Bourbon Chicken Recipe – Sweet, Sticky & Better Than Takeout

If you’ve ever wandered through a food court and caught the smell of sweet, sticky chicken on the grill, you’ve likely met the famous bourbon chicken recipe. This dish is savory, a little tangy, and has just the right touch of sweetness. The best part? You can easily make it at home, whether you want the authentic bourbon chicken recipe, a mall-style bourbon chicken recipe, or a bourbon chicken recipe without bourbon.

Today, I’ll walk you through everything: from its New Orleans roots to step-by-step methods, copycat restaurant styles, slow cooker versions, and even a few pro chef tips like velveting chicken for extra tenderness.

Let’s get cooking!

What Is Bourbon Chicken? (And Why Everyone Loves It)

Bourbon Chicken first appeared in New Orleans on Bourbon Street. The name doesn’t just come from the famous street—it also comes from the use of bourbon whiskey in the sauce. The recipe is a fun mix of Cajun and Chinese-American flavors. Think: sweet like teriyaki, tangy like orange chicken, and savory like soy-glazed stir fry.

If you’ve ever had food court bourbon chicken recipe or even the Golden Corral bourbon chicken recipe, you know the flavor, it’s that glossy, caramelized glaze over juicy chicken.

Don’t want to use alcohol? No worries. The bourbon chicken recipe without bourbon is just as good. Simply swap bourbon with apple juice, and you still get that rich, sticky sauce.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Here’s what goes into the best bourbon chicken recipe. Keep it simple, and you’ll have a dish ready in under 30 minutes.

• Chicken – Boneless thighs (juiciest) or breasts (leaner)
• Bourbon whiskey (or apple juice for bourbon chicken, no bourbon version)
• Soy sauce – Brings that salty umami base
• Brown sugar – Sweetness for the glaze
• Garlic & ground ginger – Aromatic, warm flavor
• Red pepper flakes – Optional heat
• Vinegar (apple cider or rice vinegar) – Balances sweetness
• Cornstarch – Thickens the sauce into a sticky glaze
• Optional add-ins: ketchup for tang, or hoisin sauce for depth (bourbon chicken recipe with hoisin sauce)

Variation tip: Some cooks add apple juice (bourbon chicken recipe with apple juice) for natural sweetness and to skip the alcohol. Others use hoisin for a glossy, restaurant-style finish.

How to Make Bourbon Chicken (Step by Step)

Here’s how to make the real bourbon chicken recipe at home.

Classic Stovetop (Mall-Style)

1. Cut chicken into bite-sized cubes.
2. Heat oil, sear chicken until lightly golden. Remove.
3. In the same pan, mix soy sauce, brown sugar, bourbon (or apple juice), vinegar, garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes.
4. Return chicken, simmer 10 minutes.
5. Thicken with cornstarch slurry. Serve hot.

This tastes like the mall bourbon chicken recipe—exactly what you’d find in the food court.

Sticky Bourbon Chicken with Hoisin

1. Coat chicken lightly in cornstarch.
2. Fry until crisp outside.
3. Mix soy sauce, bourbon, sugar, vinegar, garlic, ginger, and hoisin sauce.
4. Toss with chicken until sticky.

This version is closest to the Panda Express bourbon chicken recipe or Chinese bourbon chicken recipe.

Bourbon Chicken Without Bourbon

1. Follow the stovetop method, but swap bourbon with apple juice.
2. Add a splash of apple cider vinegar for tang.

That’s your bourbon chicken recipe without bourbon—perfect for families or anyone avoiding alcohol.

Crock Pot or Slow Cooker Bourbon Chicken

1. Add chicken, sauce ingredients (soy, sugar, vinegar, apple juice, spices) to the slow cooker.
2. Cook on low for 4–6 hours.
3. Thicken with cornstarch slurry before serving.

This slow-cooker bourbon chicken recipe slow cooker is one of the easiest weeknight dinners.

Instant Pot Bourbon Chicken

1. Sauté chicken in the Instant Pot with garlic.
2. Add sauce ingredients. Cook on manual for 8 minutes.
3. Quick release, thicken with cornstarch.

Done in under 20 minutes—the ultimate easy bourbon chicken recipe.

Pro Tip: Velveting Chicken

If you want your chicken extra tender like in restaurants, use velveting.

• Coat chicken in cornstarch (and optionally egg white).
• Flash cook it in hot oil or boiling water.
• Then finish cooking in the sauce.

This technique makes your chicken smooth, juicy, and sauce-clinging—true restaurant-quality bourbon chicken.

Variations & Copycat Styles

Bourbon chicken is super flexible. Here’s how to play with it:

• Golden Corral bourbon chicken recipe – Sweet, smoky, slightly tangy.
• Applebee’s bourbon chicken recipe – Served with mashed potatoes and vegetables.
• Bourbon Street chicken recipe – A Louisiana twist, often grilled with bourbon sauce.
• Honey bourbon chicken recipe – Add honey for a stickier, sweeter glaze.
• Bourbon maple chicken recipe – A fall favorite with maple syrup in the glaze.
• Bourbon grilled chicken recipe – Marinate chicken in bourbon sauce, then grill for smoky flavor.
• Bourbon shrimp and chicken recipe – Swap half the chicken for shrimp.

You can even try a bourbon sauce for chicken recipe alone and use it on wings, pork, or veggies.

Serving Ideas

This dish shines when paired with:

• Steamed white rice (classic food court style)
• Fried rice or noodles for an Asian fusion twist
• Steamed broccoli or stir-fried veggies
• Garnish with green onions or toasted sesame seeds

Storage & Meal Prep

• Fridge: Store in an airtight container up to 4–5 days.
• Freezer: Bourbon chicken freezes beautifully—just reheat gently.
• Meal prep: Portion with rice and veggies in containers for quick lunches.

FAQs (Quick Answers)

Q: Can I make bourbon chicken without bourbon?
Yes, replace bourbon with apple juice or chicken broth. That’s the bourbon chicken recipe, no bourbon option.

Q: What makes it authentic?
The mix of bourbon (or its substitute), soy sauce, brown sugar, and vinegar—creating a sweet-salty balance is the authentic bourbon chicken recipe.

Q: Which cut of chicken is best?
Thighs are juicier, but breasts work fine if you prefer lean meat.

Q: Can I make it like the mall recipe?
Yes, just follow the mall bourbon chicken recipe method above with a sweet glaze and rice.

Q: How do I thicken the sauce?
Use cornstarch slurry at the end to make it glossy and sticky.

Conclusion: Why You’ll Love This Bourbon Chicken

This bourbon chicken recipe is the ultimate sweet and savory comfort food. Whether you make it with bourbon, apple juice, in the slow cooker, or as a mall copycat version, it always delivers flavor that feels special but is simple enough for a weeknight dinner.

The glaze clings to every bite, the chicken stays juicy, and the sauce is so good you’ll want to drizzle it over everything. Once you try this recipe, you’ll never need to take it out again.