Description
This Bourbon Chicken with Broccoli is a savory, slightly sweet dish featuring tender chicken thighs in a rich bourbon sauce, paired with crisp broccoli for a satisfying meal. Perfect for weeknight dinners or special occasions, it balances flavors with a touch of heat from red pepper flakes.
Ingredients
4 boneless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 cup broccoli florets
3 tablespoons cornstarch, divided
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup apple juice
1/2 cup bourbon
1/2 cup chicken broth
2/3 cup soy sauce
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup ketchup
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
4 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
Sesame seeds for garnish (optional)
Instructions
-
Season and Coat Chicken: Season chicken with salt and black pepper, then mix with 2 tablespoons of cornstarch. Set aside to marinate.
-
Prepare the Sauce: Combine bourbon, chicken broth, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, apple juice, ketchup, brown sugar, ginger, garlic, and red pepper flakes in a bowl. Stir and set aside.
-
Cook Broccoli: Heat 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a pan over medium heat. Add broccoli and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until tender. Set aside.
-
Cook Chicken: In the same pan, add remaining oil, turn heat to medium-high, and cook chicken for 3 minutes on each side, or until browned. Remove chicken from pan and set aside.
-
Thicken the Sauce: In a bowl, mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of cold water to make a slurry. Set aside.
-
Combine and Simmer: Add bourbon sauce to the pan and bring to a boil. Return chicken to the pan and simmer for 10-12 minutes until the sauce thickens.
-
Final Assembly: Stir in cornstarch slurry to thicken the sauce further, add broccoli back in, and cook for another 1-2 minutes until heated through and glossy.
-
Garnish and Serve: Garnish with sesame seeds (optional) and serve warm.
Notes
For a vegetarian version, replace chicken with tofu or tempeh.
Spice it up by increasing red pepper flakes or adding a jalapeño pepper.
Add extra veggies like bell peppers or snow peas for more nutrition.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Pan-fried
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 servings
- Calories: 410 kcal per serving
