This New Orleans-style chicken dinner is flavored with fun.
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
You might love Bourbon in an old-fashioned or mint julep, but if you’re not cooking with it, you’re really missing out on Bourbon’s true potential. In fact, one of our favorite chicken dinners is marinated and cooked entirely in Bourbon, and the boozy ingredient is the secret to making tender, flavorful, and perfectly succulent chicken.
Bourbon chicken is a delicious, one-dish meal that's simple in preparation, but complex in flavor. The recipe itself only requires seven ingredients, and the hardest part is just assembling them into one dish. The alcohol cooks away in the oven, leaving behind the nutty, sweet flavor you love in your favorite whiskey cocktail.
Just because there’s booze in the recipe doesn’t mean you have to have a taste for Bourbon to enjoy this dinner. Recipe reviewer Kathleen comments, “I'm not a drinker, but did not find the amount of bourbon overpowering. This will be a regular for us!”
The caramel-like flavor of the dark liquor pairs perfectly with the notes of garlic, soy sauce, and brown sugar in the dish. After an eight-hour marinade, the chicken is fully infused with sweet and savory flavors and comes out of the oven browned, juicy, and glistening with that sticky Bourbon glaze.
Recipe reviewer bruce said, “Had friends over for dinner and one bite in they were praising the chicken and my culinary success. Definitely a keeper!”
What is Bourbon Chicken?
Bourbon chicken has been called a ‘hybrid’ of Cajun and Asian cuisines. Facts surrounding the dish’s origin are a little shaky, but the most common creation story is that the dish was first made at a Chinese restaurant located on Bourbon Street in New Orleans. Bourbon is not a common ingredient in traditional Chinese cooking, which is why this rumor holds some merit.
So, the dish was named not only for the key ingredient but also for the street it was supposedly born on.
Even though it’s not a truly authentic Chinese dish, Bourbon chicken has evolved into a popular takeout dish and even a favorite mall food court item, similar to sesame or orange chicken. Unlike most preparations that serve the chicken in bite-sized pieces, our recipe keeps the chicken breasts whole and marinates them overnight.
How to Make Bourbon Chicken
This easy meal has few ingredients and even fewer steps, and it all comes together in your 9x13-inch baking dish. All you have to do is create a marinade for the chicken, let it soak for at least eight hours, then cook it off in the same baking dish for a little over an hour.
Recipe creator Lucy Loo advises, “If you double the recipe, make sure the chicken is still in a single layer.”
If you don’t have Bourbon, regular whiskey will work just fine. Apple juice can be used as a substitution for liquor as well, but it will alter the flavor significantly.
To dress up the dish, we’d recommend garnishing with sesame seeds or topping with some chopped green onions for a pop of color and freshness. Some reviewers have added fresh peppers, onions, and broccoli to the mix to round out the meal. Additionally, you can spice up the feast with hot sauce or red pepper flakes, but no modifications are necessary.
Reviewer Carol shares, “I followed the recipe as written with the exception of bone-in chicken breasts. I received rave reviews from my dinner guests and had no leftovers. I served the remaining bourbon marinade to drizzle over the chicken breasts and mashed potatoes.”
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