Saucy Bourbon Rooster - The Keep At Residence Chef

We will’t get sufficient of this Saucy Bourbon Rooster and neither will you. This tangy, spicy but candy sauce is the true 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 completed in half-hour which is even sooner than takeout.
Juicy hen 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 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 a few of the finest 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 all the pieces and places it collectively. This dish has a candy and spicy sauce that can make your style buds tremendous pleased! I really like the bourbon as a result of it provides a deep richness to the sauce—add somewhat or loads! And in the event you don’t have bourbon readily available, now we have a simple substitute possibility for you.

Ingredient Notes

Ingredients used to make Bourbon Chicken.

Rooster: Reduce the hen into even bite-size items. We use boneless skinless hen thighs as a result of they’re juicy, however you need to use hen breasts for a leaner possibility.
Cooking Oil: You should use any impartial cooking oil like canola, avocado, or vegetable oil.
Garlic: Freshly minced garlic supplies one of the best taste, however jarred minced garlic works if that’s what you’ve acquired.
Sesame Oil: Situated within the Asian meals aisle of the grocery retailer. We go together with untoasted right here as a result of we cook dinner with it, whereas toasted sesame oil is for ending.
Rooster Broth: Utilizing a low-sodium possibility means that you can finest 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 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 of protected to serve to anybody, however in the event you desire to cook dinner with out alcohol, you possibly can substitute with apple juice with somewhat 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 may also be used.
Pink Pepper Flakes: These add only a trace of warmth. Double it if you wish to carry extra warmth, or depart it out fully in the event you aren’t into spicy.
Inexperienced Onion: Offers a pop of colour and somewhat delicate onion chew.

Rooster Choices

We love utilizing boneless, skinless hen thighs. They’ve simply sufficient fats to remain juicy and flavorful, even in the event you by accident overcook them somewhat.

Rooster breasts will work too. Simply take into account that they cook dinner sooner and might dry out extra simply. You’ll need to watch them somewhat extra carefully and purpose to tug them off the warmth as quickly as they hit 165°F.

Cooking with Bourbon

Bourbon is what provides this dish its signature taste. It provides a slight smokiness and sweetness. It additionally helps tenderize the hen 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 protected to serve to anybody.

For these wanting an alcohol-free possibility, you possibly can nonetheless make a scrumptious bourbon hen with out the bourbon. Apple juice is our favourite substitute with 1/2 teaspoon of vinegar combined in. It provides the same 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

Wish to make this one in a gradual cooker? Put together your sauce and brown the hen on the stovetop completely first. Add browned hen and sauce to the gradual 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 pieces collectively with out spilling, and so they assist the sauce cling to each piece of hen. It additionally heats up rapidly and evenly, which suggests your hen cooks quick and your sauce reduces fantastically with out burning.

A 12-inch skillet will completely get the job completed. Simply make certain it’s massive sufficient to present all the pieces somewhat area so the hen sears as a substitute of steams. Use what you’ve acquired, and the outcomes will nonetheless be scrumptious.