Saucy Bourbon Chicken – The Stay At Home 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, attempt Chef Cayt’s Famous Apple Bourbon Caramel Sauce.

Why Our Recipe

• Candy, sticky, and completed in half-hour which is even quicker than takeout.
• Juicy hen smothered in a sauce that may depart you eager to lick the plate clear.
• Devour it plain or serve it over steamed rice, chow mein, or rice noodles.

New Orleans is likely one of 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 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 perfect from every part and places it collectively. This dish has a candy and spicy sauce that may make your style buds tremendous pleased! I really like the bourbon as a result of it provides a deep richness to the sauce—add slightly or so much!  And should you don’t have bourbon available, we’ve a straightforward substitute choice for you. 

Ingredient Notes

• 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 should 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 bought.
• 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.
• 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’ll be able to.
• 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-about protected to serve to anybody, however should you favor to prepare dinner with out alcohol, you’ll be able to substitute with apple juice with slightly 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 growth. Coconut aminos may also be used.
• Crimson Pepper Flakes: These add only a trace of warmth. Double it if you wish to carry extra warmth, or depart it out solely should you aren’t into spicy.
• Inexperienced Onion: Provides a pop of coloration and slightly gentle onion chunk.

Rooster Choices

We love utilizing boneless, skinless hen thighs. They’ve simply sufficient fats to remain juicy and flavorful, even should you by chance overcook them slightly.

Rooster breasts will work too. Simply remember the fact that they prepare dinner quicker and may dry out extra simply. You’ll wish to watch them slightly extra carefully and intention to drag 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, a lot 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’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 blended in. It provides the same sweetness with just a bit fruitiness and the vinegar mimics the bitter punch of alcohol.

Wok or Skillet

Chef Cayt loves utilizing a wok for saucy recipes like this one, but it surely’s not required. A wok’s excessive, sloped sides make it simple 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 rapidly 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 completed. Simply be sure that it’s giant sufficient to offer every part slightly house so the hen sears as a substitute of steams. Use what you’ve bought, and the outcomes will nonetheless be scrumptious.