This Instant Pot Bourbon Chicken is a delicious sticky-sweet chicken served on a bed of rice. The dish is named after Bourbon Street in New Orleans!
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Ingredients in this recipe
Here’s what you need for this easy chicken recipe:
- olive oil
- chicken thighs, diced into 1 inch pieces
- bourbon
- soy sauce
- honey
- ketchup
- garlic, minced
- ginger
- cornstarch & water
- green onions, sliced
- rice
How to make bourbon chicken in the Instant Pot
- Add olive oil, chicken, bourbon, soy sauce, honey, ketchup, garlic and ginger to Instant Pot. Pressure cook for 2 minutes.
- Meanwhile, cook rice, and mix together 1 tbsp cornstarch with 1 tbsp water in a small bowl.
- Do a quick release of the pressure on the Instant Pot.
- Stir cornstarch & water mixture into chicken mixture.
- Turn Instant Pot to saute mode, sauteeing chicken for 3-4 minutes until sauce thickens.
- Serve chicken over rice, then garnish with green onions and enjoy!
Is there alcohol in bourbon chicken?
Yes, this recipe does call for a small amount of bourbon for the sauce. Keep in mind that because the Instant Pot limits evaporation, the alcohol will not cook off like it would on the stove.
If you’re sensitive to alcohol or will be serving this to children, please see the section below for substitutions.
Ingredient substitutions
- Chicken thighs – Breast meat or tenders can be used instead if you prefer. Be sure to still cut them into bite-sized pieces before cooking.
- Bourbon – To make this recipe alcohol free, replace the bourbon with an equal amount of chicken broth or apple juice. Or, simply increase the amount of honey, soy sauce, and ketchup to replace it.
- Soy sauce – Use tamari or coconut aminos as a gluten-free substitute.
- Fresh ginger – An equal amount of ginger paste can be used instead. It comes in tubes and can be found in the produce section of the grocery store.
Using frozen chicken
It’s just as easy to use frozen chicken if you forgot the thaw it first. Just add the thighs whole and increase the cooking time to about 15 minutes.
If you’ll be using frozen chicken breasts, it may take as much as 25 minutes for them to cook with a quick release. This just will depend on the size and thickness of the meat.
Always check to make sure there is no more pink in the center or that the internal temperature reaches 165° F. Once cooked, remove from the pot and cut into smaller pieces or shred. Then, add back into the sauce and finish as directed.
Making the rice
While your Instant Pot is in use, you’ll need to make the rice either on the stovetop or in a rice cooker.
If you have a second, smaller Instant Pot you can use that instead. Find tips in my ultimate IP rice guide for getting perfectly cooked rice every time! To use a rice cooker, simply combine the ingredients in the pot and turn it on.
For the stovetop, follow these simple directions:
- Add the water, salt, and butter to a saucepan and bring to a boil.
- Stir in the rice and bring back to a boil.
- Then, reduce the heat and cover with a lid. Simmer until all of the water has been absorbed.
- Remove from heat and let it sit for a few minutes, then fluff the rice with a fork before serving.
Vegetable side dish ideas
Steamed broccoli or roasted carrots would make a great addition to this meal. Or, pair it with a simple green salad. As an alternative to rice, you could serve this dish with baked potatoes. They taste delicious with the honey bourbon sauce!
Storing and reheating
Transfer leftovers to a sealed container and keep in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Or, you could also divide the meal into several containers with rice and vegetables for easy meal prep!
Reheat in the microwave or on the stove with extra sauce until warmed through.
Freezing this recipe
Allow the chicken to cool before spooning it into a zippered storage bag or airtight container with the sauce. Freeze for 3-4 months and thaw in the refrigerator before reheating.
More Instant Pot chicken recipes
Meal prep tools for this recipe
- Grab some glass meal prep bowls if you plan on storing the leftovers
- I get all my free-range chicken from Butcher Box, conveniently delivered to me frozen
- Freeze this recipe in glass microwave-safe bowls up to 3 months
5-Day Instant Pot Challenge!
Learn how to use your Instant Pot to meal prep by subscribing to our newsletter!
Instant Pot Bourbon Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb chicken thighs, diced into 1 inch pieces
- 1/4 cup bourbon
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 tbsp ketchup
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp fresh minced ginger
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 tbsp water
- 4 green onions, sliced
Rice
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1 cup white rice
- 1 tsp butter
- 1 pinch salt
Instructions
- Add olive oil, chicken, bourbon, soy sauce, honey, ketchup, garlic and ginger to Instant Pot in that order.
- Place lid on Instant Pot and make sure valve is set to seal. Press the pressure cook button and set to high, then cook for 2 minutes. Instant Pot will take about 5-10 minutes to come to pressure then pressure cook for 2 minutes.
- Meanwhile, cook all ingredients listed under rice heading in a rice cooker or on the stovetop, and mix together 1 tbsp cornstarch with 1 tbsp water in a small bowl.
- Do a quick release of the pressure on the Instant Pot by flicking the switch at the top with a spoon. Open the lid when pressure gauge has dropped and the lid opens easily.
- Stir cornstarch & water mixture into chicken mixture, then turn Instant Pot to saute mode, sauteeing chicken for 3-4 minutes until sauce thickens.
- Serve chicken over rice, then garnish with green onions and enjoy!
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