Featuring tender, juicy pieces of chicken in a sticky-sweet sauce, this Easy Bourbon Chicken is made with just a handful of ingredients and ready in 30 minutes for an at-home Chinese takeout recipe your whole family will love!
Better Than Takeout Bourbon Chicken Recipe
If we’re not hitting up our local Chinese restaurant once a week, I’m likely making our favorites at home, like beef and broccoli, honey walnut shrimp, and this Bourbon chicken. With tender pieces of chicken in a savory but sweet sauce, this recipe is loved by everyone.
Homemade bourbon chicken takes just over 30 minutes to make, so it’s great for busy weeknight, and if you’re lucky enough to have any extra, leftovers for the next day hit the spot.
Why This Easy Chicken Recipe Works
Here are a few reasons why this copycat bourbon chicken recipe is so great.
- It uses chicken thighs. Chicken thighs result in tender, juicy pieces of chicken plus add even more flavor to the dish.
- Ready in just 35 minutes. This makes a great weeknight dinner because it’s so quick and easy to prepare.
- Same great flavor with just a few ingredients. One reason I love recreating recipes at home is that I know exactly what’s in them. And in this case, you only need a handful of ingredients to recreate the same great restaurant-quality flavor.
Is This Recipe Family Friendly?
Yes, this bourbon chicken recipe is family-friendly. The alcohol in the bourbon cooks off in the sauce, leaving a great depth of flavor, and making it safe for the family to eat.
That said, while bourbon is a key ingredient in this dish (thus the name), if you don’t want to cook with alcohol, a good substitute is apple juice. You can also use chicken broth. The flavors will be different, but the end result is still a delicious dish.
Ingredients Needed
The great thing about this easy chicken thigh recipe is that it requires just a handful of ingredients to achieve that same Chinese takeout flavor.
(Scroll below to the printable recipe card for details and measurements.)
- Chicken thighs – Boneless, skinless chicken thighs result in tender, juicy pieces of chicken.
- Salt and pepper
- Cornstarch – Helps create a crunchiness on the chicken as well as thicken the sauce.
- Vegetable oil – Or another neutral cooking oil.
- Garlic & ginger – For wonderful aromatics and flavor.
- Soy sauce & hoisin sauce – Classic Asian cuisine ingredients for savory umami flavor.
- Chicken broth – The base of the sauce.
- Bourbon – Use whatever bourbon you like to drink, as the alcohol cooks off and you’re left with depth of flavor.
- Brown sugar – Sweetens the bourbon chicken sauce just the right amount.
- Scallions – Garnish for serving.
How to Make Bourbon Chicken
You can make this Chinese takeout recipe in less time than it would take to wait for delivery.
(Scroll below to the printable recipe card for details and measurements.)
- Cook the chicken. Season the chicken with salt and pepper, then combine with 3 tablespoons of cornstarch to coat the chicken completely. Cook the chicken in a single layer over medium-high heat. Allow to cook for 1 minute without disturbing, then stir until cooked through. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
- Prepare the sauce. Sauté the garlic and ginger in the wok until fragrant. Stir together the remaining cornstarch, soy sauce, broth, hoisin sauce, bourbon, and brown sugar in a bowl. Add to the pan and bring to a simmer until it starts to thicken.
- Add the chicken. Return the chicken to the sauce. Cook for an additional 2 to 3 minutes, until heated through and the sauce is thick.
- Enjoy. Serve and enjoy!
Recipe Tips & Variations
Here are a few tips for making the best homemade bourbon chicken.
- Can I use other cuts of chicken? You can make this dish with chicken breast, but it will not taste the same as traditional bourbon chicken or be as tender as thighs.
- Cook the chicken in batches. You will want to brown your chicken in two batches so you don’t overcrowd the pan. If you overfill the pan, your chicken will steam instead of brown, and you will not get that great crunchy texture.
- Can I use a different protein? Yes, you can also make bourbon shrimp. Actually, bourbon chicken and shrimp is a very popular combination.
- Can I add veggies? You can add veggies like broccoli and mushrooms to make this a more complete meal. Consider doubling the sauce recipe if doing so.
What to Serve With Bourbon Chicken
Bourbon chicken is typically served over rice, either regular steamed white rice or fried rice. If preferred, you can also serve it over chow mein or lo mein noodles.
My favorite part of Chinese takeout at home is the side dishes, so I always make some Chinese dumplings, crab rangoon, or egg rolls depending on what I’m craving that day.
How to Store & Reheat Leftovers
- Fridge. Leftover bourbon chicken should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator and will keep for up to 4 days.
- Reheat. You can reheat leftovers in the microwave or on the stovetop.
- Freeze. If you would like to store it for longer, you can freeze it for 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and reheat before serving. Note that the coating will no longer be crispy once thawed.
More Chinese Takeout Recipes:
I hope you love this delicious and easy recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Belly Full on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube!
Bourbon Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs , cut into 1-inch pieces
- salt and pepper
- 1/4 cup cornstarch , divided
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 large garlic cloves , minced
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
- 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1/4 cup hoisin sauce
- 3 tablespoons bourbon
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 scallions , sliced
Instructions
- In a medium mixing bowl, season the chicken with a bit of salt and pepper, then combine with 3 tablespoons of cornstarch until the chicken is coated.
- Warm the oil in a large wok or nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Cooking in two batches, add the chicken in a single layer as much as possible and cook without disturbing for 1 minute so it can develop a crust, then cook and stir until browned and cooked through, about 8 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a plate and set aside.
- Add the garlic and ginger to the wok and saute for 20 to 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Whisk together the remaining tablespoon cornstarch, soy sauce, chicken broth, hoisin sauce, bourbon, and brown sugar in a medium mixing bowl. Add the sauce to the pan and bring it up to a simmer. Allow the sauce to simmer for several minutes until the it starts to thicken.
- Add the cooked chicken to the sauce and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until heated through and the sauce is thick.
- Serve over cooked white rice and garnish with scallions
I don’t have bourbon in the house but I do have Fireball Spiced Whiskey. Do you think that would work?
It will give it a slightly different taste, but it will still work fine. Enjoy!
I love this recipe, and the fam loved it too, permanently going into my recipe book