Instant Pot Bourbon Chicken Recipe

Name: Instant Pot Bourbon Chicken
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons Sesame Oil; 2 lbs Chicken Breast; 4 Cloves Minced Garlic; 1 teaspoon Fresh Ginger; 1/4 teaspoon Crushed Pepper Flakes; 1/4 cup Low Sodium Soy Sauce; 1/4 cup Brown Sugar; 1/4 cup Bourbon; 1/2 cup Apple Juice; 3 tablespoons Ketchup; 2 tablespoons Cornstarch (try adding some flour to thicken the sauce instead.); 1/4 cup Apple Juice (or water. This is great for making the slurry mixture.); 1 tablespoon Green Onion; 1 tbsp Sesame Seeds

Instant Pot Bourbon Chicken is a flavorful chicken dish marinated in a bourbon soy sauce. Ready in 30 minutes, this dish is the perfect family dinner on a busy weeknight.

Why You Should Try Bourbon Chicken

Sweet and Savory: This dish strikes a perfect balance between sweet bourbon and savory chicken.
Quick and Easy: With the Instant Pot, this gourmet-style meal is ready in no time.
Restaurant Quality: Enjoy a restaurant-quality dish from the comfort of your own kitchen.

Ingredients for Pressure Cooked Bourbon Chicken

You will need the following ingredients to make this bourbon chicken Instant Pot recipe:

For the Bourbon Sauce:

Sesame Oil: Adds a nutty, slightly sweet flavor to the dish, and helps in sautéing the chicken.
Chicken Breast: The main protein in this recipe, it soaks up the flavors of the bourbon sauce while remaining tender and juicy.
Garlic: Adds a robust, aromatic flavor that infuses the whole dish, enhancing the savory elements.
Fresh Ginger: A key ingredient for adding a spicy, zesty kick that complements the sweetness of the other ingredients.
Crushed Pepper Flakes: Optional but recommended for those who enjoy a bit of heat in their dishes.
Low-Sodium Soy Sauce: Provides umami, a savory taste that deepens the flavor profile.
Brown Sugar: The key to making this sauce taste delicious and the sweetness balances out the strong flavors of the soy and ginger.
Bourbon: Gives the dish its distinctive rich, smoky flavor. Can be substituted with apple juice for a non-alcoholic version.
Apple Juice: Adds natural sweetness to the sauce, complementing the strong flavors of soy and ginger.
Ketchup: Helps thicken the sauce and adds a tangy sweetness, rounding out the flavors of the dish.

Cornstarch Slurry Ingredients:

2 tablespoons cornstarch. Cornstarch mixture is a great thickener for this recipe. If you don’t have it, try adding some flour to thicken the sauce instead.
1/4 cup apple juice (or water). This is great for making the slurry mixture.

Garnish Ingredients:

1 tablespoon minced green onion for garnish. Green onions are optional but adds a nice flavor to the chicken and makes it look great too!
Sesame seeds. These add a nice texture and flavor to the chicken.

How to Make Instant Pot Bourbon Chicken?

Here are the step-by-step instructions for cooking Instant Pot Bourbon Chicken.

Begin by cutting your skinless chicken breasts into cubes. Then place it into the Instant Pot.

Add all the sauce ingredients (except the cornstarch slurry) to the Instant Pot. Stir to combine.

Pressure cook the bourbon chicken on High Pressure for 5 minutes followed by a 10-minute natural pressure release. Then release any remaining pressure manually.

In a small bowl mix the cornstarch slurry ingredients until combined.

Turn the Instant Pot onto sauté mode and add the slurry mixture to the Instant Pot, stir and cook for 5-10 minutes, or until the sauce thickens.

Serve the Instant Pot bourbon chicken with rice or noodles and garnish with sesame seeds and green onions.

You’ll love this easy bourbon chicken recipe!

Tips for Achieving Perfect Bourbon Chicken

I love using chicken breasts and cube them into smaller uniform pieces. Also, you could use boneless chicken thighs. Both work great.
As stated above, the alcohol content will evaporate as it is cooked under pressure. But if you want to avoid it, substitute it with apple juice.
Use fresh ginger and fresh garlic for the best flavor. To make it spicier, add some extra crushed red pepper flakes.

Substitutions

Chicken Thighs: You can swap the breasts for boneless skinless chicken thighs and either dice into cubes or leave the thighs whole.
Apple Juice: Use apple juice in the place of Alcohol. The recipe will still have a sweet and sticky taste.

How Should I Store Bourbon Chicken?

Refrigerate: Instant Pot Bourbon Chicken can be stored in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. Ensure that it’s kept in an airtight container to maintain freshness.
Freeze: To freeze Instant Pot Bourbon Chicken, allow it to cool completely before transferring it to airtight freezer containers. The Bourbon Chicken can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. When ready to enjoy again, thaw it overnight in the refrigerator.

Can I Reheat This Chicken Dish?

Reheating: Reheat Instant Pot Bourbon Chicken on the stovetop over medium-low heat. Stir occasionally and heat for approximately 5 minutes or until the chicken is thoroughly heated.
Microwave: If using the microwave, transfer the Bourbon Chicken to a microwave-safe dish. Heat in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until it’s heated through.

What to Serve With This Bourbon Chicken?

So what goes with bourbon chicken?

This dish is great to serve over jasmine rice, Brown Rice, pasta, Baked Potatoes or Mashed Potatoes.
You can also serve it with steamed veggies, such as Broccoli, or a nice Cucumber Salad on the side.
We have a great guide for Cooking Rice In The Instant Pot and it usually only takes around five minutes! Instant Pot rice is perfect every time, fluffy, white and absolutely delicious.

bourbon chicken and pasta on a white plate

FAQ’S

What Is Bourbon Chicken?

The dish originated in New Orleans and was named after the popular Bourbon Street. Due to its distinctive sweet and sticky sauce, bourbon chicken naturally joined the Asian takeout menu and became a popular chicken recipe that many love. You can find bourbon chicken in the mall food court but you can also make the most amazing homemade Instant Pot bourbon chicken with ease from the comfort of your kitchen.

Does Bourbon Chicken Contain Alcohol?

This recipe does call for bourbon, and it is one of the main ingredients that give this meal it’s taste. If you do not want to use bourbon you can substitute it with apple juice.

Is This Instant Pot Recipe Alcoholic?

No! The bourbon alcohol evaporates as the sauce simmers under pressure. Therefore, the recipe is not alcoholic.

Can I Use Frozen Chicken Breasts in This Recipe?

Yes! Simply dice your frozen chicken breast meat and follow the same steps. You’ll just need to add an extra 3 minutes to the pressure cooking time.

Do I Have to Cube the Chicken Breast?

No. You don’t have to use cubed chicken for this recipe. If you want to cook a whole bourbon chicken breast in the Instant Pot, you can do so easily. Simply place the chicken breasts at the bottom of your pressure cooker pot. The cooking time is roughly the same as cubed chicken breast.

Do I Need Chicken Broth for Bourbon Chicken?

No. This recipe has more than enough liquid to allow the bourbon sauce and chicken to come to pressure. So you won’t need chicken broth.