Calling all mall rats and people who just love delicious, easy chicken recipes! This bourbon chicken is the mall food court dish of my teen years. If you were hanging out in malls in the ’90s, you’ve likely been chased down in the food court to sample this delectable, perfectly sauced chicken thigh recipe on a toothpick. Then you had to go use your allowance to buy a plate of this sweet and savory meal (or was that just me?). Now as an adult, I can make this dish at home in the convenience of the Instant Pot any time I like, and I’m sharing it with you so you can too.
If you’ve always wondered what was actually in this iconic dish, now’s your chance! The sauce gets its sweet, signature flavor from a combination of soy sauce, brown sugar, ketchup, ginger, garlic, and bourbon, of course. Don’t worry—the sauce isn’t boozy at all; the bourbon just adds the perfect accent to the Asian-inspired sauce, making the flavor so unique.
The Instant Pot is the true savior of this dish, so it’s easy to whip up this delicious weeknight dinner in under an hour (no driving to the mall required). As they did in the mall, serve this sauce-y chicken over rice or mashed potatoes with a veggie side.
Looking for more easy dinners to bring you back to your mall days? Check out our fried rice recipe or our crispy honey sesame chicken to skip takeout in the most delicious ways.
Made this? Let us know how it went in the comments below!