Bourbon Chicken On Keto: What You Need To Know

Bourbon chicken is a popular dish at Chinese and Cajun-themed restaurants. It is named after Bourbon Street in New Orleans, Louisiana, and one of its main flavouring ingredients is bourbon. The dish is typically cooked with boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into chunks, and a variety of spices and sauces. While the original recipe contains sugar, it can be adapted to fit a keto diet by substituting sugar-free and low-carb ingredients.

Keto bourbon chicken ingredients

Keto bourbon chicken is named after Bourbon Street in New Orleans, Louisiana, where bourbon whiskey is a key ingredient. The dish is usually served over a bed of cauliflower rice for a low-carb dinner.

Ingredients

• 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into chunks
• 2 tablespoons of oil (coconut, avocado, or olive oil)
• 1/2 cup chicken bone broth or 2 cups chicken stock
• 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 3/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, crushed
• 1/4 cup tomato sauce
• 1/3 cup coconut aminos or tamari sauce
• 1/3 cup sweetener (Swerve Confectioners or allulose)
• 1/4 teaspoon grated fresh ginger or 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1-3 cloves of garlic, smashed or minced
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar (or coconut vinegar)
• 1 shot of bourbon (optional)
• Scallions, diagonally sliced
• Black pepper

Optional Spices

If you want to add some spice to your keto bourbon chicken, you can include one of the following:

• Serrano pepper, minced
• Jalapeno pepper, diced or minced; seeds optional
• Ghost pepper (only for seasoned pepper eaters)
• Garlic chili sauce, for an Asian-based heat
• Chili pepper, diced or minced; seeds optional

How to make bourbon chicken

How to Make Keto Bourbon Chicken

Ingredients:

• 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs or chicken tenders (dark meat is recommended, but not essential)
• 2 tbsp sweetener (e.g. allulose)
• 2 tbsp sugar-free ketchup
• 1 shot of bourbon (optional)
• 1/4 tsp ground ginger
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 2 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tbsp avocado oil
• Low-carb rice (optional)

Method:

• Prepare your marinade by mixing together the sweetener, ketchup, soy sauce, water, bourbon, and spices in a bowl.
• Slice the chicken into 1/2-inch cubes and stir them into the marinade. Leave to marinate for at least 15 minutes, or up to 5 hours.
• Heat avocado oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add the chicken and marinade to the skillet and spread the chicken out in an even layer. Simmer until the liquid has mostly evaporated.
• Start tossing the chicken in the pan until it is nicely browned. This will take 7-10 minutes, depending on your heat level. The chicken is done when the edges are crispy and the sauce has completely coated the meat.
• Serve with a low-carb rice of your choice, or simply enjoy the chicken on its own.

Tips:

• If you are using an instant pot, set it to saute mode and follow the same steps as you would in a saucepan. Then, add the remaining ingredients and set the pot to pressure cook for 30 minutes. Let the pressure release naturally, remove the lid, and set the pot back to saute mode to thicken the sauce.
• If you are using a slow cooker, follow steps 1-5 in a saucepan. Then, combine all the ingredients in the slow cooker and cook on high heat for 4 hours, or on low for 8 hours. To thicken the sauce, cook on high heat without a lid for about an hour.

Storing bourbon chicken

Storing your leftover keto bourbon chicken is a simple process. It is best to let the chicken cool down to room temperature before storing it. You can then transfer it to an airtight container and place it in the refrigerator, where it will stay fresh for up to 3 to 5 days. If you wish to store it for longer, you can freeze it for up to 3 months.

When reheating your keto bourbon chicken, you can use a stovetop, microwave, or oven. For the stovetop, place the leftovers in a skillet or saucepan over medium heat and stir occasionally until the mixture reaches your desired temperature. For the microwave, place the chicken in a microwave-safe container and heat it for a few minutes until warmed through. For the oven, preheat the oven to 325˚F and place your leftovers in an oven-safe container. After 8 to 10 minutes, stir the dish and check the temperature. Continue to heat in 5-minute increments until the desired temperature is reached.

It is important to note that when reheating any dish with meat, you should be cautious to avoid overcooking and making the meat tough and chewy.

What to serve with bourbon chicken

There are plenty of delicious keto-friendly dishes to serve with bourbon chicken. Here are some ideas:

• Keto Jalapeno Marinated Mozzarella
• Low-Carb/Keto Biscuits
• Low-Carb Spicy Roasted Broccoli
• Keto Southern-Style Cornbread
• Keto Cauliflower White Rice
• Keto Japanese Fried Rice
• Cauliflower rice

You could also serve the bourbon chicken with a low-carb rice of your choice.

Reheating keto bourbon chicken

Microwave

The quickest and simplest option is to use a microwave. Place the chicken in a microwave-safe container and heat it for a few minutes until warmed through. However, be aware that microwaving meat can make it tough and chewy, so only use this method if speed is a priority.

Oven

Reheating chicken in the oven is probably the best method to ensure the meat doesn't become tough. Preheat your oven to 325˚F and place your leftovers in an oven-safe container. Heat for 8-10 minutes, then stir the dish and check the temperature. Continue to heat in 5-minute increments until the desired temperature is reached.

Stovetop

Place your leftovers in a skillet or saucepan over medium heat. Stir the mixture occasionally and heat until it reaches your desired temperature.

With any of these methods, you can enjoy tasty, tender keto bourbon chicken without the risk of overcooking the meat and altering its texture.

Frequently asked questions