Saucy Bourbon Rooster - The Keep At House 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, 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 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 likely one of the finest 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 few of 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 one of the best from every part and places it collectively. This dish has a candy and spicy sauce that can make your style buds tremendous comfortable! I 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, now we have a straightforward substitute possibility for you.

Ingredient Notes

Ingredients used to make Bourbon Chicken.

Rooster: Lower 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 one of the best 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 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 possibility lets you finest 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 may.
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 of protected to serve to anybody, however if you happen to desire to prepare dinner with out alcohol, you may substitute with apple juice with a bit of bit vinegar blended 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 will also be used.
Purple Pepper Flakes: These add only a trace of warmth. Double it if you wish to carry extra warmth, or depart it out completely if you happen to aren’t into spicy.
Inexperienced Onion: Offers a pop of colour and a bit of 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 unintentionally overcook them a bit of.

Rooster breasts will work too. Simply needless to say they prepare dinner quicker and may dry out extra simply. You’ll need to watch them a bit of extra intently and purpose 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 through 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 possibility, you may 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 analogous 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 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 straightforward to toss and stir every part collectively with out spilling, and so they assist the sauce cling to each piece of rooster. It additionally heats up shortly and evenly, which suggests your rooster cooks quick and your sauce reduces superbly with out burning.

A 12-inch skillet will completely get the job completed. Simply ensure it’s massive sufficient to present every part a bit of area so the rooster sears as a substitute of steams. Use what you’ve acquired, and the outcomes will nonetheless be scrumptious.