Description
A sticky, glossy, and deeply flavorful weeknight dinner featuring chicken thighs in a rich bourbon, brown sugar, and soy sauce glaze. This dish balances sweet and savory notes for a restaurant-quality meal ready in under 40 minutes.
Ingredients
- Boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- Cornstarch (for coating)
- Salt and black pepper
- Cooking oil (for searing)
- Fresh garlic cloves, minced
- Fresh ginger root, grated
- Bourbon
- Packed brown sugar
- Low-sodium soy sauce
- Apple cider vinegar
- Cold butter
Instructions
- Pat chicken thighs dry with paper towels and season generously with salt and pepper.
- Toss chicken thighs in cornstarch until lightly coated.
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken in a single layer for 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown. Remove and set aside.
- Reduce heat to medium. Sauté minced garlic and grated ginger for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
- Pour in bourbon and simmer for 1 minute to cook off alcohol. Add brown sugar, soy sauce, and apple cider vinegar. Whisk until sugar dissolves and simmer for 2-3 minutes.
- Return chicken to the pan, nestling into the sauce. Cover and simmer on medium-low for 8-10 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F, flipping halfway.
- Remove lid and increase heat to medium-high. Reduce sauce for 3-5 minutes until it thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
- Turn off heat and stir in cold butter until melted and emulsified.
- Serve immediately, garnished with green onions or sesame seeds if desired.
Notes
Patting the chicken dry is crucial for a good sear. Do not overcrowd the pan when searing. Watch the sauce closely as sugar can burn quickly; keep heat moderate. For a gluten-free version, use tamari instead of soy sauce. Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1-2 chicken thighs w
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 18
- Sodium: 680
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 6
- Carbohydrates: 22
- Protein: 35
Keywords: sweet bourbon chicken, bourbon chicken recipe, easy weeknight dinner, chicken thighs, sweet and savory chicken, homemade glaze, quick chicken recipe