Maple Bourbon Chicken
- Level: Easy
- Yield: Serves 4
- Time Required: 20 minutes total (5 minutes active)
- Nutritional Information (per serving): Calories 313, Total Fat 9g, Saturated Fat 2g, Carbohydrates 10g, Dietary Fiber 1g, Sugar 7g, Protein 40g, Cholesterol 126mg, Sodium 599mg
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 chicken breasts (6 ounces each), bone-in, skin removed
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 shot bourbon
- 4 sprigs fresh thyme
Instructions
- Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat and add the olive oil. Season the chicken generously with salt and pepper. Place the chicken breasts skin-side down and sear until golden brown, about 4 to 5 minutes.
- While the chicken sears, whisk together the chicken broth, maple syrup, and bourbon in a small bowl. Pour the mixture into the skillet with the thyme sprigs. Continue cooking, occasionally turning the chicken, for 8 to 10 minutes until fully cooked and the sauce reaches a rich, syrupy consistency. If the sauce thickens too quickly, add a splash of broth and continue cooking.
- Discard the thyme sprigs and serve the chicken topped generously with the sticky bourbon sauce while warm.
Chef's Tips
This elegant yet simple dish welcomes creative substitutionsswap the chicken breasts for bone-in pork chops or chicken thighs and legs for a juicier result. The sweet and savory bourbon sauce pairs beautifully with steamed green vegetables and creamy mashed potatoes, transforming this into a restaurant-worthy centerpiece for your dinner table.
Recipe credit: Patrick Decker
