Mall-Style Bourbon Chicken

Mall-Style Bourbon Chicken Plate 🍗🧅

Sweet, saucy, and totally easy weeknight dinner vibes—this one tastes like you treated yourself, but you made it at home.

📝 Ingredients :

Bourbon Chicken

1 ½ lbs boneless chicken thighs (or breasts), sliced into strips

Salt + black pepper

1 tbsp oil

1 large onion, sliced

Sauce

1/3 cup soy sauce

1/3 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup ketchup

2 tbsp apple cider vinegar (or rice vinegar)

2–3 cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp grated ginger (optional)

2–4 tbsp bourbon (or swap apple juice if you don’t use alcohol)

Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)

Thicken

1 tbsp cornstarch + 2 tbsp water (slurry)

Sides (like the plate)

3 cups cooked rice (fried rice if you want)

Optional macaroni salad: cooked elbow macaroni + mayo + a splash of vinegar + pinch of sugar + salt/pepper

🍽️ ** How to Make It :**

1️⃣ Slice & Season:

Slice chicken and onion, then season the chicken lightly. Keeping the pieces thin makes it cook fast for that better-than-takeout feel at home.

2️⃣ Sear the Chicken:

Heat oil in a hot skillet and sear chicken until browned and cooked through. Don’t crowd the pan—those golden edges are the flavor.

3️⃣ Soften the Onions:

In the same pan, toss in the onions and cook until soft and a little caramelized—this is what makes it taste like a mall food court favorite.

4️⃣ Build the Sauce & Glaze:

Stir in soy sauce, brown sugar, ketchup, vinegar, garlic, ginger, and bourbon (or apple juice). Simmer, then add the cornstarch slurry and cook until thick, glossy, and sticky bourbon chicken level good.

5️⃣ Plate It Up:

Pile it over rice (or fried rice) and add a scoop of macaroni salad if you’re going for the full plate. It also holds up great for meal prep lunches.