Description
This Bourbon Chicken Recipe features tender, boneless chicken thighs marinated in a flavorful blend of bourbon, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and brown sugar. Cooked in a skillet until caramelized and saucy, it’s an easy and delicious dish perfect for serving over rice and garnished with fresh chives.
Ingredients
Scale
Marinade
- ½ cup Bourbon
- ½ cup low sodium soy sauce
- ½ cup water
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced
- 2 tablespoons red wine
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
Chicken
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into smaller pieces
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon chopped chives
Instructions
- Prepare the Marinade: Whisk all the marinade ingredients together in a medium bowl thoroughly to combine the bourbon, soy sauce, water, garlic, brown sugar, ginger, red wine, and sesame oil into a smooth mixture.
- Marinate the Chicken: Add the chicken pieces to the marinade, toss well to coat evenly, then cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or up to overnight, to allow the flavors to penetrate the meat.
- Cook the Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the marinated chicken pieces and cook until the meat is no longer pink, about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to brown the chicken evenly.
- Add Marinade and Thicken Sauce: Pour half of the marinade into the skillet with the chicken. Continue cooking for another 5 to 10 minutes, stirring, until the marinade reduces and thickens into a rich sauce and the chicken is fully cooked through.
- Optional Sauce Reduction: For extra sauce, pour the remaining marinade into a small saucepan and cook over medium heat for 5 to 10 minutes or until it reduces by half and thickens slightly. This can be drizzled over the chicken when serving.
- Serve and Garnish: Serve the bourbon chicken over your choice of rice and garnish with freshly chopped chives for a burst of color and mild onion flavor.
Notes
- Marinating the chicken overnight will yield a deeper, more pronounced flavor.
- Use boneless, skinless chicken thighs for juicier, more tender meat compared to chicken breasts.
- Adjust sweetness by varying the amount of brown sugar to your taste.
- If you prefer less alcohol flavor, use a good quality bourbon and consider reducing marinating time.
- This dish pairs well with steamed or fried rice and sautéed vegetables.
Keywords: Bourbon chicken, chicken thighs, bourbon sauce, easy chicken recipe, stovetop chicken, sweet and savory chicken