A shout-out to all my friends and family who have been good sports about me sharing TikToks and Reels. I overdid it after my leg surgery a while back. This TikTok Bourbon Chicken was a gem among them.
TikTok Bourbon Chicken
I could have done worse than sending food-related content to friends. Years ago, after surgery, I found a giant box outside my front door. It took a minute to realize I had ordered a home gym from TV while in a med-induced haze!
About TikTok Bourbon Chicken:
The origin and the name for Bourbon chicken come from the famous New Orleans Bourbon Street where it emerged as an Asian/American fusion dish and spread like wildfire from there. (FYI – actual Bourbon was not an original ingredient, so no worries if you don’t want to use it, there’s a substitution in the recipe.)
The slightly sweet, smoky Bourbon Chicken triggers memories for a generation: Hanging out at the mall, dropping by the food court. I grew up in Iowa, not smack dab in a cornfield, but close. My Bourbon chicken memories aren’t as cool; they’re from LeeAnn Chin.
I have a Copycat Bourbon Chicken already on my site, way back from 2014. Why another now? This version is simpler, easier, and faster to make. It’s genius, and you’ll like one when you bring it to the table. I think you’re gonna love it – I do.
TikTok Bourbon Chicken
Making TikTok Bourbon Chicken:
Let’s talk about THIS recipe. If you can grill your chicken, inside or out (a skillet works, though), you’ll get just a whiff of smoky flavor from the char marks, wending throughout the dish – it makes it extra!
Thighs are the best choice; trim them well. If you use breasts (I usually do), pound them to an even layer so they cook evenly. Cover them with a bit of plastic wrap first to contain any possible mess.
Season that chicken before cooking! Drizzle with a little oil so they stay moist and seasoning sticks, then sprinkle with Seasoned Salt or Badia All Purpose Seasoning. At the very least, use salt and a little garlic and onion powder.
Grilled Chicken for TikTok Bourbon Chicken
The Flavorings:
Hoisin and Soy Sauce, Ginger and Garlic are the key flavors in the dish; You’re looking for a balance of garlic/ginger flavor offset by a rich, sweet smokiness. Taste when you’re finished; add a little more sugar if you want it sweeter.
Hoisin brings so much umami flavor; it’s a fermented product and lasts a good, long time in the fridge. It’s rich, complex, and a little funky, punctuated by warm spices: star anise, cinnamon, and clove.
Serve With:
Serve with White or Fried Rice. If you have an Instant Pot, you cannot go wrong with Perfect Instant Pot Rice. If you want to put in more effort, check out my Classic Fried Rice.
Make it a celebration meal by adding your fave Asian appetizers, egg rolls, or dumplings. These days, decent versions can be picked up frozen.
And of course, fortune cookies, if you have some, always make it fun. Why do I always have a couple of them rolling around in my silverware drawer? Is that a thing, or am I just weird?
Fried Rice Recipe
Leftover TikTok Bourbon Chicken:
Store in the refrigerator, tightly covered, rice and chicken in separate containers, for three to four days. For best results, reheat servings, lightly covered, in the microwave. Add a touch of water if the sauce becomes too thick.
Leftovers can be frozen. For best results, freeze in smaller portions and thaw overnight in the fridge.
Use caution when saving leftover rice: refrigerate promptly or toss; starchy foods can contain Bacillus cereus, which can reach dangerous levels at around four hours at room temperature.
Other Asian Copycat Recipes:
- Bartaco Sesame Rib-Eye Tacos – you don’t have to use pricy Rib-eye if budget is a concern.
- Asian Lettuce Wraps – perfect on a hot, muggy day! These use hoisin, too.
- Cajun Fried Rice – what can I say? An explosion of American Barbecue, Cajun, and Asian flavor.
Cajun Fried Rice
Saving Money on Groceries:
What you pay for groceries depends on not just WHERE you shop, but WHEN. Be strategic and stock up at rock-bottom prices.
- The best sales are before holidays; check out Win at the Grocers. Think beyond the occasion & use the opportunity to stock up at a low for the coming weeks to months.
- If available, take advantage of discount stores like Aldi or Lidl. The pricing at Buyer’s clubs is not always the lowest, but it can trump in quality. Be selective when shopping there.
Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast or Thighs:
There are options when it comes to purchasing boneless, skinless chicken breasts (and thighs, too). Generally, buying in larger amounts means you’ll pay less per pound.
- Chicken drops to a low once a quarter. Know the pricing in your area, what’s a good deal, and a great one, and never pay full price. Stock the freezer at rock bottom. Divide family packs into amounts for meals.
- Take it one step further and reduce today’s huge breasts into actual serving sizes. Large ones can be cut in half, and smaller ones trimmed to size. Package trimmings for stir-fries, casseroles, chicken strips, and so on.
- Compare sale pricing at all the available stores, and fresh to frozen. Frozen is often priced in ounces; learn how to compare to fresh, priced by the pound. Unless it’s a great sale, frozen is often more per pound than fresh on sale.
Asian Condiments and Ingredients:
- Sales are usually unadvertised and often happen before the Chinese New Year. If your store has them, check both the American/Asian and International aisles.
- Asian markets usually have best pricing. While there, check around. Pricing on chicken and other proteins is often outstanding.
- Some basic items, like Soy Sauce, are now carried at the discount groceries, and many condiments are carried in larger grocery stores.
Brown Sugar:
- Pick up before the Winter Holidays or Easter, but do watch for sporadic sales. The discount stores are great bets.
- Making your own does save money over buying if you use it often and/or have other uses for molasses. See Homemade Light or Dark Brown Sugar.
Hello to all visiting, looking to make it at home, and save the money. TikTok Bourbon Chicken is a fabulous, low-effort recipe, fresh from your kitchen. You’ll never want Bourbon Chicken plopped from a warming tray in some fast casual restaurant, ever again!
Mollie
TikTok Bourbon Chicken
TikTok Bourbon Chicken
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 to 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish Chicken
- Cuisine: Asian
Ingredients
Chicken:
- 1 to 1 1/2 pounds chicken, thighs preferred
- A little oil to brush the chicken
- Seasoned salt or Badia Complete All Purpose Seasoning
Sauce:
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 2 teaspoons chopped garlic (about 3 to 4 cloves)
- 3/4 cup soy sauce
- 3/4 cup hoisin sauce
- 3/4 cup dark brown sugar (more or less to taste)
- 1/4 cup bourbon (sub in 1/4 cup apple juice and add 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar; if you don’t have rice wine vinegar just use a teaspoon or so of apple cider vinegar)
- 1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon ground ginger (to taste)
- optional garnish of sliced green onion
Instructions
The sauce comes together fast; have all the ingredients ready. Start the rice before starting the chicken.
Preheat grill or grill pan (or a skillet if using) over medium-high heat. Lightly brush or drizzle chicken with a small amount of oil, and season both sides with preferred seasoning.
Brush grill grates or grill pan with a little oil; if using a skillet, add about a tablespoon. Once hot, add the chicken. Allow to sit without moving until char marks develop (or if in the skillet, until nicely golden brown), about four minutes, turn and repeat on the other side.
The chicken is fairly thin; by the time it’s charred/browned, it should be cooked through. Check by making a nick in the thickest area of a piece or two. If not, move to a cooler spot on the grill or move the grill pan or skillet off the heat, cover, and let sit until finished, a minute or two longer.
Place chicken on a plate or platter, lightly cover, and allow to rest for about 10 minutes if time allows. Cut into bite-sized pieces.
In the meantime, prepare the sauce. In a good-sized saucepan, over medium heat, add the butter. Once melted, add garlic and stir for a minute until fragrant. Add the soy sauce, hoisin, and brown sugar, and stir. Add the bourbon or substitute. Stir in the ginger.
Bring to a boil, then turn down to a simmer. Taste (be careful; it’s hot!) and add more brown sugar if a sweeter version is desired. Add the resting chicken along with any accumulated juices, and simmer gently for five to seven minutes, or until the sauce reaches the desired consistency. The sauce will thicken more once it cools just a bit.
Nutrition based on six servings using 1 1/2 pounds chicken thighs:
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Servings 6.0 | |
| Amount Per Serving | |
| calories 347 | |
| % Daily Value * | |
| Total Fat 7 g | 10 % |
| Saturated Fat 2 g | 11 % |
| Monounsaturated Fat 1 g | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat 0 g | |
| Trans Fat 0 g | |
| Cholesterol 110 mg | 37 % |
| Sodium 2371 mg | 99 % |
| Potassium 146 mg | 4 % |
| Total Carbohydrate 40 g | 13 % |
| Dietary Fiber 0 g | 1 % |
| Sugars 38 g | |
| Protein 25 g | 49 % |
| Vitamin A | 8 % |
| Vitamin C | 0 % |
| Calcium | 1 % |
| Iron | 9 % |
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