Saucy Bourbon Hen - The Keep At Residence 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 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 achieved 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 likely one of the greatest cities on the 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 mixture of Native American, West African, French, and Spanish cuisines. New Orleans simply takes the most effective from all the pieces and places it collectively. This dish has a candy and spicy sauce that may make your style buds tremendous glad! I like the bourbon as a result of it provides a deep richness to the sauce—add a bit or rather a lot! And if you happen to don’t have bourbon available, we now have a straightforward substitute possibility for you.

Ingredient Notes

Ingredients used to make Bourbon Chicken.

Hen: Minimize the hen into even bite-size items. We use boneless skinless hen thighs as a result of they’re juicy, however you should utilize hen breasts for a leaner possibility.
Cooking Oil: You should utilize any impartial cooking oil like canola, avocado, or vegetable oil.
Garlic: Freshly minced garlic gives the most effective 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 along with untoasted right here as a result of we prepare dinner with it, whereas toasted sesame oil is for ending.
Hen Broth: Utilizing a low-sodium possibility permits you to 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’ll be able to.
Brown Sugar: Provides caramelization, will increase the sweetness, and balances out the orange juice and bourbon. Use mild or darkish brown sugar.
Bourbon: The vast majority 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’ll be able to substitute with apple juice with a bit bit vinegar combined in.
Soy Sauce: Low-sodium is an effective possibility for controlling the salt ranges, however your customary soy sauce is what we’ve utilized in recipe growth. Coconut aminos may also be used.
Purple Pepper Flakes: These add only a trace of warmth. Double it if you wish to convey extra warmth, or depart it out totally if you happen to aren’t into spicy.
Inexperienced Onion: Offers a pop of colour and a bit delicate onion chew.

Hen 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 a bit.

Hen breasts will work too. Simply take into account that they prepare dinner sooner and may dry out extra simply. You’ll need to watch them a bit extra intently and purpose to tug 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 possibility, you’ll be able to 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 an identical 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 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, 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, 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 fantastically with out burning.

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