Saucy Bourbon Rooster - The Keep At Residence 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, strive Chef Cayt’s Famous Apple Bourbon Caramel Sauce.

Why Our Recipe

Candy, sticky, and performed in half-hour which is even quicker than takeout.
Juicy rooster smothered in a sauce that can go away you eager 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 finest 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 few of the finest 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 every thing and places it collectively. This dish has a candy and spicy sauce that can make your style buds tremendous comfortable! I really like the bourbon as a result of it provides a deep richness to the sauce—add a little bit or lots! And if you happen to don’t have bourbon readily available, we’ve a simple substitute choice for you.

Ingredient Notes

Ingredients used to make Bourbon Chicken.

Rooster: 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 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 obtained.
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 permits you to finest 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’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: Nearly all of the alcohol cooks off so it’s thought of protected to serve to anybody, however if you happen to choose to prepare dinner with out alcohol, you’ll be able to substitute with apple juice with a little bit bit vinegar blended in.
Soy Sauce: Low-sodium is an efficient choice for controlling the salt ranges, however your customary soy sauce is what we’ve utilized in recipe growth. Coconut aminos will also be used.
Pink Pepper Flakes: These add only a trace of warmth. Double it if you wish to deliver extra warmth, or go away it out fully if you happen to aren’t into spicy.
Inexperienced Onion: Provides a pop of shade and a little bit gentle onion chunk.

Rooster Choices

We love utilizing boneless, skinless rooster thighs. They’ve simply sufficient fats to remain juicy and flavorful, even if you happen to by accident overcook them a little bit.

Rooster breasts will work too. Simply understand that they prepare dinner quicker and might dry out extra simply. You’ll need to watch them a little bit extra intently and goal 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 rooster 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’ll be able to nonetheless make a scrumptious bourbon rooster with out the bourbon. Apple juice is our favourite substitute with 1/2 teaspoon of vinegar blended in. It provides 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 rooster on the stovetop completely first. Add browned rooster 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, but it surely’s not required. A wok’s excessive, sloped sides make it simple to toss and stir every thing collectively with out spilling, and so they assist the sauce cling to each piece of rooster. It additionally heats up rapidly and evenly, which implies your rooster cooks quick and your sauce reduces superbly with out burning.

A 12-inch skillet will completely get the job performed. Simply make sure that it’s massive sufficient to provide every thing a little bit house so the rooster sears as a substitute of steams. Use what you’ve obtained, and the outcomes will nonetheless be scrumptious.