Bourbon Chicken

Name: Bourbon Chicken with Baked Chicken Thighs
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 55 min
Total time: 1 h 5 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 3.5 lbs chicken thighs, trimmed; 1 tbsp olive oil; 2 packets Italian dressing mix; 1 tbsp sesame oil; 3-4 cloves garlic, minced; 6 tbsp low sodium soy sauce; 1 tbsp rice vinegar; 1/2 tsp ground ginger; 1/2 tbsp chili paste; 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes; 1/2 cup brown sugar; cooked rice, for serving

Bourbon Chicken is a mall food court-inspired dish of tender baked chicken thighs glazed in a sweet and savory sauce made with soy, garlic, ginger, and chili paste. It's a quick weeknight meal that delivers restaurant-quality flavor over rice.

🌍American 🏷️Bourbon chicken 🏷️Chicken thighs 🏷️Copycat recipe 🏷️Sweet and savory American-chinese

🏷️

🏷️Weeknight dinner

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TikTok

Total

1h 5m

Servings

4

Difficulty

Easy

Est. Cost

$23–$38

Recipe Source

View original recipe

From TikTok

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TikTok

Ingredients

3.5 lbs chicken thighs, trimmed
1 tbsp olive oil
2 packets Italian dressing mix
1 tbsp sesame oil
3-4 cloves garlic, minced
6 tbsp low sodium soy sauce
1 tbsp rice vinegar
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tbsp chili paste
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
1/2 cup brown sugar
cooked rice, for servingoptional

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Instructions

1
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
2
In a large bowl, combine the trimmed chicken thighs with olive oil and Italian dressing mix. Mix well with your hands to ensure the chicken is evenly coated.
3
Arrange the seasoned chicken thighs in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
4
Bake for 45 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through.
5
Once cooked, remove the chicken from the oven and dice it into bite-sized pieces.
6
To make the sauce, heat sesame oil in a large pot or pan over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for about 2 minutes until fragrant.
7
Add the low sodium soy sauce, rice vinegar, ground ginger, chili paste, red pepper flakes, and brown sugar to the pot. Stir to combine.
8
Bring the sauce to a simmer and let it cook for 5 minutes, allowing it to become thick and bubbly.
9
Add the diced, cooked chicken to the sauce and stir to coat everything evenly. Heat through.
10
Serve the bourbon chicken hot over a bed of cooked rice.

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Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Trim excess fat and skin from chicken thighs before baking to reduce greasiness and help the sauce adhere better.
Mix the sauce ingredients (soy, vinegar, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, chili paste) in a bowl before adding to the pan to ensure even seasoning.
Toss the chicken halfway through baking to coat evenly and prevent the sauce from pooling only on the bottom.
For a thicker, more glazed finish, reserve 1/4 cup sauce before baking and brush it on the chicken in the last 5 minutes.

Substitutions

Low sodium soy sauce → regular soy sauce (reduce salt or skip added salt elsewhere)
Rice vinegar → apple cider vinegar or white vinegar (adjust to taste; apple cider is slightly sweeter)
Chili paste → sriracha or gochujang (start with 1 tsp and taste; gochujang is less spicy but earthier)
Sesame oil → avocado oil or neutral oil (sesame adds nuttiness; omit if unavailable, but flavor will shift)

Storage & make-ahead

Store cooled bourbon chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently at 350°F for 15 minutes or on the stovetop over medium heat with a splash of water to loosen the sauce.

Common Questions

Can I use chicken breasts instead of thighs?

Chicken breasts work but cook faster (25–30 minutes) and dry out more easily. Thighs stay moist and tender, which is why they're preferred for this recipe.

What does the Italian dressing mix do?

It adds savory seasoning and helps build the sauce base. If you don't have packets, use 2 tbsp homemade Italian seasoning (oregano, basil, garlic, thyme).

Can I make this ahead?

Yes. Bake the chicken, cool, and refrigerate up to 3 days in an airtight container. Reheat gently at 350°F for 15 minutes or on the stovetop over medium heat.