We will’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, attempt Chef Cayt’s Well-known Apple Bourbon Caramel Sauce.
Why Our Recipe
- Candy, sticky, and carried out in half-hour which is even sooner than takeout.
- Juicy hen 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.
New Orleans is among 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 few of the greatest 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 the whole lot and places it collectively. This dish has a candy and spicy sauce that may make your style buds tremendous completely satisfied! I really like the bourbon as a result of it provides a deep richness to the sauce—add just a little or quite a bit! And in case you don’t have bourbon readily available, we now have a straightforward substitute possibility for you.
Ingredient Notes
- Rooster: Minimize the hen into even bite-size items. We use boneless skinless hen thighs as a result of they’re juicy, however you should use hen breasts for a leaner possibility.
- 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 bought.
- 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 greatest management the flavour—it’s an awesome 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-about secure to serve to anybody, however in case you desire to prepare dinner with out alcohol, you may substitute with apple juice with just a little bit vinegar combined in.
- Soy Sauce: Low-sodium is an efficient possibility for controlling the salt ranges, however your commonplace 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 convey extra warmth, or depart it out totally in case you aren’t into spicy.
- Inexperienced Onion: Offers a pop of colour and just a little gentle onion chunk.
Rooster Choices
We love utilizing boneless, skinless hen thighs. They’ve simply sufficient fats to remain juicy and flavorful, even in case you unintentionally overcook them just a little.
Rooster breasts will work too. Simply understand that they prepare dinner sooner and may dry out extra simply. You’ll need to watch them just a little extra carefully 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 hen whereas it cooks. And don’t fear, many of the alcohol cooks off through the simmer, so all you’re left with is wealthy taste and it’s thought-about completely secure to serve to anybody.
For these wanting an alcohol-free possibility, you may nonetheless make a scrumptious bourbon hen with out the bourbon. Apple juice is our favourite substitute with 1/2 teaspoon of vinegar combined in. It provides an identical sweetness with just a bit fruitiness and the vinegar mimics the bitter punch of alcohol.
Sluggish Cooker Variation
Wish to make this one in a gradual cooker? Put together your sauce and brown the hen on the stovetop completely first. Add browned hen 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 simple to toss and stir the whole lot collectively with out spilling, they usually assist the sauce cling to each piece of hen. It additionally heats up rapidly and evenly, which suggests your hen cooks quick and your sauce reduces superbly with out burning.
A 12-inch skillet will completely get the job carried out. Simply make certain it’s massive sufficient to provide the whole lot just a little area so the hen sears as a substitute of steams. Use what you’ve bought, 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.
