Bourbon Chicken Recipe

Serve this sweet and spicy Bourbon Chicken Recipe over a generous bowl of tender, fluffy rice for an easy, flavor-packed dinner that brings the bold taste of New Orleans cuisine straight to your kitchen table. This classic mall-style favorite delivers that signature sticky glaze and savory-sweet kick in every bite. No trip to the food court required!

Make Easy Bourbon Chicken Recipe

What is Bourbon Chicken? Well, if you’ve ever strolled past a mall food court and caught that sweet, sticky, savory smell drifting through the air, you already know. It’s a super popular dish you’ll find at Cajun and Asian takeout spots all across the country, and it’s pretty much a staple at the mall.

Food historians believe it got its start on Bourbon Street in New Orleans. Most folks figure it was named after the street itself, since not every version actually includes bourbon whiskey. Whether you splash some in or leave it out is totally up to the cook. Either way, you’re ending up with tender chicken coated in that rich, sweet-and-savory glaze and that’s always a win.

Key ingredients to make Bourbon Chicken Mall Recipe: (Scroll down for full printable recipe card.)

Chicken – Boneless chicken breasts or thighs.
Bourbon – Bourbon gives this chicken its signature flavor.
Cornstarch – Cornstarch will lend a light crispy coating.
Garlic – Minced garlic cloves enhance the flavor.
Sugar – Light brown sugar for a hint of sweetness.
Spices – Salt, black pepper, onion powder, ground ginger and crushed red pepper flakes.
Liquids – Apple juice, chicken stock or chicken broth, soy sauce or teriyaki sauce, ketchup and rice wine vinegar expand the flavor profile.
Oil – Olive oil or vegetable oil to sauté the chicken.
Serving – Chopped green onions and cooked rice for serving.

How to Make the Best Bourbon Chicken Recipe

Prep Chicken – Toss chicken with cornstarch, salt and lemon pepper until evenly coated.
Brown Chicken – Brown chicken in oil in a large skillet. Remove to a platter and repeat cooking chicken pieces in batches. (The chicken doesn’t have to be cooked through.)
Make the Sauce – To the skillet add garlic, apple juice, chicken stock, soy sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, bourbon, vinegar, onion powder, ginger and red pepper flakes.
Combine – Add chicken back to skillet, stir to combine.
Simmer – Reduce heat to medium-low and let simmer per the recipe until chicken is cooked through and sauce has slightly thickened.
Serve immediately over rice garnished with green onion.
To Thicken Sauce – (Optional) Dissolve cornstarch in cold water. Stir until completely dissolved. Increase heat, and mix cornstarch slurry into sauce. Mix well, cook just until sauce has thickened slightly. Repeat process, if desired, until thickened to your taste.

Kitchen Equipment to Make Better Than Mall Bourbon Chicken Recipe

Large skillet. I highly recommend a 12-inch cast iron skillet for ample room to cook the chicken without crowding the pan.
Measuring cups and measuring spoons.
Medium bowl and whisk.
Knife and cutting board.
Plate or platter.

Recipe Variations, Tips and Substitutions

Bourbon – The best bourbon to use is a brand of bourbon that you already enjoy. While I do include it in the ingredients for this recipe, it can easily be replaced.
Bourbon Substitute – You can use water, apple juice or additional chicken stock in place of bourbon. It will still be delicious and it will still be bourbon chicken.
Chicken – You can use boneless chicken breasts or boneless skinless thighs for this recipe. Chicken thighs may take slightly longer to cook so adjust the time accordingly.
Honey Bourbon Chicken – You can add honey to the sauce to replace some of the brown sugar. When using honey, you should expect to thicken at the end of cooking.
Use a Large Skillet – You’ll need to use a large 12 inch skillet to make this recipe to allow ample room for all of the ingredients. A large skillet will also give you the freedom to mix things thoroughly.
Soy Sauce – I prefer using soy sauce for this recipe although you could use teriyaki sauce in a pinch without any other adjustments.
Fresh Ginger – You can use 1/2 – 1 teaspoon of grated fresh ginger in place of the ground ginger called for in the recipe.
Thicken the Sauce to Your Taste – A slurry refers to a mixture that’s used to thicken a sauce. You can thicken the sauce further at the end of cooking using additional cornstarch slurry. When making a slurry, it’s vitally important that you use cold water to dissolve the cornstarch to prevent it from clumping. Do not add it to the pot with undissolved clumps or the sauce will be lumpy.
Serving Options – Bourbon chicken is traditionally served over white rice. You can use basmati, jasmine or long grain white rice, it’s completely up to you. You may also opt to sprinkle the top with toasted sesame seeds, if desired.

Storage and Leftovers

Leftovers – You can store leftover Bourbon Chicken in an airtight container chilled in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Reheating – Reheat gently in the microwave or in a saucepan on the stovetop over medium heat.
Freezer – You can freeze leftovers for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge and reheat just before serving.

More Delicious Chicken Recipes to Make

Chicken is affordable and readily available in grocery stores, which is a fact that I’m grateful for as the mother of hungry teenage boys. Other easy chicken recipes you may like to add to your dinner rotation:

Juicy Baked Chicken Breasts can be served on toasted kaiser rolls, turned into wraps or as an entree.
Sticky Sriracha Chicken Drumsticks will bring the heat to meal time.
Crispy Oven Fried Parmesan Chicken is an Italian favorite made with ease in the oven.
Smothered Chicken and Gravy is comfort food at it’s finest.
Air Fryer Chicken Thighs are marinated in Greek yogurt and Greek inspired seasonings.
Beer and Garlic Grilled Chicken from Barefeet in the Kitchen.

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