By Becky Hardin
Updated Feb 14, 2025
Bourbon Chicken is one of our favorite easy Chinese Takeout meals to make at home on busy nights. Tender, moist chicken bites slathered in sweet and spicy homemade bourbon sauce is totally irresistible! I guarantee, you’ll simply love this one-pan comforting meal that you can enjoy with the whole family!
5-Star Review
Made this for dinner tonight. They all loved it! Thanks for a great, easy, timesaving recipe.” Kim
Better-than-Takeout Sweet and Spicy Bourbon Chicken
I never thought cooking Asian-inspired foods would be easier to cook at home than picking up takeout. Homemade bourbon chicken is healthier (you know the ingredients), freshly made, minimal preparation and so tastes so much better!
This mildly spicy, one-pot meal makes a perfect family dinner on busy nights. Asian inspired meals are my go-to weeknight dinners whenever I need something fast. My kids drool over this recipe as well as my other Asian-inspired dishes: Honey Chicken , Cashew Chicken , Teriyaki Chicken , Orange Chicken , and Sweet and Sour Chicken .
Tips for Beginners
- The bourbon sauce is the star of this recipe. The alcohol cooks down and evaporates as the cooking progress. If you want, you can swap it out with vegetable or chicken broth or apple juice.
- I’m using ginger and garlic. But colorful bell peppers, bok choy, broccoli, zucchini or cauliflower will also taste amazing.
- Boneless skinless chicken breast is my preferred cut (lean protein). But boneless skinless chicken thighs also work, they just need to cook a bit longer.
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 2 lbs boneless chicken breasts cut into bite-size pieces
- ▢ 2 tbsp olive oil
- ▢ 1 garlic clove crushed or 1 tsp. pre-minced garlic
- ▢ 1/4 tsp ginger
- ▢ 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- ▢ 1/2 cup apple juice or apple sauce
- ▢ 1/3 cup brown sugar
- ▢ 2 tbsp ketchup
- ▢ 1 tbsp cider vinegar
- ▢ 1/2 cup water
- ▢ 1/3 cup soy sauce or Yoshida’s Gourmet Sauce
- ▢ 2 tbsp Bourbon optional
- ▢ Cooked White Rice I use Minute Rice – prepared per instructions
Video
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add chicken pieces and cook until lightly browned. 2 tbsp olive oil, 2 lbs boneless chicken breasts
- Once cooked remove chicken.
- Add remaining ingredients, heating over medium Heat until well mixed and dissolved. 1 garlic clove, 1/4 tsp ginger, 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes, 1/2 cup apple juice or apple sauce, 1/3 cup brown sugar, 2 tbsp ketchup, 1 tbsp cider vinegar, 1/2 cup water, 1/3 cup soy sauce or Yoshida’s Gourmet Sauce, 2 tbsp Bourbon
- Add chicken and bring to a hard boil.
- Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes or until thickened to the desired consistency.
- Serve over hot rice.
Becky’s Tips
- Chicken broth or vegetable broth will do the trick if apple juice is not handy.
- Swap chicken with Paneer or Tofu for vegetarian option. Pork and shrimp are other great options.
- If you like thicker sauce, use cornflour. Mix 1 tablespoon cornflour in 1 cup of water, and slowly add in the sauce. Keep stirring while cooking.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Bourbon Chicken Step by Step
Prepare the chicken and cook: Cut 2 lbs of boneless chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces. Pat them well. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add chicken pieces and cook until lightly browned.
Once cooked remove chicken. Chicken will change to white color, that’s when you need to remove them from the skillet.
Make the bourbon sauce: Add 1 minced garlic clove, 1/4 tsp ginger, 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes, 1/2 cup apple juice (or apple sauce), 1/3 cup brown sugar, 2 tbsp ketchup, 1 tbsp cider vinegar, 1/2 cup water, 1/3 cup soy sauce and 2 tbsp Bourbon in the same skillet. Heat over medium until well mixed and dissolved.
Combine, cook and serve: Place the chicken back into the skillet, bring the mixture to a boil, reduce heat, and let it simmer for 20 minutes until the sauce thickens.
When the chicken is ready, serve it over rice. Enjoy!
How to Store and Reheat
Refrigerate: Transfer any leftovers to an airtight container and refrigerate for 3-5 days. To reheat, use a saucepan over medium-low heat or microwave in 30 second intervals.
Freeze after cooking: Due to the simplicity of bourbon chicken, you can make it ahead of time and freeze it in freezer-friendly storage bags. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat in a saucepan or microwave.
Freeze before cooking: If you love those fresh flavors from the sauce then feel free to freeze them before combining. Once the chicken is cooked, let it cool and come to room temperature. Prepare the sauce separately, and let that cool as well. Transfer them in separate containers and freeze. Thaw overnight and cook per the instructions.
Serving Suggestions
Asian recipes usually pair well plain steamed rice and stir fry vegetables . Start your meals with crab rangoon bites or egg rolls as an appetizer, then indulge in this delicious chicken!
More Asian-inspired Recipes you’ll love
Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe
Kung Pao Chicken
Homemade Sweet and Sour Sauce Recipe
Vegetable Lo Mein
Thai Chicken Wings with Spicy Peanut Sauce
Beef Lo Mein Recipe
10 Homemade Chinese Take Out Recipes
Sweet and Spicy Bourbon Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 lbs boneless chicken breasts cut into bite-size pieces
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 garlic clove crushed or 1 tsp. pre-minced garlic
- 1/4 tsp ginger
- 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- 1/2 cup apple juice or apple sauce
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 2 tbsp ketchup
- 1 tbsp cider vinegar
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/3 cup soy sauce or Yoshida’s Gourmet Sauce
- 2 tbsp Bourbon optional
- Cooked White Rice I use Minute Rice - prepared per instructions
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add chicken pieces and cook until lightly browned. 2 tbsp olive oil, 2 lbs boneless chicken breasts
- Once cooked remove chicken.
- Add remaining ingredients, heating over medium Heat until well mixed and dissolved. 1 garlic clove, 1/4 tsp ginger, 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes, 1/2 cup apple juice or apple sauce, 1/3 cup brown sugar, 2 tbsp ketchup, 1 tbsp cider vinegar, 1/2 cup water, 1/3 cup soy sauce or Yoshida’s Gourmet Sauce, 2 tbsp Bourbon
- Add chicken and bring to a hard boil.
- Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes or until thickened to the desired consistency.
- Serve over hot rice.
Video
Notes
- Chicken broth or vegetable broth will do the trick if apple juice is not handy.
- Swap chicken with Paneer or Tofu for vegetarian option. Pork and shrimp are other great options.
- If you like thicker sauce, use cornflour. Mix 1 tablespoon cornflour in 1 cup of water, and slowly add in the sauce. Keep stirring while cooking.
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
