We will’t get sufficient of this Saucy Bourbon Hen 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 performed in half-hour which is even sooner than takeout.
- Juicy rooster 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.
New Orleans is likely one of the greatest 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 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 all the pieces and places it collectively. This dish has a candy and spicy sauce that may make your style buds tremendous completely happy! I like the bourbon as a result of it provides a deep richness to the sauce—add slightly or lots! And in case you don’t have bourbon available, we’ve a straightforward substitute possibility for you.
Ingredient Notes
- Hen: Minimize the rooster into even bite-size items. We use boneless skinless rooster thighs as a result of they’re juicy, however you should use rooster breasts for a leaner possibility.
- Cooking Oil: You need to use any impartial cooking oil like canola, avocado, or vegetable oil.
- Garlic: Freshly minced garlic gives the perfect taste, however jarred minced garlic works if that’s what you’ve acquired.
- Sesame Oil: Positioned 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.
- Hen Broth: Utilizing a low-sodium possibility means that you can greatest management the flavour—it’s an ideal 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 mild or darkish brown sugar.
- Bourbon: Nearly all of the alcohol cooks off so it’s thought of secure to serve to anybody, however in case you choose to cook dinner with out alcohol, you possibly can substitute with apple juice with slightly bit vinegar combined in.
- Soy Sauce: Low-sodium is an efficient possibility 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 convey extra warmth, or depart it out completely in case you aren’t into spicy.
- Inexperienced Onion: Offers a pop of shade and slightly delicate onion chunk.
Hen Choices
We love utilizing boneless, skinless rooster thighs. They’ve simply sufficient fats to remain juicy and flavorful, even in case you unintentionally overcook them slightly.
Hen breasts will work too. Simply needless to say they cook dinner sooner and might dry out extra simply. You’ll need to watch them slightly extra intently and goal to tug 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 rooster 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 of completely secure to serve to anybody.
For these wanting an alcohol-free possibility, you possibly can nonetheless make a scrumptious bourbon rooster with out the bourbon. Apple juice is our favourite substitute with 1/2 teaspoon of vinegar combined in. It provides an analogous sweetness with just a bit fruitiness and the vinegar mimics the bitter punch of alcohol.
Gradual Cooker Variation
Wish to make this one in a gradual cooker? Put together your sauce and brown the rooster on the stovetop totally first. Add browned rooster and sauce to the gradual 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 straightforward to toss and stir all the pieces collectively with out spilling, and so they assist the sauce cling to each piece of rooster. It additionally heats up shortly and evenly, which implies your rooster cooks quick and your sauce reduces fantastically with out burning.
A 12-inch skillet will completely get the job performed. Simply be sure it’s massive sufficient to offer all the pieces slightly house so the rooster sears as a substitute of steams. Use what you’ve acquired, and the outcomes will nonetheless be scrumptious.
Storage & Reheating Directions
Refrigerate leftovers in an hermetic container for as much as 5 days.
Reheat in a skillet on the stovetop over medium-low warmth till warmed via.
Microwave parts on excessive in 30-second increments.