Saucy Bourbon Hen - The Keep At Dwelling Chef

We will’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 a whole 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 carried out in half-hour which is even sooner than takeout.
Juicy rooster smothered in a sauce that can depart you eager 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 likely one of the greatest cities on the earth for meals with taste. It’s a spot the place a bunch of various cuisines have fused collectively to create a few of the greatest flavors. This one is a fusion of Cajun and Chinese language cooking and Cajun delicacies itself is a mix of Native American, West African, French, and Spanish cuisines. New Orleans simply takes one of the best from every part and places it collectively. This dish has a candy and spicy sauce that can make your style buds tremendous blissful! I like the bourbon as a result of it provides a deep richness to the sauce—add slightly or rather a lot! And for those who don’t have bourbon available, we have now a straightforward substitute possibility for you.

Ingredient Notes

Ingredients used to make Bourbon Chicken.

Hen: Minimize 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 possibility.
Cooking Oil: You should utilize any impartial cooking oil like canola, avocado, or vegetable oil.
Garlic: Freshly minced garlic gives one of the best taste, however jarred minced garlic works if that’s what you’ve acquired.
Sesame Oil: Positioned 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 possibility lets you greatest management the flavour—it’s an incredible chef tip.
Orange Juice: Provides a sweetness and tang to the sauce. No want for freshly squeezed, however you’ll be able to.
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-about protected to serve to anybody, however for those who want to prepare dinner with out alcohol, you’ll be able to substitute with apple juice with slightly bit vinegar combined in.
Soy Sauce: Low-sodium is an efficient possibility for controlling the salt ranges, however your customary soy sauce is what we’ve utilized in recipe improvement. Coconut aminos can be used.
Pink Pepper Flakes: These add only a trace of warmth. Double it if you wish to deliver extra warmth, or depart it out fully for those who aren’t into spicy.
Inexperienced Onion: Provides a pop of shade and slightly gentle 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 slightly.

Hen breasts will work too. Simply needless to say they prepare dinner sooner and might dry out extra simply. You’ll need to watch them slightly extra intently and goal 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, a lot of the alcohol cooks off in the course of the simmer, so all you’re left with is wealthy taste and it’s thought-about completely protected to serve to anybody.

For these wanting an alcohol-free possibility, you’ll be able to nonetheless make a scrumptious bourbon rooster with out the bourbon. Apple juice is our favourite substitute with 1/2 teaspoon of vinegar combined 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.

Sluggish Cooker Variation

Need to make this one in a gradual cooker? Put together your sauce and brown the rooster on the stovetop completely first. Add browned rooster and sauce to the gradual 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 simple to toss and stir every part collectively with out spilling, they usually assist the sauce cling to each piece of rooster. It additionally heats up shortly and evenly, which suggests your rooster cooks quick and your sauce reduces superbly with out burning.

A 12-inch skillet will completely get the job carried out. Simply be certain that it’s massive sufficient to present every part slightly area so the rooster sears as an alternative of steams. Use what you’ve acquired, and the outcomes will nonetheless be scrumptious.