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 executed 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 mixture of Native American, West African, French, and Spanish cuisines. New Orleans simply takes the perfect from every part and places it collectively. This dish has a candy and spicy sauce that may make your style buds tremendous joyful! I like the bourbon as a result of it provides a deep richness to the sauce—add just a little or so much! And if you happen to don’t have bourbon available, we’ve got 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 utilize 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 received.
Sesame Oil: Situated 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.
Rooster Broth: Utilizing a low-sodium choice means that you can greatest management the flavour—it’s an amazing chef tip.
Orange Juice: Provides a sweetness and tang to the sauce. No want for freshly squeezed, however you may.
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 protected to serve to anybody, however if you happen to want to prepare dinner with out alcohol, you may substitute with apple juice with just a little bit vinegar blended in.
Soy Sauce: Low-sodium is an effective choice for controlling the salt ranges, however your commonplace soy sauce is what we’ve utilized in recipe improvement. Coconut aminos may also be used.
Crimson Pepper Flakes: These add only a trace of warmth. Double it if you wish to deliver extra warmth, or depart it out completely if you happen to aren’t into spicy.
Inexperienced Onion: Provides a pop of colour and just a little delicate 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 accident overcook them just a little.

Rooster breasts will work too. Simply needless to say they prepare dinner sooner and might dry out extra simply. You’ll wish to watch them just a little extra carefully 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 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 may 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 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 sluggish cooker? Put together your sauce and brown the hen on the stovetop totally 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, however it’s not required. A wok’s excessive, sloped sides make it straightforward to toss and stir every part 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 executed. Simply ensure it’s giant sufficient to offer every part just a little area so the hen sears as an alternative of steams. Use what you’ve received, and the outcomes will nonetheless be scrumptious.