If your family is always craving the flavors of takeout, but you have a “we have food at home” budget, this better than take out Bourbon Chicken recipe is exactly what you need to make everyone happy.
Bourbon chicken is a popular Chinese-American dish that can be found on takeout menus across the country. But what exactly does this mysterious sticky, sweet entrée taste like?
A Brief History of Bourbon Chicken
Despite its name, bourbon chicken did not originate in China The dish was actually invented in Louisiana, with the name referencing the famous New Orleans street, Bourbon Street.
Bourbon chicken became popular throughout Cajun-style Chinese restaurants in the American South in the late 20th century. The trademark sweet and slightly boozy sauce was a hit, and it soon spread to Chinese restaurants nationwide.
The Quintessential Bourbon Chicken Flavor Profile
So what does bourbon chicken taste like? The dominant flavors are sweet and salty with subtle hints of booze and fruit.
The sauce is made by combining bourbon, soy sauce, apple juice or cider, brown sugar, ketchup, chicken stock, cornstarch, garlic, and ginger. When this mixture cooks down, it creates a syrupy glaze that coats each piece of juicy, tender chicken.
According to many food bloggers, the bourbon flavor comes through as a pleasant booziness, while the apple juice lends fruity hints of apple and cinnamon. The soy sauce, brown sugar, and ketchup adds savoriness, molasses notes, and balancing acidity.
Overall, the complexity of sweet, salty, fruity, and slightly alcoholic makes for a very moreish sauce!
Optimizing the Bourbon Chicken Experience
If you want your bourbon chicken to taste and have the most juice, use chicken thighs instead of breasts. The darker meat has more fat, which makes it tender and tasty when the sticky sauce coats it.
You can also make it taste better by adding things like chopped garlic, grated ginger, and chili flakes. Place on top of white rice or lo mein noodles to soak up all the bourbon glaze.
Finally, don’t throw away that nice bourbon! If you want to lower the alcohol, add more apple juice or cider to some of the bourbon instead of leaving it out all together.
An Intoxicating (But Not Too Intoxicating) Treat
Even though the name makes you think of getting drunk on takeout, bourbon chicken won’t actually do that. The alcohol is cooked off while the food is simmering, leaving only a hint of boozy flavor.
However, it is possible to feel slightly buzzed if you were to quickly wok-fry the dish instead of slowly braising it. So consider yourself warned if you opt for a quicker cooking time!
Overall, bourbon chicken is the ideal balance of sweet, salty, fruity, and just a bit dangerous. Its unique and addictive flavor profile have made it a staple on Chinese takeout menus across America. Just one bite and you’ll understand why.
What Makes This A Family Favorite
Not to toot my own horn, but I like to think all of the recipes around my corner of the kitchen are tasty. It takes something truly special to be considered a family favorite, though. Here’s what sets it apart from the rest:
- It’s fast. I love meals that can be made from start to finish in less than 30 minutes. If you’re quick in the kitchen or make the sauce ahead of time, you can make this recipe in less than 20 minutes.
- Make it cheaper than grabbing takeout. Not sure about you, but I think it’s crazy how much it costs to feed a big family at a restaurant these days. What family can get the same great tastes they love from food court Bourbon Chicken for a lot less money?
- The chicken is packed with flavor. We’re not fans of bland food around here. If I serve something with a side dish that doesn’t have much flavor, like steamed rice, the chicken has to be bursting with flavor.
- No alcohol is required. I try to keep an alcohol-free kitchen. Food is fun because you can learn to make flavors that taste a lot alike with ingredients that the whole family can eat. You don’t have to worry about the alcohol cooking off in this Bourbon Chicken recipe.
What To Serve With Bourbon Chicken
- You can either steam or fry the rice, but either way, it’s the perfect side dish to soak up the delicious sauce.
- When you serve this Bourbon Chicken recipe with lo mein noodles, which are perfectly seasoned and a little crispy, they are always a hit.
- roasted vegetables—To cut down on carbs and calories, try roasting your favorite mix of vegetables and putting the saucy Bourbon chicken on top of it.
Bourbon Chicken
FAQ
What does Chinese bourbon chicken taste like?
Bourbon chicken has a slightly sweet, tangy, and savory taste with a depth of flavors from the ingredients used in the sauce. What is this?Feb 4, 2024.
Does bourbon chicken taste like teriyaki?
Bourbon Chicken is similar to teriyaki since it’s sweet, sticky, and salty. There are a several different ingredients like apple juice, vinegar, ketchup that make this taste distinctly different than teriyaki chicken.
What is bourbon chicken sauce made of?
Bourbon chicken sauce typically includes a combination of sweet, savory, and slightly spicy flavors. Common ingredients are bourbon, soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, and often hoisin sauce or ketchup.
What does bourbon actually taste like?
Vanilla and caramel are probably the most common tasting notes people pick up when drinking bourbon. These bourbon flavors are a result of the interaction between the spirit and the charred oak barrels.