Saucy Bourbon Rooster - The Keep At Dwelling 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 actual 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 finished in half-hour which is even quicker than takeout.
Juicy rooster smothered in a sauce that can 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 without doubt one of 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 among the finest 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 very best from every thing and places it collectively. This dish has a candy and spicy sauce that can make your style buds tremendous completely happy! I really like the bourbon as a result of it provides a deep richness to the sauce—add a bit of or rather a lot! And if you happen to don’t have bourbon available, we’ve got a simple substitute possibility for you.

Ingredient Notes

Ingredients used to make Bourbon Chicken.

Rooster: Reduce 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 very 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 prepare dinner with it, whereas toasted sesame oil is for ending.
Rooster Broth: Utilizing a low-sodium possibility permits you to finest management the flavour—it’s a fantastic 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 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 if you happen to desire to prepare dinner with out alcohol, you possibly can substitute with apple juice with a bit of bit vinegar combined in.
Soy Sauce: Low-sodium is an efficient possibility for controlling the salt ranges, however your customary soy sauce is what we’ve utilized in recipe improvement. 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 completely if you happen to aren’t into spicy.
Inexperienced Onion: Provides a pop of coloration and a bit of delicate 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 chance overcook them a bit of.

Rooster breasts will work too. Simply understand that they prepare dinner quicker and may dry out extra simply. You’ll wish to watch them a bit of extra intently and intention 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 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 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 offers 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, however it’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 fantastically with out burning.

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