Saucy Bourbon Hen - The Keep At Dwelling 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, strive Chef Cayt’s Famous Apple Bourbon Caramel Sauce.

Why Our Recipe

Candy, sticky, and executed in half-hour which is even sooner than takeout.
Juicy rooster smothered in a sauce that may go away 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 among the greatest cities on this planet for meals with taste. It’s a spot the place a bunch of various cuisines have fused collectively to create a number 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 the perfect from all the things and places it collectively. This dish has a candy and spicy sauce that may make your style buds tremendous blissful! I really like the bourbon as a result of it provides a deep richness to the sauce—add a bit or lots! And when you don’t have bourbon readily available, we’ve a simple 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 need to use any impartial cooking oil like canola, avocado, or vegetable oil.
Garlic: Freshly minced garlic supplies the perfect taste, however jarred minced garlic works if that’s what you’ve received.
Sesame Oil: Positioned within the Asian meals aisle of the grocery retailer. We go along with untoasted right here as a result of we cook dinner with it, whereas toasted sesame oil is for ending.
Hen Broth: Utilizing a low-sodium possibility means that you can greatest management the flavour—it’s an ideal 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 mild or darkish brown sugar.
Bourbon: Nearly all of the alcohol cooks off so it’s thought-about secure to serve to anybody, however when you want to cook dinner with out alcohol, you possibly can substitute with apple juice with a bit 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 will also be used.
Purple Pepper Flakes: These add only a trace of warmth. Double it if you wish to convey extra warmth, or go away it out totally when you aren’t into spicy.
Inexperienced Onion: Provides a pop of colour and a bit gentle onion chunk.

Hen Choices

We love utilizing boneless, skinless rooster thighs. They’ve simply sufficient fats to remain juicy and flavorful, even when you by chance overcook them a bit.

Hen breasts will work too. Simply remember that they cook dinner sooner and may dry out extra simply. You’ll wish to watch them a bit extra intently and intention 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 through the simmer, so all you’re left with is wealthy taste and it’s thought-about completely secure to serve to anybody.

For these wanting an alcohol-free possibility, 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 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.

Gradual Cooker Variation

Wish to make this one in a sluggish cooker? Put together your sauce and brown the rooster on the stovetop completely first. Add browned rooster and sauce to the sluggish cooker and cook 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, however it’s not required. A wok’s excessive, sloped sides make it straightforward to toss and stir all the things collectively with out spilling, and so they assist the sauce cling to each piece of rooster. It additionally heats up rapidly and evenly, which suggests your rooster cooks quick and your sauce reduces fantastically with out burning.

A 12-inch skillet will completely get the job executed. Simply be sure that it’s giant sufficient to offer all the things a bit area so the rooster sears as a substitute of steams. Use what you’ve received, and the outcomes will nonetheless be scrumptious.