Food court bourbon chicken is the perfect blend of sweet and savory. It’s a popular dish found in many food courts and malls across the country, and now you can make it at home with this easy copycat recipe.
Do you remember the bourbon chicken samples they pass out at the food court?
My kids always wanted to make a special trip to the mall just to get the free chicken samples.
For years they have been asking me to recreate the recipe to make at home. Well the secret is out because I have perfected the recipe to taste just mall bourbon chicken.
This mall bourbon chicken recipe is better than takeout from any Chinese restaurant in the food court. And the best part is that you don’t have to go to the mall to get it.
The secret behind making Food Court Style Bourbon Chicken is the sauce. While most people think it is like New Orleans style of bourbon chicken with barbeque sauce, it’s actually not. And surprisingly not with bourbon either.
The chicken cooked until tender and glazed with a blend of apple juice, brown sugar, vinegar, garlic, soy sauce, ketchup and spices for a delicious flavorful sauce.
The result is a sticky and savory glaze that coats each tender piece of chicken. The sauce recipe alone is worth licking the plate.
Serve it over rice or with your favorite vegetables for a complete meal that everyone will love. Or for a complete food court experience pair it with an Orange Julius!
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Mall Bourbon Chicken Ingredients & Substitutions
See recipe card below for the full list of ingredients and amounts.
- Chicken: Use boneless, skinless chicken thighs making sure they are sliced into thin chunks. You can use chicken breasts or tenderloins if you prefer.
- Seasonings: Onion powder and garlic powder. Can add red pepper flakes for some heat.
- Apple juice: If you want to use bourbon use ½ cup of bourbon and ½ cup apple juice.
- Brown sugar: This is an important ingredient as it will help thicken the sauce and caramelize it.
- Apple cider vinegar: Adds a slight acidic balance to the sweetness of the sauce.
- Garlic: I used 3 cloves, minced to achieve the right amount of flavor.
- Soy sauce: Use low sodium soy sauce to control the salt intake and over salty taste.
- Ketchup: Adds a touch of sweetness and tanginess to the sauce.
- Scallions and sesame seeds: For garnish but optional.
- White rice and broccoli: A great paring for serving with bourbon chicken. Can be swapped out with other varieties to your liking.
How to Make Mall Bourbon Chicken
In a large skillet over medium high heat add the chicken and cook until it’s fully cooked and the liquid has mostly evaporated.
Add apple juice, brown sugar, onion powder, garlic powder, vinegar, garlic, soy sauce and ketchup to the pan.
Stir the ingredients together while continuing cooking over medium high heat until the sauce thickens and coats the chicken.
Remove from heat and serve over a bed of white or fried rice with broccoli.
Garnish with scallions and sesame seeds.
How to Store
Store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave to desired temperature.
Helpful Tips and Variations
- Swap out broccoli for other vegetables such as snow peas, bell peppers or add a combo of veggies.
- It is essential to cook this until the sauce thickens; the combination of apple juice and brown sugar will aid in both thickening the sauce and achieving caramelization.
- Double the recipe to serve more or to prep meals for the week.
More Restaurant Inspired Recipes To Try
Recipe
Food Court Bourbon Chicken
Ingredients
- 1.5 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs, sliced into thin chunks
- 1 cup apple juice
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- ⅔ cup ketchup
- Scallions and sesame seeds, for garnish
- White rice and broccoli, for serving
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium high heat add the chicken and cook until it’s fully cooked and the liquid has mostly evaporated.
- Add apple juice, brown sugar, onion powder, garlic powder, vinegar, garlic, soy sauce and ketchup to the pan.
- Stir the ingredients together while continuing cooking over medium high heat until the sauce thickens and coats the chicken.
- Remove from heat and serve over a bed of white or fried rice with broccoli.
- Garnish with scallions and sesame seeds.
Notes
Nutrition Disclosure
Nutritional facts are estimates and are provided as a courtesy to the reader. Please utilize your own brand nutritional values to double check against our estimates. Nutritional values are calculated via a third party. Changing ingredients, amounts or cooking technique will alter the estimated nutritional calculations.
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