Easy Bourbon Chicken

This flavorful dish features tender chicken pieces coated in a sweet, savory, and slightly tangy bourbon sauce. It's a quick and satisfying meal, perfect for busy weeknights.

Ingredients

• 3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces

• 4 tablespoons cornstarch, divided

• ½ teaspoon kosher salt

• ¼ teaspoon coarse ground black pepper

• ¼ cup vegetable oil

• 4 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 cup water

• ½ cup apple juice

• ¼ cup bourbon

• ½ cup chicken broth

• ⅔ cup low-sodium soy sauce

• ⅓ cup ketchup

• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

• 1 cup packed light brown sugar

• ½ teaspoon onion powder

• ½ teaspoon ground ginger

• ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

Directions

1. In a large bowl, toss the chicken pieces with 2 tablespoons of cornstarch, salt, and pepper until evenly coated.

2. Heat 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add half of the chicken pieces and cook for 3 minutes without stirring. Flip and cook for an additional 3 minutes until golden and cooked through. Remove the chicken and set aside. Repeat with the remaining chicken, adding more oil if necessary.

3. In the same skillet, add the minced garlic and sauté for about 20 seconds until fragrant.

4. Add the water, apple juice, bourbon, chicken broth, soy sauce, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, onion powder, ground ginger, and crushed red pepper flakes to the skillet. Stir to combine and bring to a boil.

5. Return the cooked chicken to the skillet. Reduce the heat and simmer for 10–15 minutes, allowing the sauce to reduce by about half.

6. In a small bowl, mix the remaining 2 tablespoons of cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of cold water to create a slurry. Stir this into the skillet and cook until the sauce thickens to a sticky glaze.

7. Serve the bourbon chicken hot over white rice or your choice of noodles.

Nutritional Information (per serving)

• Calories: 559 kcal

• Protein: 51 g

• Fat: 15 g

  • Saturated Fat: 3 g

  • Polyunsaturated Fat: 6 g

  • Monounsaturated Fat: 4 g

  • Trans Fat: 0.1 g

• Cholesterol: 145 mg

• Sodium: 2106 mg

• Potassium: 1018 mg

• Carbohydrates: 48 g

  • Fiber: 0.5 g

  • Sugars: 41 g

• Vitamin A: 187 IU

• Vitamin C: 4 mg

• Calcium: 57 mg

• Iron: 2 mg