Instant Pot Bourbon Chicken
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A little sweet and a little spicy, our EASY Instant Pot Bourbon Chicken recipe is BIG on flavor and takes just minutes to prep. This fan-favorite is made with simple ingredients and is freezer-friendly.
You may prefer our Crockpot Honey Bourbon Chicken version instead.
Reasons You’ll Love Instant Pot Bourbon Chicken
1. It’s an Instant Pot Dump & Go Recipe. Drop in the ingredients, press a button, and dinner is (pretty much) done. At the end, you can quickly thicken up the sauce using what’s called a cornstarch slurry.
2. Complex in flavor. This is thanks to ingredients like fresh ginger (just keep some in the freezer to have on hand), soy sauce (or gluten-free coconut aminos), honey, green onions, and, of course, bourbon.
3. My kids love it! It’s a little spicy, but you can always pull back on the spice if your family has a sensitive palate. Check out our other kid-friendly recipes.
4. It’s been very well-tested. Both of us, as well as our 500 person recipe-testing team for our Instant Pot Cookbook, tested this numerous times!
5. It’s dairy-free and can be made gluten-free. With our substitutions, this recipe will work for both dairy-free and gluten-free diets. (According to Beyond Celiac, most bourbon is gluten-free due to the distillation process.)
6. It’s high in protein. We explain how important protein is in our Round up of High Protein Slow Cooker recipes.
Ingredients Needed
These easy-to-find yet high-impact ingredients create a delicious combo in the Instant Pot…
Ingredient Notes:
- Chicken – You can use boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs for this recipe. Trim off any excess fat and diced into bite-sized chunks.
- Bourbon – Lends a smoky caramel-like sweetness that’s hard to replicate with another ingredient. If you have kids, don’t worry, the alcohol will almost entirely evaporate when the sauce is simmered at the end. Look for small bottles by the liquor counter, if you don’t have some at home. Subs: whisky, no salt chicken broth, apple juice or cider.
- Soy Sauce – Look for an all-natural brand with no preservatives like Kikkoman or San-J Gluten Free Tamari Soy Sauce. To avoid soy (and gluten), try Coconut Aminos instead.
- Ketchup – Look for organic ketchup to avoid additives and preservatives. This ingredient adds flavor and helps thicken the sauce some. Sub: a little tomato paste.
- Ginger – It’s best to use and grate fresh ginger. No need to peel it. When done, place it in a freezer bag, seal, and freeze for the next time. It grates even easier from frozen.
How to Make Bourbon Chicken in Instant Pot
Make Sauce & Pressure Cook
In a medium bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, honey, ketchup, bourbon, oil, ginger, garlic, red pepper flakes, and green onions.
Lock and seal the lid. Cook at high pressure for 7 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through, then quick release the pressure. (The chicken is done when it is no longer pink inside and/or registers 165°F internally.)
Carefully transfer the chicken to a wooden cutting board, dice or shred the meat, and set aside.
Thicken the Sauce
In a small bowl, stir together the cornstarch and 2 tablespoons of water until smooth. Carefully pour the juices from the slow cooker into a medium saucepan. Add in the cornstarch mixture and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to maintain a simmer and cook, stirring, until the sauce has thickened, about 3 minutes.
Finish & Serve
Return the chicken and sauce to the slow cooker. Stir gently to combine. Serve over rice. Garnish with green onions and serve with stir-fried vegetables, if desired.
Note: There’s a lot of sauce to spare, so whip up a big pot of rice and a pan of stir-fried veggies to help soak up all that delicious sauce. To save time, make your brown rice in the Instant Pot or buy pre-made brown rice at the store and use the frozen stir-fry vegetable mix.
Freezer Meal Instructions
Like most of our freezer meals, this freezer-friendly chicken dish is one you can easily double, eat one for dinner tonight, and freeze the other for later. Here’s how easy it is to make ahead and freeze:
Freeze for Later: Make the sauce. Place the sauce and chicken into a gallon-size freezer bag or container. Seal and freeze (if using a freezer bag, set it in a bowl or round container with a diameter similar to the Instant Pot so it will fit in the pot when frozen.) You can freeze with a bag of frozen rice and frozen stir fry veggies to make this a meal kit.
From Frozen: Note: Have cornstarch, and (optional) cooked rice and stir-fried veggies on hand to complete this meal. Set the Instant Pot to “Saute.” Transfer the frozen meal to the pot and cook for 5 minutes to release some liquid. Press “Cancel.”
Lock, seal the lid, and cook at high pressure for 15 to 20 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through. Then, thicken the sauce using a cornstarch slurry in Step 3 of the recipe. Serve over rice and with stir-fried veggies.
What to Serve with Bourbon Chicken
To make this a well-rounded meal, serve with some of these sides:
- Instant Pot Brown Rice or Cilantro Lime Rice
- Stir-fried vegetables (i.e. snow peas, carrots, water chestnuts, bell peppers, and onion)
- Asian Slaw
- Classic Fruit Salad
Tips For Cooking Chicken in the Instant Pot
- In order for the 6 quart Instant Pot to work, it needs a minimum of 1 cup of liquid. If you have an 8 quart Instant Pot, it needs at least 1 1/2 cups of liquid.
- Because chicken breast is so easy to overcook, we always use the quick release method. Quick release is when you turn the pressure release valve to “open” or “venting” (depending on IP model) at the completion of the cooking cycle. This forces the steam to release from the Instant Pot quickly.
- Do not stack chicken when cooking in the Instant Pot. It will cook unevenly. This is especially true for frozen chicken. Try to spread it out evenly along the bottom as much as you can.
- Use a meat thermometer like the one we recommend here to determine doneness. All poultry must cook to the safe temperature of 165°F internally (or no more pink inside). You don’t want to cook it longer than that or it will get dried out.
- If cooking chicken from frozen, make sure to read our post about how to prepare and cook freezer meals in the Instant Pot. Seriously, don’t skip it.
- If you have more questions about the Instant Pot, swing by and browse Instant Pot 101.
FAQs
I personally don’t drink or enjoy the taste of bourbon. However, when used in cooking, I’ve found that the bourbon lends a smoky caramel-like sweetness that’s hard to replicate with another ingredient.
If you have kids, don’t worry, the alcohol will almost entirely evaporate when the sauce is simmered at the end.
Look for small bottles by the liquor counter, if you don’t have some at home in your cabinet.
Bourbon is often used in recipes to add a sweet, smoky flavor to the dish. If you don’t have bourbon or prefer not to use it, there are a few substitutes you can try:
Whiskey: Like bourbon, whiskey has a smoky, oaky flavor that can add depth to your chicken dish.
Brandy: Brandy is a type of spirit that’s made from distilled wine. It has a sweet, fruity flavor that can add complexity to your chicken dish. Use a dark, aged brandy for the best results.
Chicken Broth: If you don’t want to use an alcohol, a good bet is using low sodium or unsalted chicken broth to replace the liquid and add a little extra flavor.
Apple juice or cider: Another non-alcoholic option is trying apple juice or cider in place of bourbon. The sweet, fruity flavor will work well with chicken and give your dish a unique twist.
Remember, when substituting ingredients in a recipe, it’s important to taste as you go and adjust the seasonings as needed.
Now here’s the key to delicious Instant Pot Bourbon Chicken: Do not overcook your chicken! If you follow our recipe, you’re good to go. But…be sure to download and print off our Instant Pot Cooking Times Chart that we spent two years developing for our cookbook. This guide will help you pressure cook both fresh and frozen meals perfectly! It’s our gift to you!
Our recipe is gluten-free is you use a gluten-free soy sauce or coconut aminos. According to Beyond Celiac, most bourbon is gluten-free due to the distillation process, however, you can omit bourbon/whiskey or use apple juice or no salt chicken stock/broth instead.
More Easy Instant Pot Recipes
If you’re on the prowl for more easy Instant Pot recipes that you can freeze, here are some others that we love in our homes…
Did you make this? Snap a photo and tag us on Instagram at @thrivinghome so we can see your creations and cheer you on!
Instant Pot Bourbon Chicken
A little sweet and a little spicy, this EASY Instant Pot Bourbon Chicken recipe is BIG on flavor and takes just minutes. It’s a fan favorite and also freezer friendly!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1/4 cup organic or all-natural ketchup
- 1/4 cup bourbon or other whiskey
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil or olive oil
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (decrease to 1/8 teaspoon, if sensitive to heat)
- 1/2 cup sliced green onions, plus more for garnish
- 1 1/2 – 2 pounds boneless, skinless medium chicken breasts or thighs
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice or Instant Pot Brown Rice, for serving
- Stir-fried vegetables, for serving
Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.
Instructions
Make It Now:
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Combine Ingredients: In the Instant Pot, whisk together the soy sauce, honey, ketchup, bourbon, oil, ginger, garlic, red pepper flakes, and green onions. Add the chicken and stir to coat. (Freezing instructions begin here.)
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Pressure Cook: Lock and seal the lid. Cook at high pressure for 7 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through, then quick release the pressure. (The chicken is done when it is no longer pink inside and/or registers 165°F internally.)
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Dice Chicken: Transfer the chicken to a cutting board, dice or shred the meat, and set aside.
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Thicken Sauce: Set the Instant Pot to “Sauté.” In a small bowl, stir together the cornstarch and 2 tablespoons water until smooth. Stir this cornstarch mixture into the sauce and bring to a boil. Cook, stirring, until the sauce has thickened, about 3 minutes. Press “Cancel.”
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Serve: Stir the chicken back into the sauce to combine. Taste and season with salt and pepper, as needed. Serve over basmati or brown rice. Garnish with green onions and serve with stir-fried vegetables, if desired.
Freeze For Later:
Follow Step 1. Pour the sauce and chicken into a gallon-size freezer bag or container. Seal and freeze (if using a freezer bag, set it in a bowl or round container with a diameter similar to the Instant Pot so it will fit in the pot when frozen).
Prepare From Frozen:
Note: Have cornstarch and (optional) cooked rice and stir-fried veggies on hand to complete this meal. Set the Instant Pot to “Sauté.” Transfer the frozen meal to the pot and cook for 5 minutes to release some liquid. Press “Cancel.” Follow step 2, but cook for 15 to 20 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through. Follow steps 3 through 5.
Notes/Tips
- Keep in mind that the Instant Pot will take about 10 minutes or so to come to pressure. Be sure to tack that on to the total cook time in your mind.
- If you don’t end up using all the cooked rice in a recipe, you can freeze the leftovers. We’ve written an in depth post on how to freeze rice here.
- Gluten-Free Version:
- Use coconut aminos or GF Tamari soy sauce instead of soy sauce.
- According to Beyond Celiac, most bourbon is gluten-free due to the distillation process, however, you can omit bourbon/whiskey and use apple juice or no salt chicken stock/broth instead.
- Slow Cooker Instructions: Use our Crock Pot Honey Bourbon Chicken recipe.
- How to Replace the Bourbon: One of our readers tested this recipe without the bourbon and reported that their family thought it was still delicious. Another tester said it worked with chicken broth instead. Other recipes say to use apple juice instead.
- Where We Get Our Chicken: We get our meat from ButcherBox. The chicken is organic and curated from small, trusted farms. We highly recommend this service to source healthy meat–like uncured bacon, wild salmon, and grass-fed beef–and have used it for years ourselves.
Want More Instant Pot Freezer Meals?
We’ve got you covered. Hop over to this post highlighting our “best of the best” Instant Pot Freezer Meals. It includes freezer meal instructions for EVERY recipe plus tons of pro tips and tricks we’ve learned over the years.
Excellent! My father and husband enjoyed it immensely and we’ve added it to our family favorites rotation. I use arrowroot, not cornstarch and it got a little too thick but I just added a little extra chicken broth and a splash of soy sauce and it was good to go. Thank you for another great recipe.
Glad your family enjoyed this Katie. Thanks for taking the time to detail how you thickened and then thinned it out. We appreciate you leaving a review.
This is a new favorite of the house. Either I missed if you can cook this with unthawed chicken or it didn’t specify, but it worked fine. I added a couple extra minutes but didn’t need to. I didn’t get ginger in every bite, but loved the bites I did get it. I might add a little more ginger next time. I didn’t have low salt soy sauce but this def needs it-I think my bagged brand name chicken thighs had broth or brine added before freezing. I had no bourbon, so used a sample of Wild Turkey we were gifted and a splash of moonshine. Had a sample bottle of apple moonshine that I didn’t use, but it would have been great, though would have needed to reduce the honey-not sure how that would affect the sauce thickening. This would have been really good with some orange zest or juice added to it. Wonder if they have orange flavored moonshine? Or maybe a bit of curacao? I will definitely be making this again-and often since it is so versatile and a perfect “I forgot to thaw something for dinner” recipe.
Wonderful suggestions Jill. Thanks so much for leaving a detailed review so others can learn from you! We’re so glad you enjoyed this recipe.
Made this for family tonight. They loved it, even the kids. Thank you!
Glad to hear it was enjoyed by all Shannon! Thank you for taking the time to leave a review.
Honey Bourbon chicken is a staple in our house! It’s the best dump and go recipe. No cooking before hand really helps prep. It’s my favorite to bring to a freezer swap. We just get frozen stir fry and minute rice and it’s an easy after school recipe for this teacher. It is so yummy and delicious! Maybe one of the fastest preps on the whole website!
Good recipe. As we are a dry house, I omitted the bourbon. I have made it with chicken broth and just plain water in place of the bourbon. Still a good tasting dish!
Well that’s great to know you had good results without the bourbon. Thank you so much for that feedback.
Loved this recipe! The chicken was so flavorful! The whole
Family loved it. I added 1tbsp brown sugar to the sauce and also added Asian blend steamable veggies at the end. Definitely will be making this again!
Thanks for the review and suggestions, Brittany. So happy to hear it was a win for you!
This one was a winner with my whole crew tonight! Printing it off so I can make again! I found your recipe via your weekly meal plans on IG— thank you for doing those!!!
This is a fave in our house, too. So glad it work for you all, Jessica. Thanks for the review!