Saucy Bourbon Hen - The Keep At Residence Chef

We are able to’t get sufficient of this Saucy Bourbon Hen and neither will you. This tangy, spicy but candy sauce is the actual star of the present right here. Serve it up with white rice or chow mein noodles, and add steamed veggies for an entire meal that’s prepared in half-hour.

For extra Bourbon recipes, attempt Chef Cayt’s Famous Apple Bourbon Caramel Sauce.

Why Our Recipe

Candy, sticky, and achieved in half-hour which is even sooner than takeout.
Juicy rooster smothered in a sauce that can depart you desirous to lick the plate clear.
Devour it plain or serve it over steamed rice, chow mein, or rice noodles.

Overhead shot of Bourbon chicken on a plate of rice with bourbon in background.

New Orleans is among the finest cities on this planet for meals with taste. It’s a spot the place a bunch of various cuisines have fused collectively to create among the finest flavors. This one is a fusion of Cajun and Chinese language cooking and Cajun delicacies itself is a mixture of Native American, West African, French, and Spanish cuisines. New Orleans simply takes the most effective from all the pieces and places it collectively. This dish has a candy and spicy sauce that can make your style buds tremendous completely happy! I really like the bourbon as a result of it provides a deep richness to the sauce—add somewhat or lots! And for those who don’t have bourbon readily available, now we have a straightforward substitute choice for you.

Ingredient Notes

Ingredients used to make Bourbon Chicken.

Hen: Reduce the rooster into even bite-size items. We use boneless skinless rooster thighs as a result of they’re juicy, however you should use rooster breasts for a leaner choice.
Cooking Oil: You should utilize any impartial cooking oil like canola, avocado, or vegetable oil.
Garlic: Freshly minced garlic supplies the most effective taste, however jarred minced garlic works if that’s what you’ve bought.
Sesame Oil: Situated within the Asian meals aisle of the grocery retailer. We go along with untoasted right here as a result of we prepare dinner with it, whereas toasted sesame oil is for ending.
Hen Broth: Utilizing a low-sodium choice permits you to finest management the flavour—it’s an important chef tip.
Orange Juice: Provides a sweetness and tang to the sauce. No want for freshly squeezed, however you possibly can.
Brown Sugar: Provides caramelization, will increase the sweetness, and balances out the orange juice and bourbon. Use gentle or darkish brown sugar.
Bourbon: The vast majority of the alcohol cooks off so it’s thought of secure to serve to anybody, however for those who desire to prepare dinner with out alcohol, you possibly can substitute with apple juice with somewhat bit vinegar blended in.
Soy Sauce: Low-sodium is an efficient choice for controlling the salt ranges, however your normal soy sauce is what we’ve utilized in recipe growth. Coconut aminos can be used.
Crimson Pepper Flakes: These add only a trace of warmth. Double it if you wish to convey extra warmth, or depart it out fully for those who aren’t into spicy.
Inexperienced Onion: Provides a pop of shade and somewhat delicate onion chew.

Hen Choices

We love utilizing boneless, skinless rooster thighs. They’ve simply sufficient fats to remain juicy and flavorful, even for those who unintentionally overcook them somewhat.

Hen breasts will work too. Simply needless to say they prepare dinner sooner and may dry out extra simply. You’ll need to watch them somewhat extra carefully and purpose to drag them off the warmth as quickly as they hit 165°F.

Cooking with Bourbon

Bourbon is what offers this dish its signature taste. It provides a slight smokiness and sweetness. It additionally helps tenderize the rooster whereas it cooks. And don’t fear, many of the alcohol cooks off in the course of the simmer, so all you’re left with is wealthy taste and it’s thought of completely secure to serve to anybody.

For these wanting an alcohol-free choice, you possibly can nonetheless make a scrumptious bourbon rooster with out the bourbon. Apple juice is our favourite substitute with 1/2 teaspoon of vinegar blended in. It offers an analogous sweetness with just a bit fruitiness and the vinegar mimics the bitter punch of alcohol.

Overhead shot of Bourbon chicken in skillet.

Gradual Cooker Variation

Wish to make this one in a sluggish cooker? Put together your sauce and brown the rooster on the stovetop totally first. Add browned rooster and sauce to the sluggish cooker and prepare dinner on low for five hours, or excessive for 3 hours.

Wok or Skillet

Chef Cayt loves utilizing a wok for saucy recipes like this one, but it surely’s not required. A wok’s excessive, sloped sides make it straightforward to toss and stir all the pieces collectively with out spilling, they usually assist the sauce cling to each piece of rooster. It additionally heats up rapidly and evenly, which implies your rooster cooks quick and your sauce reduces fantastically with out burning.

A 12-inch skillet will completely get the job achieved. Simply ensure that it’s giant sufficient to offer all the pieces somewhat house so the rooster sears as a substitute of steams. Use what you’ve bought, and the outcomes will nonetheless be scrumptious.