Saucy Bourbon Rooster - The Keep At Dwelling Chef

We will’t get sufficient of this Saucy Bourbon Rooster 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 completed in half-hour which is even sooner than takeout.
Juicy hen smothered in a sauce that may 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 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 among 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 pieces 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 quite a bit! And in case you don’t have bourbon readily available, now we have a simple substitute choice for you.

Ingredient Notes

Ingredients used to make Bourbon Chicken.

Rooster: Lower 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 should 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 obtained.
Sesame Oil: Positioned within the Asian meals aisle of the grocery retailer. We go together with untoasted right here as a result of we prepare dinner with it, whereas toasted sesame oil is for ending.
Rooster Broth: Utilizing a low-sodium choice means that you can 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 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 protected to serve to anybody, however in case you want to prepare dinner with out alcohol, you possibly can substitute with apple juice with a bit 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 improvement. Coconut aminos will also be used.
Purple Pepper Flakes: These add only a trace of warmth. Double it if you wish to deliver extra warmth, or depart it out totally in case you aren’t into spicy.
Inexperienced Onion: Offers a pop of colour and a bit delicate onion chunk.

Rooster Choices

We love utilizing boneless, skinless hen thighs. They’ve simply sufficient fats to remain juicy and flavorful, even in case you unintentionally overcook them a bit.

Rooster breasts will work too. Simply understand that they prepare dinner sooner and may dry out extra simply. You’ll wish to watch them a bit extra intently 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, a lot of the alcohol cooks off throughout 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 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 blended in. It offers an identical 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

Need 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 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, nevertheless 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 superbly with out burning.

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