Food Court Bourbon Chicken is tender bite-sized pieces of seasoned chicken thighs smothered in a rich sauce of soy, hoisin, brown sugar, bourbon, and spices. And, it is all made in one skillet. For a touch of color and a fresh finish, top the chicken with green onions and serve the chicken over rice. No need to make a trip to the mall for this delicious recipe when you can make it at home! I also have Easy Bourbon Chicken made with chicken breasts that you might want to check out.
Ingredients & Substitutions
Chicken: Boneless, skinless chicken thighs are a tender and flavorful choice for this recipe. You could substitute chicken breasts, but the texture may be different. Just ensure that the chicken is fully cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F. The chicken is seasoned with garlic powder, onion powder, and salt.
Soy Sauce & Hoisin Sauce: Both soy sauce and hoisin sauce are used as the flavorful base of the bourbon sauce. Hoisin sauce is a thick, flavorful sauce that is used a lot for stir-fries, as a dipping sauce, and as a glaze for meats.
Brown Sugar: Light brown sugar adds sweetness and helps to caramelize the sauce.
Bourbon: This is Bourbon chicken, but you could leave it out (or use any kind of whiskey you have on hand). The alcohol will cook down, but if you do not have any, or don’t want to use bourbon, substitute a lesser amount of apple cider vinegar. You could also use an equal amount of chicken broth or chicken stock.
Spices: Ground ginger and red pepper flakes are spices added to the sauce. The red pepper flakes give the sauce a little bit of a kick, but not too much. You could leave those out if preferred. Or, add more for a spicier kick!
How To Serve Bourbon Chicken
Here are some common (and delicious) ways to serve bourbon chicken:
- Serve over steamed white or brown rice.
- Pile the bourbon chicken over a plate of cooked egg noodles.
- Shred the chicken and use it in a sandwich or wrap filled with your favorite fixings and condiments.
- Add the chicken to a bowl of mixed greens or lettuce for a delicious salad.
- Serve the bourbon chicken as the main course with a side of mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, cornbread (or cornbread muffins), or dinner rolls.
How To Store Bourbon Chicken
To store bourbon chicken, first, let it cool to room temperature. Next, store the chicken and sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will last up to 3-4 days. Reheat it in a saucepan over medium-low heat on the stovetop or in a microwave-safe bowl in the microwave.
Can I Freeze Bourbon Chicken?
Yes, for longer storage, freeze the chicken with the sauce. Place the cooled bourbon chicken in a freezer-safe container or bag, leaving a bit of room for expansion. Label and date the packaging; it will last for up to 2-3 months. Let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
Food Court Bourbon Chicken
Ingredients
Chicken
- 6 boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Sauce
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon garlic, minced
- ½ cup (128 g) soy sauce
- ½ cup (128 g) hoisin sauce
- ½ cup (100 g) light brown sugar, packed
- ¼ cup (2 ounces) Bourbon
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- ⅛ teaspoon crushed red pepper
- green onions, chopped for garnish
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine chicken, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt. Toss to coat evenly. Set aside.
- To a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat, add oil. When hot, add chicken. (Depending on the size of the skillet, you may have to work in batches.) Cook for 2-3 minutes per side, or until golden brown. Flip and repeat on the opposite side, until cooked through and the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. Remove the chicken from the pan and transfer to a plate, tenting to keep warm as you make the sauce.
- Reduce the heat to medium. Add butter. Once melted, remove the skillet from heat. Add the garlic, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, brown sugar, bourbon, ginger, and red pepper. Stir to combine. Return the skillet over medium heat. Cook for 5-6 minutes, scraping up the browned bits and stirring occasionally so the sauce doesn't burn.
- Add the chicken back to the pan, stirring to combine. Continue cooking for 1-2 more minutes, or until the chicken is heated through.
- Garnish with green onions. Serve warm.
Video
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What the Test Kitchen had to say about this recipe:
Autumn
I'm a big fan of this dish! The sauce clings to every bite. I will definitely be making this at home!
Elizabeth
This chicken is easy to make with a really flavorful sauce. I would add more red pepper flakes for more of a kick, but it was excellent!
Rachael
So flavorful and delicious! This is very quick to make and tastes just like a food court bourbon chicken. I would switch to chicken breasts because I personally prefer it over thighs but you can do it however you want!
Bella
So delicious. The chicken has a deep flavor especially from the bourbon. It definitely reminds me of food court bourbon chicken! A side of rice or noodles would make this complete!
Selena
Oh. My. Goodness. This is quite amazing. It is just absolutely packed with flavor. I loved it with some rice and green onions!
Very very strong. I might suggest lowering the Hoisin amount, and half the Bourbon.
Amazing recipe as usual! I’ve tried several different bourbon chicken recipes that I’ve found online and the sauce is usually too thin and lacking depth of flavor. This one nails it! Finally someone who understands what bourbon chicken is supposed to taste like!
Thrilled you enjoyed it, James!!