect for accurately measuring your liquids like bourbon and soy sauce.
• 🥢 Chopsticks and Rice Bowls Set – Add a fun, authentic touch to serving your delicious creation.
• 🧄 Garlic Mincer – Easily crush garlic for that bold base flavor.
• 🌶️ Red Pepper Flakes – The kick that makes this dish pop!
• 🥄 Whisk Set – Handy for mixing your sauce ingredients to a perfect blend.

💡 Helpful Tip: For extra depth of flavor, marinate the chicken in a little soy sauce and garlic for 30 minutes before cooking. This helps lock in that rich umami taste from the inside out!