Try this easy one pan honey bourbon chicken recipe for a quick and delicious weeknight meal. Sweet, savory, and ready in under 20 minutes!
This honey bourbon chicken recipe was the perfect blend of sweet and savory! The sticky sauce was our favorite part. My son said it was better than the mall food court! Great recipe 🙂
- Betsy W.
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Bailey's Thoughts ....
When people ask me what I cook the most often, I give them the most honest answer possible: chicken. My go-to recipes (like pesto chicken bake and Honey Lime Chicken Bowls), I would argue are some of my most boring. I don't mean this in a negative way. To me, boring is synonymous with simplicity - and I need all the simplicity I can get.
This bourbon honey chicken, while super simple AND one of my go-to's, is anything but boring. Bite-sized pieces of chicken seared and then tossed with a really-quick, sticky-sweet, soy-and-honey-bourbon sauce, all brought together in this one pot recipe that's table ready in just 20 minutes.
Ideally you would serve this over pile of hot, steaming rice with a side of something of the green vegetable variety (steamed broccoli is my go-to). That said, you likely won't even get that far before you start popping bites of chicken straight out of the pan.
FUN FACT: Bourbon chicken doesn't get its name from the alcohol. The original recipe was first served on Bourbon street in New Orleans. If you are turned off by the idea of using it, sub apple juice or just leave out. The end result will still be a stovetop dinner situation your whole family will love.
-Bailey
Ingredients
- chicken thighs - opt for boneless and skinless, chicken breast can be substituted
- paprika - adds beautiful color and a hint of sweetness
- salt - draws the moisture out of the chicken prior to searing
- butter - could be substituted for any neutral oil that you have on hand
- soy sauce - adds a delicious umami flavor
- bourbon whiskey - if you don't have bourbon on hand you can sub apple juice or eliminate it entirely resulting in a delicious honey soy glazed chicken
- honey -creates texture and adds a hint of sweetness to the sauce
- cold water - provides more time for the flavors to form before the sauce reaches the desired consistency
- apple cider vinegar - adds tang; can be subbed for white vinegar
- garlic - freshly minced is great, but I LOVE using frozen minced garlic, it tastes exactly like fresh makes things so easy
- cornstarch - thickens your sauce, don't skip
- brown sugar - adds a rich caramel flavor, can sub white sugar if absolutely necessary
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
- Add diced chicken thighs, paprika and salt to a bowl. Mix well and set aside.
- In a small bowl, combine all sauce ingredients. Whisk well and set aside.
- In a large skillet, heat the butter. Once melted, add chicken and cook until seared on both sides and golden brown.
- Pour sauce mixture over the seared chicken and stir consistently until the sauce thickens.
- Remove skillet from heat and stir in brown sugar and a pinch of salt.
- Serve chicken with cooked white or brown rice and sides of your choice.
Top Tip
This honey bourbon chicken is DELICIOUS served alongside Pinch of Yum's Amazing Green Rice.
Variations
- Spicy - add red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper while cooking to imbue heat into the dish
- Deluxe - toss in some sliced carrots, broccoli or whatever veggie you have on hand.
- Bourbon free - sub apple juice for the bourbon or eliminate the alcohol all together
Equipment
Equipment can have a big impact on how a recipe turns out. Stone bakeware takes longer to heat up than metal pans, and also retain heat for longer, which could make the recipe more watery, or burnt on the outsides.
Storage
Honey bourbon chicken makes great leftovers. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
This recipe didn't stand up well to being frozen and reheated. The consistency of the sauce changed and became gritty. I don't recommend.
Top tip
Share something here that you think is key to making this recipe well, such as: Don't overcook the burgers! Sear the outside and cook to a minimum internal temperature, but they should still be juicy for best results.
FAQ
Yes. Sub applesauce in place of the bourbon or simply leave the bourbon out of the recipe.
Related
Looking for other quick and easy recipes? Try these:
Recipe
20-Minute Bourbon Honey Chicken
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
One pan bourbon sweet and savory honey chicken is a simple recipe that comes together in under 20 minutes. Bite-sized pieces of chicken are seared and then coated with a sweet + sticky bourbon sauce for the perfect weeknight meal.
Ingredients
For The Chicken:
- 1.5 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs *
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon + ⅛ teaspoon salt, divided
- 3 tablespoons butter
For The Sauce:
- ⅓ cup soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons bourbon*
- ⅓ cup honey
- ½ cup water
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
At the End:
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Prep the Chicken: Dice 1.5 pounds chicken thighs into bite sized pieces. Season with ½ teaspoon paprika and ¼ teaspoon salt. Mix well and set aside. (5 minutes)
- Make the Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together ⅓ cup soy sauce, 2 tablespoons bourbon or apple juice, ⅓ cup honey, ½ cup water, 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, 3 minced garlic cloves, and 1 tablespoon cornstarch. Set aside. (3 minutes)
- Cook the Chicken: In a large non-stick skillet, melt 3 tablespoons butter over medium-high heat. Add the chicken in a single layer and cook undisturbed for 2-3 minutes until browned, then flip and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes. (6 minutes)
- Add the Sauce: Once the chicken is browned on both sides, pour the sauce over the chicken. Stir well and continue cooking for 3-4 minutes, until the sauce thickens and the chicken is fully cooked. (4 minutes)
- Finish with Brown Sugar: Remove the skillet from heat and stir in 1 tablespoon brown sugar and ⅛ teaspoon salt. (1 minute)
- Serve: Prepare the frozen rice according to the package instructions. Serve the chicken on top of the rice.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Easy Dinners
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 286
- Sugar: 26.5 g
- Sodium: 761.7 mg
- Fat: 11 g
- Carbohydrates: 31 g
- Protein: 12.9 g
- Cholesterol: 75.4 mg
Food safety
- Cook chicken to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
- Wash hands after touching raw meat
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
Kristi Rimkus
Fantastic meal - I love the easy prep and big flavors!