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 a whole 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 carried out in half-hour which is even sooner than takeout.
Juicy rooster 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.

Overhead shot of Bourbon chicken on a plate of rice with bourbon in background.

New Orleans is among 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 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 one of the best from the whole lot and places it collectively. This dish has a candy and spicy sauce that may make your style buds tremendous blissful! I like the bourbon as a result of it provides a deep richness to the sauce—add slightly or quite a bit! And if you happen to don’t have bourbon readily available, we’ve got a straightforward 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 utilize 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 gives one of the best 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 together with untoasted right here as a result of we cook dinner with it, whereas toasted sesame oil is for ending.
Rooster Broth: Utilizing a low-sodium choice lets you greatest management the flavour—it’s an important 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 secure to serve to anybody, however if you happen to favor to cook 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 effective choice for controlling the salt ranges, however your customary soy sauce is what we’ve utilized in recipe growth. Coconut aminos may also be used.
Pink Pepper Flakes: These add only a trace of warmth. Double it if you wish to deliver extra warmth, or depart it out fully if you happen to aren’t into spicy.
Inexperienced Onion: Offers a pop of shade and slightly gentle onion chew.

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 slightly.

Rooster breasts will work too. Simply needless to say they cook dinner sooner and may dry out extra simply. You’ll wish 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 offers 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 secure 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 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.

Gradual Cooker Variation

Need to make this one in a gradual cooker? Put together your sauce and brown the rooster on the stovetop completely 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, however it’s not required. A wok’s excessive, sloped sides make it straightforward to toss and stir the whole lot 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 fantastically with out burning.

A 12-inch skillet will completely get the job carried out. Simply be sure it’s massive sufficient to offer the whole lot slightly house so the rooster sears as a substitute of steams. Use what you’ve obtained, and the outcomes will nonetheless be scrumptious.