Saucy Bourbon Rooster - The Keep At House Chef

We are able to’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 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 accomplished in half-hour which is even sooner than takeout.
Juicy hen 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 without doubt one of 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 the perfect from every little thing and places it collectively. This dish has a candy and spicy sauce that can make your style buds tremendous completely happy! I like the bourbon as a result of it provides a deep richness to the sauce—add a bit of or lots! And if you happen to don’t have bourbon readily available, we have now a simple substitute choice 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 should use hen breasts for a leaner choice.
Cooking Oil: You need to use any impartial cooking oil like canola, avocado, or vegetable oil.
Garlic: Freshly minced garlic offers the perfect taste, however jarred minced garlic works if that’s what you’ve obtained.
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 choice permits you to finest management the flavour—it’s an awesome 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: Nearly all of the alcohol cooks off so it’s thought-about protected to serve to anybody, however if you happen to choose to cook dinner with out alcohol, you possibly can substitute with apple juice with a bit of bit vinegar combined 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 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 solely if you happen to aren’t into spicy.
Inexperienced Onion: Provides a pop of shade and a bit of gentle onion chew.

Rooster Choices

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

Rooster 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 of 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 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-about completely protected to serve to anybody.

For these wanting an alcohol-free choice, 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 offers 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 sluggish cooker? Put together your sauce and brown the hen on the stovetop completely first. Add browned hen 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, nevertheless it’s not required. A wok’s excessive, sloped sides make it simple to toss and stir every little thing collectively with out spilling, they usually assist the sauce cling to each piece of hen. It additionally heats up shortly and evenly, which implies your hen cooks quick and your sauce reduces superbly with out burning.

A 12-inch skillet will completely get the job accomplished. Simply be sure that it’s giant sufficient to provide every little thing a bit of area so the hen sears as a substitute of steams. Use what you’ve obtained, and the outcomes will nonetheless be scrumptious.