Honey Bourbon Chicken Recipe
Honey Bourbon Chicken is a savory-sweet dish with tender, juicy chicken coated in a sticky glaze made from honey, bourbon, soy sauce, and spices. With a perfect balance of heat and sweetness, this dish pairs beautifully with rice and steamed veggies for a satisfying meal.
Equipment
- Large Skillet or Pan: You’ll need a large pan to cook the chicken and simmer the sauce.
- Measuring Cups and Spoons: For accurate measurements of the ingredients.
- Wooden Spoon or Spatula: For stirring the sauce and flipping the chicken.
- Tongs: To easily flip the chicken while cooking.
Ingredients
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes, this can be spicy – optional!
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- 1½ lb chicken breasts, cubed, or chicken thighs
- ¼ cup onion, diced
- ¼ tsp salt
Honey Bourbon Sauce
- 3 tbsp ketchup
- ⅓ cup soy sauce, low sodium, or tamari
- 1 tbsp sriracha
- ¼ cup bourbon
- ⅓ cup honey
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- ⅓ cup water plus 1½ Tbsp cornstarch
Optional Sides
- green beans or broccoli
- 1 cup uncooked rice
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Cube the chicken into bite-sized pieces. Season with salt and smoked paprika.
- Sauté the Veggies: In a large skillet, heat a little oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion and minced garlic. Sauté for 2-3 minutes until softened and fragrant.
- Cook the Chicken: Add the cubed chicken to the skillet and cook for 5-7 minutes until the chicken is browned and cooked through.
- Make the Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the ketchup, soy sauce, sriracha, bourbon, honey, rice vinegar, brown sugar, and water.
- Thicken the Sauce: In another small bowl, mix the cornstarch with water to make a slurry. Add the slurry to the sauce and stir. Pour the sauce over the chicken and stir to coat evenly.
- Simmer: Let the chicken and sauce simmer for 5-10 minutes until the sauce has thickened to your liking.
- Serve: Serve the honey bourbon chicken over rice, with steamed green beans or broccoli on the side.
Notes
- If you prefer a thicker sauce, mix a teaspoon of cornstarch with water before adding it to the pan.
- Use boneless, skinless chicken thighs for extra juiciness.