If you're craving the taste of your favorite Chinese takeout while sticking to a ketogenic diet, look no further! This Keto Bourbon Chicken recipe delivers the sweet, salty, and tangy flavors you love, all while keeping the carbs in check. This dish is a delightful blend of Cajun and Asian influences, offering a guilt-free way to enjoy a classic comfort food.
Why This Recipe Works
This recipe stands out because it uses sugar-free ingredients to replicate the sweet and sticky glaze of traditional bourbon chicken. By using a combination of brown sugar substitute and Allulose, you can achieve that perfect balance of flavors without the added carbs. The recipe is also versatile, allowing you to adjust the macros to fit your dietary needs. Serve it with cauliflower rice, palmini rice, or shirataki rice for a complete and satisfying low-carb meal.
Ingredients
Here's what you'll need to create this flavorful dish:
- For the Chicken:
- 4 skinless and boneless chicken breasts or 6 boneless skinless chicken thighs (800 g/ 1.76 lb), sliced into thin strips or bite-sized pieces
- 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil or ghee (60 ml) or 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp minced fresh ginger or 1/2 tsp ground ginger or ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- 2 tbsp tomato paste (30 g/ 1.1 oz)
- 1 tsp onion powder or ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 tsp chile pepper flakes or ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
- Sea salt and pepper, to taste or ¼ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- For the Bourbon Glaze:
- 2 tbsp brown sugar substitute such as Sukrin Gold (20 g/ 0.7 oz) or ¼ cup brown sweetener
- 2 tbsp Allulose syrup (30 ml) or 2 tbsp more brown sugar substitute or liquid allulose to taste
- 1/2 cup tamari sauce or coconut aminos (120 ml/ 4 fl oz) or ½ cup light soy sauce
- 1/4 cup bourbon (60 ml/ 2 fl oz)
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice (30 ml) or 2 tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1/2 cup chicken stock or water (120 ml/ 4 fl oz) or ¾ cup water, ½ cup chicken broth
- ¼ teaspoon xanthan gum
- ½ teaspoon orange zest (optional)
- For Serving:
- 4 cups cauliflower rice (480 g/ 16.9 oz), palmini rice, or shirataki rice
- 2 medium spring onions, sliced (30 g/ 1.1 oz)
- Toasted sesame seeds (optional)
- 1 tablespoon chives/green onions (optional)
Ingredient Substitutions
All of us have different dietary needs so it's natural that you may need to adjust the macros in this recipe.
- Chicken: While chicken thighs are often recommended for their flavor and tenderness, chicken breasts can also be used.
- Sweetener: If you don't have Allulose syrup, simply use granulated Allulose, or more Erythritol-based brown sugar substitute like Sukrin. Liquid monk fruit sweetener can also be used, but sweeten to your taste preference as pure liquid monk fruit is extra concentrated (I use about 2 teaspoons total).
- Soy Sauce: Coconut aminos can be used as a substitute for tamari sauce or light soy sauce.
- Bourbon: If you don't have bourbon, any whiskey will do. In Canada whiskey is often called Rye which will also work in this keto bourbon chicken recipe. If you’d prefer to skip the alcohol - you can substitute 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar for the 1/4 cup of bourbon and still get a very similar taste.
- Thickener: In place of xanthan gum, consider other keto-friendly thickeners like glucomannan or guar gum, using them sparingly to achieve the desired sauce consistency.
Instructions
Follow these simple steps to create your own Keto Bourbon Chicken:
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- Prepare the Chicken: Slice the chicken breasts or thighs into thin strips or bite-sized pieces. Mince the garlic and finely chop or grate the ginger. Pat the chicken pieces dry with a paper towel (this will help them brown).
- Cook the Chicken: Grease a skillet with olive oil (or ghee) and cook the chicken breasts or thighs on medium-high heat in batches, about 2 minutes per side, or until browned. Do not overfill the pan. Remove from heat and set aside. If cooking chicken thighs, warm the coconut oil in the skillet over medium-high heat. Place the chicken pieces into the skillet and sprinkle them with salt and pepper. Cook the chicken for about 5-8 minutes, flipping them halfway. They should be slightly browned. Transfer the chicken onto a plate or bowl and set aside.
- Make the Glaze: In the same skillet, add the minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds on medium heat, until softened but not burned, you may need to lower the heat. Add the water, bourbon, chicken broth, soy sauce, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar swerve, onion powder, ground ginger and red pepper flakes. Stir all ingredients together with a whisk and then allow to simmer on medium heat for about 10 minutes.
- Combine Chicken and Glaze: Place all the chicken back into the saucepan and add the minced ginger and garlic, tomato paste, onion powder and chile flakes. Stir to combine. Add the brown sugar substitute, allulose syrup (or more brown sugar substitute), tamari sauce (or coconut aminos), bourbon, lemon juice and chicken stock (or water).
- Simmer: Stir and cover with a lid. Cook for about 15 minutes, until thickened and sticky but not too dry. If it gets too dry, add a dash of water. Bring the sauce to a boil and then turn the heat down to medium-low. Let the sauce simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Return the chicken to the pan and continue simmering for another 10 minutes on medium heat.
- Thicken the Sauce: Once the glaze has reduced, continue to simmer and sprinkle the xanthan gum over the glaze and quickly whisk until dissolved. Add the optional orange zest. Remove the pan from the heat, push the chicken pieces to one side of the pan, and whisk the xanthan gum into the sauce on the opposite side of the chicken. Mix well- the chicken should be evenly coated with the sauce. The sauce will thicken (and thicken even more as it cools).
- Serve: Serve warm with cauliflower rice, palmini rice or shirataki rice and sliced spring onion. Garnish with toasted sesame seeds and sliced green onions.
Tips for the Perfect Keto Bourbon Chicken
- Don't Overcrowd the Pan: When cooking the chicken, make sure not to overcrowd the pan. Cook in batches to ensure the chicken browns evenly.
- Adjust the Sweetness: Keto-friendly granulated sweeteners are not all 1:1 swaps. For example, allulose is less sweet than a granulated monk fruit sweetener (like Lakanto), so use slightly less sweetener if you're making that substitution.
- Control the Spice: Double the amount of red pepper flakes if you want a spicier chicken. Feel free to add more red pepper flakes if you like your dishes spicy or add a few dashes of your favorite hot sauce.
- Thickening the Sauce: Without xanthan gum, the sauce will not become thick and sticky. However, its extra-fine, powdery texture makes it prone to clumping. Whisk it into the sauce as best as you can. If the sauce is too thin, sprinkle 1 teaspoon xanthan gum into the slow cooker over the shredded chicken and stir to combine.
- Serving Suggestions: For a really easy dinner, sauté frozen cauliflower rice while the bourbon chicken simmers. Or, add in some broccoli florets, sliced cabbage or chopped zucchini into the bourbon chicken to create a sweet, veg-filled stir fry.
Variations and Additions
- Spicy Kick: For those who enjoy a bit of heat, add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a dash of your favorite hot sauce to the glaze.
- Vegetable Boost: Incorporate low-carb vegetables like broccoli florets, sliced bell peppers, or zucchini into the stir-fry for added nutrients and texture.
- Slow Cooker Option: Adapt this recipe for the slow cooker by combining all ingredients and cooking on low for 4-6 hours. If the sauce is too thin, sprinkle 1 teaspoon xanthan gum into the slow cooker over the shredded chicken and stir to combine.
Serving Suggestions
This keto bourbon chicken is incredibly versatile and pairs well with a variety of side dishes:
- Cauliflower rice: A classic low-carb alternative to traditional rice.
- Palmini rice or Shirataki rice: Other low-carb rice options that complement the flavors of the chicken.
- Crispy roasted Brussels sprouts with sriracha: A delicious and healthy side dish with a spicy kick.
- Keto teriyaki chicken meatballs and broccoli: A fun and flavorful twist on a classic teriyaki dish.
- Keto poke bowl: A refreshing and customizable bowl with marinated tuna and low-carb veggies.
- Bacon and green beans
Is Bourbon Chicken Keto and Diabetic Friendly?
This bourbon chicken recipe is diabetic-friendly as it is made with low-carb ingredients like no-sugar-added ketchup and sweetener. Therefore making it low-carb and diabetic-friendly. However, all foods affect people differently and you should monitor your blood sugars to see how it affects you personally. Bourbon, along with similar spirits, contains zero carbs and sugar which means you don't have to worry about any excess carbs with this ingredient.
Storing and Reheating
- Storage: Store leftover bourbon chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Reheating: When ready to consume remove from the fridge and warm up in a pan over medium heat. You can also reheat it in the microwave.
A Brief History of Bourbon Chicken
Bourbon chicken is named for the bourbon whiskey that the sauce is made with, and also supposedly originated from New Orleans (Bourbon Street). However, my original love for bourbon chicken came from a mall food court at a fast-food-ish kind of Asian restaurant that I swear had something addicting in the sauce. It was tender, super sweet, and I would probably be frightened if I ever saw the ingredient list. The good news is that this bourbon chicken recipe is easy to make right at home and is just as tasty, without all of those questionable ingredients.
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