Bourbon Chicken with Broccoli
🛒 What You’ll Need
- 1.5 lbs Boneless, skinless chicken thighs (cut into bite-sized pieces) 🍗
- 3 cups Fresh broccoli florets 🥦
- 2 tbsp Olive oil or vegetable oil 🫒
- 3 cloves Garlic, minced 🧄
- 1 tsp Fresh ginger, grated (or ½ tsp ground ginger) ✨
For the Bourbon Glaze:
- ½ cup Apple juice 🍎
- ½ cup Soy sauce (low sodium) 🥣
- ⅓ cup Light brown sugar, packed 🍬
- ¼ cup Bourbon (or extra apple juice for a non-alcoholic version!) 🥃
- 2 tbsp Apple cider vinegar 🍎🍶
- 1 tbsp Cornstarch mixed with 1 tbsp water (slurry) 🌪️
- Optional: Red pepper flakes for a little kick! 🌶️
👩🍳 Instructions
- Sear the Chicken: Heat the oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the chicken pieces in a single layer and cook until golden brown and cooked through (about 6–8 minutes). Remove and set aside. 🍗🔥
- Sauté Aromatics: In the same pan, add the garlic and ginger. Sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant. 🧄✨
- Whisk the Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the apple juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, bourbon, and apple cider vinegar. Pour the mixture into the skillet. 🥃🍎🥣
- Simmer & Thicken: Bring the sauce to a simmer. Stir in the cornstarch slurry and keep whisking until the sauce becomes thick, glossy, and beautiful. 🌪️📈🤤
- Steam the Broccoli: While the sauce thickens, lightly steam your broccoli florets in the microwave or a separate pot until bright green and tender-crisp. 🥦💨
- The Big Toss: Add the cooked chicken and steamed broccoli back into the skillet. Toss everything together until every piece is perfectly coated in that sticky bourbon glaze. 🌀🥢🌟
- Serve: Pile it high over a bed of fluffy white rice or quinoa. Garnish with sesame seeds or sliced green onions! 🍽️🍚😋
🔥 Pro Tips:
- Chicken Thighs are Key: Using thighs instead of breasts keeps the meat juicy and tender, even after searing and simmering! 🍗🎯
- Non-Alcoholic Swap: If you want to skip the bourbon, just use extra apple juice or white grape juice. You’ll still get that amazing sweet-and-tangy flavor! 🍎🍏
