Bourbon Chicken (without Bourbon)

Ingredients

• 2 lb Chicken thighs (boneless)
• 1 tsp Onion powder
• 1 tsp Garlic powder
• 1 tsp Paprika
• Black pepper (to taste)
• 0.33 cup Soy sauce
• 1 tbsp Hoisin sauce
• 1 tbsp Ketchup
• 0.5 cup Apple juice
• 0.25 cup Water
• 1 tbsp Apple cider vinegar
• 0.33 cup Light brown sugar
• 1 in Ginger (grated)
• 3 Garlic cloves (grated or finely minced)
• 1 tbsp Cornstarch (dissolved in a little water)
• 1 tbsp Cooking oil (for searing)

Steps

1. 1

   In a bowl, whisk together soy sauce, hoisin sauce, ketchup, apple juice, water, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, grated ginger, and garlic. Set aside.

2. 2

   Season the chicken thighs with garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and black pepper. Ensure all sides are evenly coated.

3. 3

   Heat one tablespoon of oil in a skillet (preferably cast iron). Add the chicken and sear on both sides until browned. The meat does not need to be fully cooked through at this point.

4. 4

   Remove the chicken from the skillet and let it rest briefly. Meanwhile, cut the meat into bite-sized pieces.

5. 5

   Pour the prepared sauce into the hot skillet and deglaze the pan by scraping the browned bits from the bottom. Reduce the sauce by half.

6. 6

   Stir the cornstarch slurry into the reduced sauce to thicken it.

7. 7

   Return the chicken pieces to the skillet and simmer until the chicken is cooked through and has reached the desired temperature.

Notes

This recipe omits bourbon and uses apple juice for its characteristic sweetness. Best served with rice and steamed broccoli.

Nutrition per serving

• Main Course
• Chicken
• Skillet Meal
• Sweet and Sour
• Quick Dinner