If you’ve ever walked through a mall food court and been lured in by the smell of sizzling chicken coated in a glossy, sweet, sticky sauce — then you already know the magic of Bourbon Chicken. This beloved American-Chinese fusion dish is famous for its caramelized glaze, tender chicken, and bold sweet-savory flavor. And the best part? You can recreate the same mall-style taste at home in less than 30 minutes.

This recipe captures everything you love about takeout bourbon chicken: the syrupy sauce, the golden seared chicken pieces, that hint of tanginess, and the glossy finish that makes it utterly addictive. Whether you serve it over rice, noodles, or with steamed veggies, this dish is guaranteed to become one of your all-time favorites.

Why This Bourbon Chicken Tastes EXACTLY Like the Food Court Version

• Uses chicken thighs, the key to juicy, tender bites
• Brown sugar + soy sauce + vinegar recreate the classic sweet-tangy flavor
• A touch of bourbon (or apple juice substitute) adds depth and richness
• Glossy caramelization achieved with sautéing + reduction
• Fast cooking—done in under 25 minutes
• Perfectly sticky sauce thanks to a small cornstarch slurry

This is the closest you’ll get to the mall bourbon chicken samples we all grew up loving.

Ingredients

For the Chicken

• 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs, diced
• 2 tbsp cornstarch
• 1 tbsp oil

For the Bourbon Sauce

• ½ cup soy sauce
• ⅓ cup brown sugar
• ¼ cup bourbon (or apple juice for non-alcoholic version)
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 tbsp ketchup
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp grated fresh ginger
• ¼ tsp crushed red pepper (optional)
• ⅓ cup water

To Finish

• 1 tbsp cornstarch + 2 tbsp water (slurry)
• Sliced green onions
• Sesame seeds
• Steamed rice for serving

Instructions

Prepare the Chicken

1. Coat the chicken
   Toss diced chicken thighs with 2 tbsp cornstarch until lightly coated.
2. Sear chicken
   Heat 1 tbsp oil in a skillet over medium-high. Add chicken and cook until golden on all sides, about 6–8 minutes.
3. Remove and set aside
   Transfer seared chicken to a plate.

Food Court-Style Bourbon Chicken

Sweet, sticky, tender chicken cooked in a glossy bourbon sauce that tastes exactly like mall food court bourbon chicken.

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Servings: 6 servings

Course: Dinner, Main

Cuisine: American-Chinese, Takeout

Calories: 360

Ingredients

  

Chicken

• 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs diced
• 2 tbsp cornstarch for coating
• 1 tbsp oil

Sauce

• 0.5 cup soy sauce
• 0.33 cup brown sugar
• 0.25 cup bourbon or apple juice
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 tbsp ketchup
• 3 cloves garlic minced
• 1 tsp ginger grated
• 0.25 tsp crushed red pepper optional
• 0.33 cup water

Finishing

• 1 tbsp cornstarch for slurry
• 2 tbsp water for slurry

Equipment

• Mixing bowls
• Baking sheet
• Wire rack
• Hand mixer or stand mixer

Method

 

1. Coat diced chicken thighs in cornstarch.
2. Sear chicken in oil until golden and cooked through.
3. Sauté garlic and ginger in same skillet.
4. Add soy sauce, bourbon, brown sugar, vinegar, ketchup, red pepper, and water.
5. Simmer sauce 3–4 minutes and return chicken to skillet.
6. Add cornstarch slurry and simmer until thick and glossy.
7. Serve hot over rice and garnish with green onion and sesame seeds.

Notes

For alcohol-free version, replace bourbon with apple juice.

Make the Sauce

4. Add aromatics
   In the same skillet, add garlic and ginger. Cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
5. Add sauce ingredients
   Pour in soy sauce, bourbon (or apple juice), brown sugar, vinegar, ketchup, red pepper, and water.
6. Simmer
   Let sauce bubble 3–4 minutes to begin reducing.
7. Return chicken to skillet
   Stir chicken into the sauce and toss well.

Thicken & Caramelize

8. Add cornstarch slurry
   Stir in the cornstarch-water mixture and simmer 5–7 minutes until thick and glossy.
9. Reduce until sticky
   Increase heat slightly and let the sauce caramelize to food-court stickiness.
10. Finish
    Top with green onions and sesame seeds.

Serve

11. Serve hot
    Spoon over steamed rice and enjoy the classic mall-style flavor at home.

Tips for the BEST Bourbon Chicken

1. Use chicken thighs

This gives authentic tenderness and prevents dryness.

2. Sear properly

Color = flavor. Don’t skip browning the chicken.

3. Let the sauce reduce

Reduction creates the signature sticky glaze.

4. Adjust sweetness

Add more brown sugar for mall-style sweetness.

5. Alcohol-free?

Swap bourbon for apple juice or pineapple juice — still amazing.

Flavor Variations

Spicy Bourbon Chicken

Add ½ tsp cayenne or extra red pepper flakes.

Honey Bourbon Chicken

Replace 2 tbsp of brown sugar with honey.

Orange Bourbon Chicken

Add 1 tbsp orange zest and ¼ cup orange juice.

Serving Suggestions

• Steamed white rice
• Stir-fried vegetables
• Noodles
• Fried rice
• Cauliflower rice

Storage

• Fridge: Up to 4 days
• Freezer: Up to 2 months
• Reheat: Add a splash of water to bring back the glaze