This Bourbon Street Chicken recipe without alcohol is flavorful, with apple juice, prepared in a slow cooker or quickly on your stovetop and served on rice! The Bourbon Street seasoning is simple and consists of ingredients you already have in your pantry and the Bourbon Street chicken sauce is amazing.
Bourbon Street Chicken Recipe
I have been making this Bourbon Street chicken recipe for years. Most of us are always looking for another chicken recipe and this is one of those Bourbon Street recipes that is definitely worth a try! I especially love the Bourbon Street chicken sauce and Bourbon Street seasoning. It’s so easy to whip up!
This easy Bourbon St chicken recipe is both sweet and spicy and inspired by the North American Festival Mardi Gras and Bourbon Street!
I have never encountered anyone that did not love this chicken recipe. Bourbon Street chicken is just so tasty! Children and adults will thank you for making these sweet, tender chicken pieces. Mine always do!
If you are like me and always collecting amazing chicken recipes, I have listed a few below that will definitely give you some options. I have picked some of my favorites that are covered in sauces that I enjoy and hope you do too! I can’t wait to hear what you think of them!
Bourbon Street Chicken Recipe without Alcohol
This is the most amazing Bourbon Street chicken recipe without alcohol that you will find. I’m always looking for alcohol-free recipes because my husband is an alcoholic who hasn’t had a drink in almost 20 years. By making this Bourbon Street chicken recipe with apple juice or pineapple juice instead of alcohol or more specifically, bourbon, this is a way for him to enjoy this chicken dish too.
It’s just the right amount of sweet and spice, making this chicken dish total flavor perfection! If desired, swap out the juice for your favorite bourbon and I am sure you won’t be disappointed.
Bourbon Chicken with Apple Juice
For this Bourbon Street chicken recipe, we suggest using either apple juice or pineapple juice as it adds the right amount of sweetness to a flavorful dish, no matter which juice you choose to use.
For many years, we used apple juice to make this absolutely wonderful bourbon chicken dinner and then a reader mentioned she used pineapple juice and loves it. Of course we had to try it. The flavor changed slightly but we thought it was great too. Now, I alternate between apple juice and pineapple juice to make this wonderful weeknight chicken dinner.
This Bourbon St chicken recipe is so tasty and has been in our regular rotation for more than 20 years! I doubt we will ever get tired of eating this wonderful chicken supper and I believe you will feel the same way after trying it.
Slow Cooker Bourbon Street
I am so excited to pass along these instructions for making this super simple recipe in your slow cooker or crock pot. I hope you are all as excited about it as I am!
Use chicken breasts or chicken thighs, boneless, skinless and chopped into bite sized pieces or whole. The decision is up to you but I have to mention something if you plan on thickening your sauce after your chicken is cooked.
At some point, you will have to remove the chicken from your slow cooker or crock pot to work with the sauce. This process is somewhat easier with whole chicken breasts or chicken thighs rather than in bite-sized pieces.
That being said, I use a slotted spoon to remove the chicken when needed and don’t have much of a problem at all, hunting for the smaller pieces as opposed to whole pieces.
Otherwise this Slow Cooker Bourbon Chicken Recipe could not be easier. Especially when you taste the result!
Ingredients in Bourbon Street Chicken and Bourbon Street Seasoning
-
- Chicken breasts
- Oil
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Crushed red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper
- Apple or pineapple juice or BOURBON
- Ketchup
- Brown sugar
- Cider vinegar
- Chicken broth
- Soy sauce
How to Make Bourbon Street Chicken
I use a large skillet, but a good-sized pot will work beautifully for this recipe. Remember whatever you use has to hold all of the chicken pieces and the liquid.
Cook your chicken pieces until browned and no longer pink inside. I usually make mine bite-sized because I find it the easiest to eat and serve. Exact timing will depend on the size of your chicken pieces.
While your chicken is cooking, grab a large mixing bowl and combine soy sauce, broth, cider vinegar, ketchup, brown sugar, apple juice, crushed red pepper flakes, ginger and garlic.
Using a whisk, stir until everything is blended and dissolved together.
As soon as your chicken is cooked, pour the soy mixture into the skillet with your chicken.
Bring to a good boil.
Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes. The idea is you reduce the amount of liquid you are serving with your chicken. I prefer a lot of Bourbon Street chicken sauce so I can drizzle some all over the rice. I just can’t get enough of the stuff.
Usually, I serve the chicken pieces with a slotted spoon, especially if I am serving the chicken on top of a salad and use some of the juices as dressing. So good, in our opinion. I can’t wait to hear what you think in the comment section below. I’ll bet you’re surprised at how tasty and simple this Bourbon Street seasoning is!
Serve with anything and everything. Enjoy!
How to Make Slow Cooker Bourbon Chicken
If using a slow cooker to prepare this dish, consider leaving your chicken breasts or chicken thighs whole. This will make thickening the sauce easier because the chicken will be easy to remove from your slow cooker when it’s time to work on the Bourbon Street chicken sauce.
In a medium bowl, mix the garlic, ginger, red pepper flakes, apple juice, broth, brown sugar, ketchup, cider vinegar and soy sauce together. (This is your bourbon street seasoning. Yum!)
Place the chicken thighs into the crockpot.
Pour the mixed sauce into the crockpot and over the chicken, then use tongs to coat the chicken thighs in the sauce.
Cook on high for four hours, until the chicken is tender.
Sprinkle chopped green onions all over the top.
Serve with rice.
To Thicken Your Bourbon Street Chicken Sauce
Once your chicken has totally finished cooking, use a ladle and remove a cup or so of the sauce from your slow cooker and put it in a heat-resistant measuring cup or a small saucepan.
Below are two options for thickening your Bourbon Street chicken sauce. Regardless of which option you choose, remove chicken and turn your slow cooker up to high.
Option 1 Saucepan
Add cornstarch to liquid and whisk until blended.
Bring mixture to boil and allow to thicken.
Once thickened, you have the option of serving the sauce from here. If needed add some more liquid from your slow cooker to your saucepan and some more cornstarch. This is the fastest way to thicken this sauce and serve it with your dinner. Otherwise look below.
Return mixture to slow cooker, that is now set to high, with the rest of the sauce and stir until incorporated. Return your chicken to your slow cooker once your sauce is thick enough for you to serve.
Option 2 Measuring Cup
Add cornstarch to liquid and whisk until totally blended.
Return mixture to your slow cooker, that is already on high, and wait for sauce to boil and thicken.
Repeat cornstarch procedure one more time if necessary to thicken your sauce. If your slow cooker has an element setting, use it now. Your sauce will thicken quicker if it is simmering, NOT rigorously boiling.
Delicious Chicken Recipes to Try
Simple Skillet Chicken Stroganoff
The Best Sweet & Sour Baked Chicken
Creamy Skillet Chicken with Zucchini, Carrots and Parmesan Pasta
Chicken and Stuffing Oven Bake
Chicken and Spinach Pasta in Sherry Cream Sauce
We are such big chicken eaters that I recommend you do a search on this site for chicken. I have lots of different recipes for different kinds of chicken breasts, baked in the oven, in a slow cooker or in a skillet! Hopefully you will be pleasantly surprised at what comes up!
We just had to make our Bourbon Street Chicken recipe into a video! Check out how easy this recipe is to make!
Bourbon Street Chicken Video
Bourbon Street Chicken
Equipment
- large skillet
- OR Slow Cooker
Ingredients
Chicken - pick one
- 4 chicken breasts, boneless, skinless, cut into bite size chunks
- 6-8 chicken thighs, boneless, skinless, cut into bite sized chunks
Recipe
- 3 tablespoons olive or another vegetable oil
- 2 tablespoons garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon ginger, ground
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes or ¼-1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ¼ cup apple or pineapple juice or BOURBON
- ⅓ cup brown sugar, packed
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- ½ cup chicken broth
- ⅓ cup soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch, if desired
Instructions
- I use a large skillet but a good sized pot will work beautifully for this recipe. Remember whatever you use has to hold all of the chicken pieces and the liquid.
- In a large skillet, over medium heat, place oil and wait until it shimmers or a drop of water flicked in it dances.
- Cook your chicken pieces until browned and no longer pink inside. I usually make mine bite sized and find that the easiest to eat and serve. Exact timing will depend on the size of your chicken pieces.
- While chicken is cooking grab a large mixing bowl and combine soy sauce, broth, cider vinegar, ketchup, brown sugar, juice, crushed red pepper flakes or cayenne, ginger and garlic. Stir until everything is dissolved together.
- As soon as your chicken is cooked pour soy mixture into your skillet with your chicken.
- Bring to a good boil.
- Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes. You want to reduce the amount of liquid in the skillet or pot with your chicken. We use a lot and love to drizzle it all over rice or as dressing on a salad.
- Usually, I serve the chicken pieces with a slotted spoon to control the amount of liquid that is served but more often than not I don't even need to.
- Serve and enjoy!
SLOW COOKER
- If using a slow cooker to prepare this dish consider leaving your chicken breasts or chicken thighs whole just to switch things up. This will make thickening the sauce easier because the chicken will be easy to remove from your slow cooker.
- In a medium bowl, mix the garlic, ginger, red pepper flakes, apple juice, broth, brown sugar, ketchup, cider vinegar and soy sauce together.
- Place the chicken thighs into the crockpot.
- Pour the mixed sauce into the crockpot and over the chicken, then use tongs to coat the chicken thighs in the sauce.
- Cook on high for 4 hours, until the chicken is tender.
- Sprinkle with chopped green onions all over the top.
- Serve with rice.
TO THICKEN SAUCE
- Once your chicken has totally finished cooking, use a ladle and remove a cup or so of the sauce from your slow cooker and put it in a heat resistant measuring cup or a small saucepan.
- Regardless of which option you choose, remove chicken and turn your slow cooker up to high.
Option 1 Saucepan
- Add cornstarch to liquid and whisk until blended.
- Bring mixture to boil and allow to thicken.
- Once thickened, you have the option of serving the sauce from here. If needed add some more liquid from your slow cooker to your saucepan and some more cornstarch. This is the fastest way to thicken this sauce and serve it with your dinner. Otherwise look below.
- Return mixture to slow cooker, that is now set to high, with the rest of the sauce and stir until incorporated. Return your chicken to your slow cooker once your sauce is thick enough for you to serve.
Option 2 Measuring Cup
- Add cornstarch to liquid and whisk until totally blended.
- Return mixture to your slow cooker, that is already on high, and wait for sauce to boil and thicken. Repeat cornstarch procedure one more time if necessary to thicken your sauce. If your slow cooker has an element setting use it now. Your sauce will thicken quicker if it is simmering, NOT rigorously boiling.
Tim
I’ve made this several times, so far. I HAVE made a couple of substitutions, though. Olive oil doesn’t make much sense to me in a spicy asian inspired dish so I used sesame oil. It really makes a difference, too! I’m supposed to be watching my sodium intake so I subbed worcestershire for the soy sauce. I also used sriracha ketchup for a little extra kick. I also added about 4 strips of bacon cut into one inch pieces to the chicken as it was cooking. It turned out absolutely awesome, too! I’m getting ready to make a batch as I’m writing this!
Karin and Ken
I’m going to try that myself! I can’t thank you enough for taking the tie to share! ❤️ All the best. Karin
Sherrie
Approximately how many servings does this recipe make?
Karin and Ken
I would say four to six people, depending on appetites. Leftovers are delicious too! Enjoy! We love this recipe. Karin
Josh
Made this tonight, followed recipe as written. Next time I will probably cut the red pepper flakes down to 1/2 tsp because it was a tad to “hot” for my wife.
Did mine in a skillet and when I made the cornstarch thickener it used pretty much all of my sauce in the skillet, which was fine, we like it a little thicker. However, when I added the sauce/cornstarch mixture back to the empty skillet it needed to be stirred, otherwise it was going to burn. May want to add that to the description. Otherwise it was fabulous and as we always say about a new recipe we really like “we will add this one to the list”. A+
Karin and Ken
So glad to hear you enjoyed the recipe overall. We have been making it for years and love it. I can’t thank you enough for taking the time to comment. You made my day. All the best. Karin
Tyler
The recipe is good but the chili flakes almost killed me and my girlfriend. I would say a 1/2 tsp would be more than enough.
Karin and Ken
Oh my goodness! I apologize for the excess heat! Than you for taking the time to let me know. All the best. Karin
Angela Laird
This recipe came up in my search and I had to make it!! It did not disappoint! I don’t have any ketchup, so I swapped for chili sauce. So good!! Perfect mix of spicy and sweet.
Karin and Ken
I can’t thank you enough for the kind words! We love this dish and I’m glad you did too! Thank you for letting me know about the chili sauce. I will try it myself! Hopefully you find some other recipes on this site that you enjoy just as much! Take care and all the best. Karin
Diana
Just finished the delicious bourbon street chicken, will cut down on the chili flakes as it was a bit too spicy for us but not sure how much the ginger contributed to the heat, definitely will do again. Thank you for the recipe.
Karin and Ken
As always you are most welcome! This chicken dish is a favorite of ours and I’m always so happy to hear when someone else enjoys one of our recipes! Thank you for taking the time to let me know. You truly made my day. All the best. Karin
Diana
Is the cider vinegar apple cider vinegar?
Cannot wait to make it, look forward to your reply
Karin and Ken
You bet it is! I will update it on the recipe to reflect that! I apologize for the confusion. This dish is delicious and I hope you enjoy it as much as we do! All the best. Karin
Beth
I made this tonight and even my picky 19 year old said he loved it! Thank you!!!
Karin and Ken
As always you are most welcome! Hopefully you find some other recipes on this site that you all enjoy just as much. All the best. Karin
Courtney
This is cooking as I type and smells delicious! I was wondering, however, if next time I could soak it in the sauce overnight or for a few hours before cooking the chicken to savor all of the flavor of the sauce.
Karin and Ken
Do you know in all the years of making this recipe that never occurred to me to try that? What a brilliant idea. Really. I’m going to try that myself! This dish is a long-standing favorite around here and I hope you enjoy it just as much! Thank you again for taking the time to comment. As always I am truly grateful. Take care and all the best. Karin
Lori
Just don’t use that sauce afterward. Never use the liquid you’ve marinated meat in. Use a fresh sauce so you know it’s not contaminated.
Karin and Ken
You are so right! Thank you for taking the time to comment. I am grateful. Take care and all the best. Karin
Rebecca
Can you grill the chicken??
Karin and Ken
I never even considered that before but I think it would work the exact same way. I can’t thank you enough for the suggestion. I am going to try that myself! Take care and all the best. Karin
Vicki Taylor
Can you freeze leftovers?
Karin and Ken
You bet! We don’t have them very often but when we do the chicken freezes beautifully. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do! Take care and all the best! Karin
Amanda
Can u use lime or lemon juice instead of Apple I am out of Apple juice right now.
Karin and Ken
You definitely can use lemon juice but you will likely have to add some extra sugar as well. I would use 1/2 cup brown sugar instead of 1/3 cup. Taste the sauce that surrounds the chicken as you go to make sure it is sweet enough! Hope this helps! Please let me know how it goes if you don’t mind. I would love to hear how everything works out! Take care and all the best. Karin
Tamara Bamford
I discovered your site about a week ago. Not sure how the Bourbon Chicken recipe video surfaced but I am glad it did. I made it today and had it for dinner. It was delicious…. and so easy to make. My husband mixed the sauce while I browned the chicken in the skillet. A definite “keeper”.
Karin and Ken
I can’t thank you enough for taking the time to let me know you not only tried this dish but enjoyed it as well! So glad to have you with us on our food journey! Hopefully you find some other recipes on this site that you enjoy just as much! Take care and all the best. Karin
CAROLYN M BLUE
OMG my family loved it and it was so easy to make. I added a little because I wanted it a bit thicker but otherwise yummy. It is going to be a part of our rotation from now on. I just found your site and want to say thanks for making a busy working mom’s life a bit easier. Bless you
Karin and Ken
I can’t thank you enough for your comment. You really made my day! So happy to hear you enjoyed this chicken dish as much as we do! I hope you can find some other recipes on this site that you enjoy just as much! Take care and enjoy your day! Karin
Sue W
This is really good. No, I mean REALLY, REALLY good!!! Typical me, I made a few adjustments and it tasted just like it came from a Chinese restaurant, only better. I used pineapple juice instead of apple, cut the garlic down to 1 tsp, 1/4 tsp of cayenne instead of red pepper flakes (more than enough heat) and 1/2 Tbsp flour to sauce to thicken a bit. It took on a darker color (like in your picture). Loved it! Thank you!!!
Karin and Ken
As always you are most welcome! Happy to hear you adjusted the heat to suit your personal taste! I wish my stomach could handle more! I love this recipe too and am glad I am not alone! You truly made my day. I can’t thank you enough for taking the time to let me know! Hopefully you find some other recipes on this site that you enjoy just as much! All the best to you! Karin
Hannah Majewski
Thank you for the suggestion to use pineapple juice. This was the first recipe that suggested it. I cut the recipe in half in case my family didn’t like it. They’re only ‘complaint’, if you even want to call it that, is that it was too dry. Well, my husband was late getting home so the sauce thickened up and there was hardly any left when he got home. I guess I could’ve added some water to thin it out. But, over all, it was super tasty and I really think the pineapple juice suggestion was the real change I needed. Thank you so much!
Karin and Ken
As always you are most welcome! We try our best. I actually think the suggestion came about from a comment, we tried it and loved it and up it went into the recipe! Glad you enjoyed it more! I’m sorry your chicken was overcooked. Hopefully next time you make it you will have a better result. Also try adding a little chicken broth to thin instead of water if necessary. Your taste buds may thank you! Hopefully you find some other recipes on this site that you enjoy just as much! All the best. Karin
Bonnie
Can you use pineapple juice instead of apple juice?
Karin and Ken
First I have to apologize for the delay in my response. We had a health scare with my husband, luckily he is ok, but I kind of forgot I had a website. Again I am truly sorry. That being said. What a brilliant idea. I think that would work and I’m going to try that myself. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate the suggestion. I have been making most of these recipes for years and I am so grateful to try them in a different way. Please let me know what you think of the result. I can’t wait to hear! All the best. Karin
Erin
Mine came out a disaster. It was so spicy and salty it choked me. I think I overcooked the chicken, because it was unbelievably dry. But then, I followed the directions and turned it down to a simmer as soon as I had brought it to a boil. It didn’t cook down the liquid. After 20 minutes I had to bring it back up to a boil and cook it at a boil for a good 10 minutes, just to get the sauce to reduce.
Any idea what went wrong??
Karin and Ken
I have been thinking about this all day and am truthfully at a loss. Too spicy? Maybe did you use too much of the red pepper flakes? That is the only explanation I can think of to explain your spicy problem. As for salty the soy sauce and some broths can be salty but otherwise there is no salt added. I’m sorry you had to simmer it longer than stated. Perhaps it wasn’t simmering hard enough?? Unfortunately, to be honest, I am not sure what happened. Maybe you just didn’t like the overall taste of it? I apologize for you wasting your time making it. Usually this dish is well liked and quite popular. I really just wish I knew and can’t apologize enough for not being able to come up with anything to explain any of the problems you had! I even asked a close friend of mine who makes this dish regularly and she wasn’t sure either. I wish I could be of more help. Hopefully you find some other recipes on this site that you might enjoy instead if not this recipe! Regardless take care of you and all the best. Karin
Cody Stauffer
I use reduced or no sodium versions of the chicken broth and the soy sauce, and that’s what I do to cut down on sodium. I’ve never tried it as is, because I am on a reduced sodium diet. My daughter, who is averse to spicy food, absolutely loves this dish (one of her favorites).
Karin and Ken
I use low sodium everything for my husband and I think this dish tastes great using low sodium broth and soy sauce. The less salt the better. Glad you all are enjoying this recipe. It is a definite favorite around here! All the best to you. Karin
Candace
IS THIS SIMILAR TO ORIENTAL BOURBON CHICKEN?
Karin and Ken
I doubt it. Unfortunately I am not familiar with the oriental version! All I know is this recipe is delicious and definitely worth a try! All the best. Karin
Kim
Can you use beef instead of chicken??
Karin and Ken
To be honest I am not sure. I keep meaning to try it myself but haven’t had the time. It is delicious with chicken and is definitely worth a try with beef. If you try it please let me know how it goes. I would love to hear! Take care and be well. Karin
Emily
Bourbon chicken is now a family favorite! So good!
Karin and Ken
You made my night! Thank you for taking the time to let me know! It is one of our favorites too! Hopefully you find some other recipes on our site that you enjoy just as much! Take care and all the best. Karin
TJ
My kids really love this recipe, thank you so much!
Karin and Ken
You are so welcome! Happy they loved it! It is a favorite around here! Hopefully you find some other recipes on our site that you enjoy just as much! Thank you for taking the time to let me know! All the best. Karin
Leigh Ann
Can you leave out the red pepper flakes and it still taste great?
Karin and Ken
I think so! I have made it without on several occasions and I never got any complaints. It is yummy! I still hope you give it a try! Let me know what you think, if you have a moment, if you give it a try. I would love to hear! All the best. Karin
Rhonda
Can u use apple cider instead of apple juice? Can u do this with chicken wings
Karin and Ken
I’m sure apple cider would work instead of apple juice. As for wings I think I am going to try it! What a fabulous idea! It would be a tasty coating on chicken wings. Please let me know if you try this recipe with chicken wings before I do! This recipe is delicious! Take care and all the best. Karin
Dianne
I Love Bourbon Chicken
Karin and Ken
It is delicious! I hope you give it a try! All the best. Karin
kelly smith
My husband loves chicken. he like this recipe. It really amazing
Karin and Ken
So happy to hear you think this recipe is amazing! We do too! Thank you for taking time out of your day to let me know! All the best. Karin
Louise
An excellent dinner enjoyed by all. Served it with rice and a salad. Will be making this again.
Karin and Ken
That chicken dish is delicious! Happy to hear you think so too! Rice and salad are perfect choices to serve with it! All the best. Karin
Susan
This chicken tasted fantastic! Everyone loved it! Kid and hubby friendly. I will be keeping this recipe to make again.
Karin and Ken
We love it too! Thank you for taking the time to let me know. I do appreciate it. Take care and enjoy your day! Karin
Judy Clark
Looks easy and fast. A must try.
Karin and Ken
It really is! Please take a moment to let me know what you thought of this chicken dish! I would love to hear. It is an old favorite around here! All the best. Karin