This delicious honey bourbon chicken recipe is inspired by the classic foodcourt dish at the mall! It’s stick, sweet, savory and tender. I love pairing it with mashed potatoes and greens for a quick and easy nostalgic dinner.
Table of Contents
What is Honey Bourbon Chicken
Whoa, hold onto your taste buds, folks!
Honey Bourbon Chicken is a sweet and sassy dish that's about to become your new go-to comfort food.
Imagine tender pieces of chicken, perfectly cooked, then drowned in a glaze that's so sinfully scrumptious, you'll think you've died and gone to flavor heaven.
The star of the show is a luscious, sticky sauce that's a delectable marriage of honey's subtle sweetness, the robust depth of bourbon, and a sprinkle of Southern magic and voila - you've got a plate of pure, unadulterated joy.
Honey Bourbon Chicken, folks, it's like a big ol' bear hug for your belly!
Ingredients and Substitutions
For the Chicken
- Chicken Breasts - Chicken thighs also work perfectly - just depends on your preference.
- Paprika - This is just to get some color on the chicken. No real sub - leave it out if you don't have any.
- Salt - Kosher is best.
- Neutral Oil - I'm using olive oil but avocado oil works well too.
Honey Bourbon Glaze
- Soy Sauce - Tamari or Coconut Aminos also work. If using coconut aminos, it will be sweet so don't use as much honey.
- Bourbon - If you don't have bourbon, swap for apple juice.
- Honey - No honey? No prob - just use brown sugar.
- Ketchup - If you want a ketchup sub, just leave it out. I don't think it makes that much of a difference.
- Water - Water is water. Full stop.
- Apple Cider Vinegar - Rice wine vinegar, red wine vinegar and white vinegar will also work.
- Garlic Paste - Fresh chopped garlic also works.
- Cornstarch - Arrow root powder works in place of cornstarch.
- Brown Sugar - White sugar will work if it has too but it doesn't have that deep molasses taste that you need.
How to make it
Making honey bourbon chicken is super easy!
First, add cubed chicken to a large bowl and toss with paprika and salt.
Let this rest and come to room temp while you make the sauce.
In another bowl, combine all the ingredients of the honey bourbon glaze and whisk together until smooth - making sure to dissolve any clumps of corn starch.
Once both components are ready, grab a large fry pan and heat it over high. Once heated, add oil followed by the seasoned chicken.
Cook the chicken until it’s golden brown and doesn’t stick to the pan. Turn the pieces to get the same sear on all sides.
Once seared and golden, pour the honey bourbon glaze in and stir.
Turn the heat to medium-low and cook for 3-5 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce is thick and glossy.
Turn the heat off and stir in brown sugar and salt.
Serve immediately.
What goes with Honey Bourbon Chicken
For an appetizer, I suggest making my Florida Cobb Salad, or my Pesto tortellini pasta salad, or my Dirty martini Pasta salad.
Or to make this exact plate, try my fav mashed potatoes and this easy air fryer asparagus.
For dessert, you could try my Cool Whip Key Lime Pie or this simple 4 ingredient nutella fudge.
Frequently asked question
How did bourbon chicken get its name?
Alright, gather 'round foodie friends, we're about to dish out the origin story of the Bourbon Chicken.
Contrary to what you might think, it's not because of the boozy goodness of bourbon whiskey (I know, wild, right?). The name actually hails from a chinese restaurant Bourbon Street in New Orleans, renowned for its vivacious jazz music, lively night life, and, of course, lip-smacking good food.
Some folks might argue it's named after Bourbon County in Kentucky, another theory that gives a nod to the bourbon-making heartland of America.
But, hey, no matter where it got its name from, one thing's for sure: Bourbon Chicken has that sweet, tangy, and smokey flavor profile that makes your taste buds dance a little jig. So here's to good food, good stories, and the spirit (pun intended!) of Bourbon Chicken!
What does bourbon chicken taste like?
The sweetness of the brown sugar in the marinade mingles with the tang of apple cider vinegar and the rich, caramel notes of bourbon to create a symphony of sweet, savory and umami flavors.
It's a beautiful balancing act between sweet and savory, with a hint of smokiness, a little kick of heat, and the unmissable undercurrent of bourbon that ties it all together.
Bourbon Chicken, folks, it's like a blues song for your mouth – full of soul, spirit, and a little bit of that Southern fire!
What is bourbon chicken made of?
- Soy Sauce
- Bourbon (or apple juice)
- Honey
- Ketchup
- Water
- Vinegar
- Garlic Paste
- Cornstarch
- Brown Sugar
- Salt
- Chicken (breast or thighs depending on preference)
Save this recipe for later
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And if pinterest isn't really your thing, you can always scroll down to the bottom of this post and print the printable recipe card.
Recipe
Honey Bourbon Chicken
Ingredients
For the Chicken
- 2 large Chicken Breasts (or about 1.5lbs thighs) cut into small chunks
- ½ teaspoon Paprika
- ¼ teaspoon Salt
- 3 tablespoon Neutral Oil
Honey Bourbon Glaze-
- ⅓ cup Soy Sauce
- ¼ cup Bourbon
- ⅓ cup Honey
- 1 tablespoon Ketchup
- ½ cup Water
- 1 tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar or rice wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Paste or minced
- 1 tablespoon Cornstarch
- 1 heaping tbsp Brown Sugar
- 1 pinch Salt
Instructions
- Add cubed chicken to a large bowl and toss with paprika and salt. Let this rest and come to room temp while you make the sauce.
- In another bowl, combine all the ingredients of the honey bourbon glaze and whisk together until smooth - making sure to dissolve any clumps of corn starch.
- Once both components are ready, grab a large fry pan and heat it over high. Once heated, add oil followed by the chicken.
- Cook the chicken for a few minutes until it’s golden brown and doesn’t stick to the pan. Turn the pieces to get the same sear on the other side.
- Once seared and golden, pour the honey bourbon glaze in and stir.
- Turn the heat to medium-low and cook for 3-5 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce is thick and glossy.
- Turn the heat off and stir in brown sugar and salt.
- Serve immediately.
