Paleo Bourbon Chicken
This bourbon chicken is the perfect food court copycat! It’s a healthy take on the classic that’s paleo, AIP, and gluten-free.
What is bourbon chicken?
I’ll also associate bourbon chicken with mall food courts! I remember walking by employees giving out samples on toothpicks, and it was always so yummy!
Bourbon chicken actually originates in New Orleans, Bourbon Street to be specific, and can often be found in Asian and Cajun restaurants, and of course food courts as well. It’s traditionally made with cornstarch, ketchup, soy sauce, and sugar. This version is made with paleo, whole30, AIP, and gluten-free ingredients to make a healthier alternative!
How to make homemade paleo Bourbon chicken
- Prep the sauce: Using a small bowl, whisk the ketchup, coconut aminos, broth, apple juice, vinegar, and arrowroot starch together. Set aside.
- Cook the chicken: Heat the avocado oil over medium heat in a large deep pan. Add the chicken and season with salt and pepper. Cook for 3-4 minutes on each side until the chicken is cooked through and reads an internal temperature of 165 F. Set aside.
- Cook the sauce & combine: Add the garlic and ginger to the pan and cook for 2-3 minutes. Pour the sauce into the pan and stir well. Bring to a low simmer and add the chicken back to the pan. Stir to coat in the sauce and simmer for 1-2 minutes. The sauce should be thickened and the chicken coated.
Wait, so there’s no bourbon in bourbon chicken?
No, there doesn’t have to be! Yes, there can be and things like alcoholic beverages do add a lot of richness to recipes, but I certainly did not use it and didn’t miss it!
What can you serve this bourbon chicken with?
This bourbon chicken tastes great with Asain inspired side dishes such as…
- Japanese sweet potato fries
- Roasted broccoli
- Roasted bok choy
- Asian veggie noodle salad
- Cauliflower rice
- Side salad with Japanese ginger dressing
The Ingredients for This Recipe
Chicken breast
I have not tried this with chicken thigh, but it should work!
Coconut aminos
Coconut aminos is a soy sauce alternative and be found online or in health stores.
Apple juice
Apple juice or pineapple juice is often used as a sweetener in bourbon chicken. Be sure to use something without added sugar!
Ketchup
Using compliant ketchup adds so much flavor and depth to this chicken!
AIP compliant ketchup-
- AIP ketchup in my cookbook, the Autoimmune Protocol Comfort Food Cookbook
- Beet ketchup
- KC naturals ketchup
Whole30 compliant ketchup-
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PrintBourbon Chicken
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 5 servings 1x
Description
This bourbon chicken is the perfect food court copycat! It’s a healthy take on the classic that’s paleo, AIP, and gluten-free.
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup compliant ketchup (see notes)
- 1/3 cup coconut aminos
- 1/4 cup chicken broth
- 2 tbsp apple juice
- 2 tsp apple cider vinegar
- 2 tsp arrowroot starch
- 2 tbsp avocado oil
- 1.5 lb chicken breast, cubed
- 3/4 tsp sea salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper (omit for AIP)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tsp fresh ginger, minced
- 2 tbsp green onion, chopped
Instructions
- Using a small bowl, whisk the ketchup, coconut aminos, broth, apple juice, vinegar, and arrowroot starch together. Set aside.
- Heat the avocado oil over medium heat in a large deep pan. Add the chicken and season with salt and pepper. Cook for 3-4 minutes on each side until the chicken is cooked through and reads an internal temperature of 165 F. Set aside.
- Add the garlic and ginger to the pan and cook for 2-3 minutes.
- Pour the sauce into the pan and stir well. Bring to a low simmer and add the chicken back to the pan. Stir to coat in the sauce and simmer for 1-2 minutes. The sauce should be thickened and the chicken coated.
- Serve warm topped with green onion.
Notes
For AIP compliant ketchup consider the AIP ketchup in my cookbook, the Autoimmune Protocol Comfort Food Cookbook, Beet ketchup or KC naturals ketchup.For whole 30 compliant ketchup, use Primal Kitchen Ketchup or Homemade whole30 ketchup.
All nutritional information are estimations and will vary. Estimations do not include optional ingredients.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 15
- Category: Main dishes
- Method: Stove top
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 263
- Fat: 9.2g
- Carbohydrates: 12.4g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 30.7g
Keywords: Bourbon chicken
AIP
Low Carb
Paleo
Whole30
Very tasty. Not quite the Bourbon Chicken I remember, but more of a sweet and sour chicken. I will say though, that it has been many years since I ate Bourbon Chicken at a mall. I wonder if their chicken is deep fried? I did use pineapple juice in place of the apple juice, which may have skewed it towards the sweet and sour chicken taste. We will be making again!
★★★★★
Super easy to make and really delicious! The sauce is very flavorful. Perfect for when the Chinese food craving hits!
★★★★★
So glad you are enjoying this recipe!!
My kiddos and I ABSOLUTELY LOOOOVED this dish!!!!!!!!!!! Also added pineapple per prior comment. Will make again. Kids said its one of their favs!
★★★★★
SO glad it was a hit!! Thank you!!
I made this tonight and it was delicious. Thanks for sharing!
★★★★★
So glad you enjoyed!!