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18 Comments

Honey Bourbon Chicken {30 Minute Meal}

Kathleen

by Kathleen Pope Mar 21, 2024

Jump to Recipe

I’m bringing you another 30 minute meal! They are my favorite! This is another one of our favorite take-out, but made-at-home meals. Saucy, sweet, tangy, Honey Bourbon Chicken with crisp broccoli and bright orange carrots. Steam up some rice for a quick healthy weeknight meal.

HONEY BOURBON CHICKEN

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure & privacy policy.

I don’t know about you, but lately, I’ve been rather uninspired at dinnertime, maybe it’s because I was sick for a bit, but I just can’t seem to get my act together. However; this is one of my go-to recipes, I typically have the ingredients on hand and at 4 o’clock when I realize dinner needs to be on the table, this Honey Bourbon Chicken comes together quickly.

HONEY BOURBON CHICKEN | A 30 MINUTE MEAL

I don’t know why dinner comes as such a surprise, we eat every night, 7 days a week, nothing changes and yet, I find myself, tummy rumbling or kids asking, “what’s for dinner!” and I panic!

Honey Bourbon Chicken is the answer for moments like this…if you have them, you probably don’t, it’s probably only me…

THAWING TIP | Need to quick thaw your meat? While gathering the ingredients, toss your meat (place in a baggie if not already in vacuum packed bag) into a bowl of warm water, on the hotter side. Let it sit changing water out about half way through; it should be defrosted enough to work with in about 15-20 minutes.

Swirl some oil (try using Toasted Sesame oil for an even more flavorful dish) into a hot pan and toss in your onions, sautéing over medium-high heat until soft and nicely caramelized.

Honey Bourbon Chicken | www.thefreshcooky.com #honeychicken #chicken #takeout #honeybourbonchicken

Chop the garlic and toss in during the last minute of onion caramelizing.

garlic and onions in pan for honey bourbon chicken | via @thefreshcooky

While your onions and garlic are sautéing, gather your sauce ingredients.

Bourbon (or whiskey) is entirely optional! The chicken still tastes great without it, however keep reading as I do explain why I use alcohol at times in my meals.

Ingredients for honey bourbon chicken www.thefreshcooky.com

Measure honey into a small mixing bowl.

Honey Bourbon Chicken | www.thefreshcooky.com #honeychicken #chicken #takeout #honeybourbonchicken

I love using Bragg’s Liquid Amino’s instead of soy sauce, or try soy sauce, Tamari, GF soy sauce or Coconut Aminos because they all work beautifully!

Honey Bourbon Chicken | www.thefreshcooky.com #honeychicken #chicken #takeout #honeybourbonchicken

Squirt in the ketchup, I use organic ketchup, you can probably substitute with tomato sauce if need be.

Honey Bourbon Chicken | www.thefreshcooky.com #honeychicken #chicken #takeout #honeybourbonchicken

Sprinkle some red pepper flakes; since I’m a spice wimp I go light, but shake away if you and your family likes more heat.

Honey Bourbon Chicken | www.thefreshcooky.com #honeychicken #chicken #takeout #honeybourbonchicken

Do I need to use Bourbon?

The bourbon (whiskey) is completely optional, but leaves a lovely, light smokey depth to the dish.

Pour in bourbon and whisk until it’s combined, then set sauce aside. If you are worried about kids and the alcohol content, the majority of it cooks out leaving behind amazing flavor, plus it’s a pretty small amount, so I’ve never worried about it with my own kids. 

Salt & pepper chicken; I love to use boneless, skinless chicken thighs for this recipe, it’s so juicy and tasty. But you can certainly use boneless, skinless chicken breasts if desired, just don’t cook as long.

Honey Bourbon Chicken | www.thefreshcooky.com #honeychicken #chicken #takeout #honeybourbonchicken

Scoot your cooked onions and garlic to the side of the pan and if needed, add in a bit more oil, then increase heat to medium-high, add your chicken.

Honey Bourbon Chicken | www.thefreshcooky.com #honeychicken #chicken #takeout #honeybourbonchicken

Turn after a few minutes, browning both sides. Add in a handful of sliced carrots, shredded carrots or chopped carrots, whatever you have on hand.

Honey Bourbon Chicken | www.thefreshcooky.com #honeychicken #chicken #takeout #honeybourbonchicken

Stir it all around, sautéing the carrots slightly. Pour in the sauce, stir around and bring to a simmer.

Honey Bourbon Chicken | www.thefreshcooky.com #honeychicken #chicken #takeout #honeybourbonchicken

Bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer over low heat for 20 minutes or so, turning chicken around 15 minutes until your meat is cooked.

Honey Bourbon Chicken | www.thefreshcooky.com #honeychicken #chicken #takeout #honeybourbonchicken

Toss in your broccoli florets and simmer with lid on for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally until crisp tender.

Honey Bourbon Chicken | www.thefreshcooky.com #honeychicken #chicken #takeout #honeybourbonchicken

Once chicken is cooked, remove thighs from sauce to cutting board, then slice chicken into thin strips and return to simmering veggies.

Honey Bourbon Chicken | www.thefreshcooky.com #honeychicken #chicken #takeout #honeybourbonchicken

Quickly make a cornstarch slurry by combining cornstarch and water with a spoon or a whisk. Pour into chicken and sauce mixture, stir to simmer until thickened. This is my most often used small liquid measure.

Honey Bourbon Chicken | www.thefreshcooky.com #honeychicken #chicken #takeout #honeybourbonchicken

Quickly stir to combine over medium heat as this will thicken your sauce helping it develop a beautiful gloss.

Serve immediately over steamed rice, riced cauliflower or eat by itself!

HOW TO MAKE “RICE CAKES”

We love making “rice cakes” by scooping sticky rice into small bowls and inverting them onto our plates. Like this…kids love this!

Honey Bourbon Chicken | www.thefreshcooky.com #honeychicken #chicken #takeout #honeybourbonchicken

Scoop some of the honey bourbon chicken mixture over the top of the rice into the bowl…drooling!!!

Honey Bourbon Chicken | www.thefreshcooky.com #honeychicken #chicken #takeout #honeybourbonchicken

Or using smaller bowls, scoop in some rice and your honey bourbon chicken, sprinkle with crispy chow mein noodles and serve.

Honey Bourbon Chicken | www.thefreshcooky.com #honeychicken #chicken #takeout #honeybourbonchicken

Serve family style and I almost always bring the pan to the table! One less bowl to wash.

Honey Bourbon Chicken | www.thefreshcooky.com #honeychicken #chicken #takeout #honeybourbonchicken

Happily sharing this week on Weekend Potluck!

Like this recipe?

Don’t forget to give it a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star rating and leave a comment below the recipe!

Recipe Card

Honey Bourbon Chicken

4.75 from 8 readers
Author: Kathleen Pope
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
Servings: 4 -6 servings
Print Pin SaveSaved!
Just like take out, but made at home this recipe for honey bourbon chicken is ready in 30 minutes! Sticky, tangy, sweet and tender chicken with crisp broccoli and carrots. Serve over rice and you have dinner.

Equipment

  • Lodge 12 Inch Cast Iron Skillet. Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet with Red Silicone Hot Handle Holder.
  • Pampered Chef Small Batter Bowl – 32 ounces
  • Wusthof Santoku knife 5 inch; Black

Ingredients 
US Customary – Metric

  • 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs breasts may be substituted
  • 1-2 teaspoons sesame oil optional
  • 1-2 tablespoons olive oil or avocado oil
  • ยฝ cup onion sliced or diced
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 cup carrots sliced, diced or shredded
  • 1 cup broccoli cut into small florets

SAUCE

  • ยฝ cup honey scant; I use local, raw honey
  • ยฝ cup soy sauce or alternative, I use Bragg’s Liquid Aminos
  • ยผ cup ketchup
  • ยผ cup bourbon optional
  • ยผ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1-2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 1-2 tablespoons water
  • 2-3 cups cooked rice
Get Recipe Ingredients

Instructions

  • Heat oil(s) in large saute pan. Add onions and saute for 5-10 minutes until caramelized and browned. Add garlic and stir for a couple of minutes until fragrant.
  • While onions are caramelized; mix together sauce ingredients in medium bowl. Honey, soy sauce, ketchup, bourbon (if desired) and red pepper flakes. Mix and set aside.
  • Salt & pepper chicken thighs. Move onions to one side of the pan and brown thighs* on each side for 1-2 minutes. *Add a tablespoon more oil if needed. Toss in carrots and stir to combine. Pour in sauce, stir, mixing in onions. Simmer for 20 minutes, turning chicken about 15 minutes. May cover or leave uncovered.
  • Remove chicken from pan to cutting board and slice into thin strips or bite size pieces. Set aside. Add broccoli florets to pan, stirring to combine, cover and cook for 2-3 minutes until crisp tender. Return chicken to pan, stirring to combine.
  • Mix 1 tablespoon cornstarch with 1 tablespoon COLD water, stir to mix. 1-2 minutes, Pour into chicken dish, stirring and simmering until thickened and glossy. If too thin, add another tablespoon of cornstarch/water and stir to thicken.
  • Serve immediately over steamed rice for a hearty meal.
Last step! Leave a RatingRate this recipe here. This helps other readers and helps support this website.

Notes

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 478kcal | Carbohydrates: 72g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 108mg | Sodium: 1892mg | Potassium: 641mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 41g | Vitamin A: 5625IU | Vitamin C: 24mg | Calcium: 58mg | Iron: 2mg
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Kathleen Pope

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Recipe Innovator | Food Photographer | Food Writer

Hi, Iโ€™m Kathleen Pope. Here at The Fresh Cooky you will find easy, mostly from-scratch, trusted recipes for all occasions. From speedy dinners to tasty desserts, with easy step-by-step instructions. I am here to help teach you how to make mouthwatering recipes without spending hours in the kitchen.

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  1. Stacey

    Thu, May 2, 2024 at 7:47 am

    4 stars
    Thank you for this recipe idea. I love bourbon chicken and foods made with alcohol but due to health issues must avoid it although the alcohol is cooked out and it just adds a depth of flavor to the food. However, I came across a website that gave great substitute ideas for substituting the bourbon and for all sorts of meals. It is: http://www.thekitchensubstitute.com/bourbon-substitute/
    Hope this information will be helpful to you and your followers. It was for me.

    Reply
    • KathleenKathleen Pope

      Thu, May 2, 2024 at 8:42 am

      Thank you for this information Stacey, it’s so great that you can now purchase spirit alternatives that have the flavor but not the alcohol!

      Reply
  2. Amanda H

    Wed, Feb 1, 2023 at 7:00 am

    4 stars
    Very good and flavorful but too sweet for my family. I did use chicken broth instead of the bourbon, and it tasted fine. Next time, I’ll cut back on the honey.

    Reply
    • KathleenKathleen Pope

      Wed, Feb 1, 2023 at 2:28 pm

      Thanks Amanda, yes the bourbon does cut some of the sweetness, glad you will customize to your families taste the next time! Have a lovely day!

      Reply
  3. Lynn Spencer

    Sun, Feb 23, 2020 at 6:01 am

    What a fantastic recipe for a quick meal. Thanks friend.

    Reply
    • KathleenKathleen

      Sun, Feb 23, 2020 at 10:47 am

      Thank you!! XOXO

      Reply
  4. Nikki Lee

    Fri, Feb 21, 2020 at 1:03 pm

    5 stars
    We love getting this for take out! Now we can make it at home! My family loved it so much!

    Reply
  5. Linda Krenz

    Wed, Feb 19, 2020 at 9:26 am

    Yummy! This is an easy one-pan recipe that I’m sure to try soon!

    Reply
    • KathleenKathleen

      Thu, Feb 20, 2020 at 12:20 pm

      Thanks! It’s a regular on our menu!!

      Reply
  6. Jennifer Ann Stewart

    Tue, Feb 18, 2020 at 4:02 pm

    5 stars
    my takeout place is going to go out of business now that I am making this at home instead of ordering it!

    Reply
  7. Sandra Shaffer

    Tue, Feb 18, 2020 at 12:20 am

    5 stars
    I’m going to be the envy of all my co-workers. Just made this for lunch for the rest of the week. Definitely use the sesame oil. The flavor it adds is amazing!

    Reply
  8. michele

    Tue, Feb 18, 2020 at 12:00 am

    5 stars

    Reply
  9. Madi

    Mon, Feb 17, 2020 at 2:22 pm

    5 stars
    Everything about this chicken sounds amazing! I love the combination of flavors!

    Reply
  10. Jules

    Mon, Feb 17, 2020 at 1:52 am

    5 stars
    Our whole family loves this recipe! Homemade is always best!

    Reply
  11. Debi

    Sun, Feb 16, 2020 at 7:00 am

    What a delicious meal, and I love that it comes together in one pan. Perfect for a nice family meal.

    Reply
    • KathleenKathleen

      Sun, Feb 16, 2020 at 3:53 pm

      Thank you so much Debi!

      Reply
  12. bob

    Fri, Mar 16, 2018 at 7:00 am

    Yes, Iโ€™m in for 30 minute meals! I coiuld maybe even do this one! Do you have something in the 30 second range???? ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
    • KathleenKathleen

      Sat, Mar 24, 2018 at 4:37 pm

      YAY! Give it a try Bob, 30 minutes will feel like 30 seconds and before you know it you’ll be eating a juicy, tasty, delicious dinner!

      Reply

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Kathleen Pope

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Hey there! I'm Kathleen Pope, a proud wife, mom of two awesome college boys, and recipe nerd. Welcome to my world of easy recipes with a healthy twist! Join thousands who trust The Fresh Cooky as their go-to recipe source. Let's cook up some magic!

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