Easy Instant Pot Bourbon Chicken: Sticky, Sweet & Savory Dinner in Under 40 Minutes
Craving that irresistible sticky, sweet, and savory goodness of Bourbon Chicken but don’t want the hassle of takeout? This incredibly easy Instant Pot Bourbon Chicken recipe delivers an authentic, flavor-packed meal right to your dinner table in under 40 minutes. With tender, bite-sized chicken pieces swimming in a rich, caramelized sauce kissed with a splash of bourbon, it’s a weeknight dinner dream come true. Say goodbye to long cooking times and endless cleanup, and hello to a comforting, family-favorite dish that’s even better than what you’d find at the mall food court.
Why This Instant Pot Bourbon Chicken Recipe Works Wonders
This Instant Pot Bourbon Chicken isn’t just another dinner recipe; it’s a testament to convenience without compromising on flavor. The secret lies in its unique blend of sweet and savory notes, perfectly balanced by the subtle, caramelized depth of bourbon, all brought together effortlessly in your pressure cooker. Here’s why this recipe will become a staple in your rotation:
Unbeatable Speed and Simplicity
In our busy lives, finding a meal that’s both quick and satisfying can feel like a challenge. This recipe cuts down on cooking time significantly. From prep to plate, you’re looking at less than 40 minutes, making it ideal for those hectic weeknights when you need a delicious meal in a flash. The Instant Pot handles the heavy lifting, pressure cooking the chicken to perfection in mere minutes, allowing the flavors to meld beautifully without hours of simmering.
Authentic Takeout Flavor at Home
Bourbon chicken has long been a beloved staple in Chinese-American cuisine, often found gracing the menus of mall food courts and local eateries. This homemade version captures that iconic sweet and sticky sauce, delivering a taste that rivals your favorite takeout spot, if not surpasses it. The control you have over the ingredients means a fresher, more vibrant flavor profile.
Minimal Effort, Maximum Taste
The beauty of the Instant Pot is its ability to create complex flavors with minimal hands-on effort. After a quick whisking of the sauce ingredients and coating the chicken, your Instant Pot takes over. This means less time standing over the stove and more time enjoying your evening. The self-contained cooking environment also locks in moisture, ensuring every piece of chicken is incredibly tender and juicy.
Family-Friendly and Versatile
This dish is a surefire crowd-pleaser, appealing to a wide range of palates. Its balanced sweet and savory profile makes it a hit with kids and adults alike. Plus, it’s easily adaptable. While delicious on its own, it pairs wonderfully with various sides and can be customized with additional vegetables for a complete, nutritious meal.
Key Ingredients You Will Need
For all precise measurements, ingredients list, and comprehensive instructions, please refer to the printable recipe card located at the end of this post. Here’s a closer look at the stars of our show:
Ingredient Info and Substitution Suggestions
- CHICKEN: We primarily recommend boneless, skinless chicken thighs for this recipe. Their higher fat content ensures a remarkably juicy and flavorful result that stands up well to pressure cooking. However, if you prefer, you can certainly substitute with boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Just be mindful that chicken breasts cook a bit faster and can dry out if overcooked, so you might slightly reduce the pressure cooking time if they are cut into smaller pieces.
- BOURBON: As the namesake ingredient, bourbon plays a crucial role in developing the unique depth and caramelized sweetness of the sauce. You’ll only need a modest amount – typically around 3 tablespoons, which is roughly the size of a mini shooter (50ml) available at most liquor stores. The alcohol cooks off during the process, leaving behind a complex, rich flavor that truly elevates the dish. If you prefer to omit alcohol, apple juice makes an excellent non-alcoholic substitute, providing a similar sweet and fruity note that complements the other ingredients. You could also use a good quality chicken broth with a pinch of brown sugar for a savory alternative.
- SAUCE ESSENTIALS: The foundation of our irresistible sauce includes a blend of essential Asian-inspired and pantry staples:
- Garlic & Ginger: Freshly minced garlic and ginger are non-negotiable for their aromatic and pungent notes, forming the backbone of the savory flavor.
- Ketchup: Adds a touch of tanginess and body, contributing to the signature sweet-and-sour profile often found in Bourbon Chicken.
- Soy Sauce: Provides the essential umami and salty foundation. Opt for low-sodium soy sauce to control the overall saltiness of the dish.
- Honey: This is our primary sweetener, creating that desirable sticky glaze and caramelized flavor when combined with the bourbon. Maple syrup can be a decent alternative in a pinch.
- Olive Oil: Used in the initial whisking of the sauce, helping to emulsify the ingredients.
- CORNSTARCH & WATER (for Slurry): A cornstarch slurry is vital for thickening the sauce to that perfect glossy, sticky consistency after pressure cooking. It’s added at the end during the sauté function.
How to Make Instant Pot Bourbon Chicken
These step-by-step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe successfully. For a full, printable version of this recipe, complete with precise measurements and detailed instructions, please Jump to the Recipe Card at the bottom of the page.
- Prepare the Sauce: In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the minced garlic, minced ginger, ketchup, soy sauce, honey, bourbon, and olive oil. Whisk all these ingredients together thoroughly until you have a smooth, well-combined sauce. This ensures an even distribution of flavor throughout the chicken.
- Cut the Chicken: Take your boneless, skinless chicken thighs and cut them into uniform bite-sized chunks. Aim for pieces roughly 1 to 1.5 inches in size to ensure even cooking. Place the cut chicken into a large mixing bowl.
- Coat the Chicken: Pour the prepared bourbon sauce directly over the chicken pieces in the large mixing bowl. Toss the chicken gently to ensure every piece is thoroughly coated in the delicious sauce. This step allows the chicken to absorb maximum flavor.
- Pressure Cook: Carefully transfer the sauced chicken from the bowl into the inner pot of your Instant Pot. Secure the lid in place and ensure the vent is sealed (set to “Sealing”). Cook on high pressure for 4 minutes. This short cooking time is perfect for tender chicken thighs.
- Quick Release: Once the cooking cycle is complete, perform a quick release of the pressure. This means carefully turning the sealing vent to the “Venting” position to rapidly release the steam. Be cautious of the hot steam.
- Thicken the Sauce: Once the pressure has fully released and the float valve has dropped, remove the lid. Change the Instant Pot setting to “Sauté” (Normal or Medium heat). While the sauce is coming to a gentle simmer, quickly prepare a cornstarch slurry by whisking together the cornstarch and water in a small bowl until smooth.
- Final Glaze: Pour the cornstarch slurry into the simmering sauce in the Instant Pot. Stir continuously for 2-4 minutes, allowing the sauce to cook and thicken to a beautiful, glossy, and sticky consistency. Once thickened to your liking, turn off the Instant Pot.
Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Tips
Leftover bourbon chicken can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. To reheat, simply warm it on the stovetop over medium heat with a splash of water or chicken broth. This will help loosen the sauce and bring it back to its original silky consistency. You can also microwave it, but stovetop reheating often yields better texture.
The connection between bourbon chicken and actual bourbon is a fun culinary debate! Many believe the dish earned its name from Bourbon Street in New Orleans, where it’s a popular offering in casual eateries. Some recipes, like ours, proudly include bourbon for its unique flavor contributions – primarily its ability to create a deep, caramelized sweetness that is truly unmatched. However, other versions of bourbon chicken skip the alcohol entirely, with the name simply referencing its historical roots on the famous street. Rest assured, whether or not bourbon is in the recipe, the delicious sweet and savory profile is what makes it “bourbon chicken” to most!
Yes, this recipe freezes beautifully! Allow the chicken to cool completely, then transfer it to a freezer-safe airtight container or heavy-duty freezer bags. It can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating on the stovetop as described above, adding a little water or broth if the sauce is too thick.
If you find your sauce isn’t as thick as you’d like after the cornstarch slurry step, you can make a second, smaller slurry (1 teaspoon cornstarch mixed with 1 tablespoon water) and stir it in while sautéing until your desired consistency is reached. If the sauce is too thick, simply stir in a tablespoon or two of water or chicken broth until it thins out slightly.
Absolutely! For a more complete meal, you can add diced bell peppers, broccoli florets, or snap peas to the Instant Pot along with the chicken. Add them either before pressure cooking (they will be very tender) or stir them in during the sauté phase after the chicken is cooked, allowing them to cook until crisp-tender.
Serving Suggestions for Instant Pot Bourbon Chicken
Instant Pot Bourbon Chicken is a wonderfully versatile dish that pairs beautifully with a variety of sides. For a classic and satisfying meal, serve it generously over a fluffy bed of white rice, brown rice, or even garlic butter rice. The rice acts as a perfect canvas to soak up all that incredible sticky, savory sauce.
To enhance the presentation and add a burst of fresh flavor, garnish your plated chicken with thinly sliced green onions (scallions) and a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds. These simple additions provide a delightful textural contrast and visual appeal.
If you’re looking to incorporate more vegetables, consider pairing your bourbon chicken with stir-fried veggies like broccoli, snap peas, or bell peppers. You can either serve them on the side or, as mentioned in our expert tips, toss some diced bell peppers or other quick-cooking vegetables directly into the Instant Pot during the sauté phase to cook until crisp-tender. Steamed edamame or a simple side salad with a light vinaigrette also make excellent companions, rounding out the meal beautifully.
More Related Recipes to Satisfy Your Cravings
If you loved this Instant Pot Bourbon Chicken, you’re sure to enjoy these other delicious and easy chicken dishes:
- Orange Chicken
- Bourbon Chicken (Stovetop Version)
- Sweet and Sour Chicken
- Honey Garlic Chicken Stir Fry
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Instant Pot Bourbon Chicken
IMPORTANT – There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!
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Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon minced garlic
- 2 teaspoons minced ginger
- 3 Tablespoons ketchup
- 3 Tablespoons soy sauce
- 3 Tablespoons bourbon
- 3 Tablespoons honey
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1 ¾ pound boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- ¼ cup water
Things You’ll Need
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Instant pot
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Mixing bowls
Before You Begin
- 3 Tablespoons of bourbon is all you need, which is about the size of a mini shooter (50ml) you can find at the liquor store. It will add caramelized sweetness to the sauce which is exactly what we want. That said, if you would still like to omit the bourbon then you can substitute it with apple juice.
- We use chicken thighs because we love the flavor it adds to the dish, however, you can substitute with chicken breasts if that’s what you prefer.
Instructions
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In a medium bowl, whisk together garlic, ginger, ketchup, soy sauce, honey, bourbon, and olive oil.
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Cut chicken thighs into bite sized chunks and place in a large mixing bowl.
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Pour sauce into bowl with chicken.
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Add contents of bowl to the Instant Pot, close the lid, and seal the vent. Cook on high pressure for 4 minutes.
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When done do a quick release.
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Remove lid and change the setting to saute.
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Make a slurry from the cornstarch and water. Stir the slurry into the sauce and allow to cook until thickened, about 2-4 minutes.
Expert Tips & FAQs
- Store leftover bourbon chicken in an airtight container kept in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Reheat on the stovetop with a splash of water to loosen the sauce back up.
Nutrition
The recipes on this blog are tested with a conventional gas oven and gas stovetop. It’s important to note that some ovens, especially as they age, can cook and bake inconsistently. Using an inexpensive oven thermometer can assure you that your oven is truly heating to the proper temperature. If you use a toaster oven or countertop oven, please keep in mind that they may not distribute heat the same as a conventional full sized oven and you may need to adjust your cooking/baking times. In the case of recipes made with a pressure cooker, air fryer, slow cooker, or other appliance, a link to the appliances we use is listed within each respective recipe. For baking recipes where measurements are given by weight, please note that results may not be the same if cups are used instead, and we can’t guarantee success with that method.