We are able to’t get sufficient of this Saucy Bourbon Hen 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 Well-known Apple Bourbon Caramel Sauce.

Why Our Recipe

• Candy, sticky, and finished in half-hour which is even sooner than takeout.
• Juicy rooster smothered in a sauce that can depart you desirous 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 mixture of Native American, West African, French, and Spanish cuisines. New Orleans simply takes the perfect from all the things and places it collectively. This dish has a candy and spicy sauce that can make your style buds tremendous completely happy! I like the bourbon as a result of it provides a deep richness to the sauce—add somewhat or lots!  And in case you don’t have bourbon readily available, we’ve a straightforward substitute choice for you. 

Ingredient Notes

• Hen: Lower 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 need to use any impartial cooking oil like canola, avocado, or vegetable oil.
• Garlic: Freshly minced garlic gives the perfect taste, however jarred minced garlic works if that’s what you’ve obtained.
• Sesame Oil: Positioned within the Asian meals aisle of the grocery retailer. We go along with untoasted right here as a result of we cook dinner with it, whereas toasted sesame oil is for ending.
• Hen Broth: Utilizing a low-sodium choice permits you to greatest management the flavour—it’s a terrific 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 gentle or darkish brown sugar.
• Bourbon: Nearly all of the alcohol cooks off so it’s thought-about secure to serve to anybody, however in case you favor to cook dinner with out alcohol, you’ll be able to substitute with apple juice with somewhat 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 improvement. Coconut aminos can 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 fully in case you aren’t into spicy.
• Inexperienced Onion: Provides a pop of coloration and somewhat delicate onion chew.

Hen Choices

We love utilizing boneless, skinless rooster thighs. They’ve simply sufficient fats to remain juicy and flavorful, even in case you by chance overcook them somewhat.

Hen breasts will work too. Simply remember the fact that they cook dinner sooner and may dry out extra simply. You’ll wish to watch them somewhat 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, many of the alcohol cooks off throughout 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 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 analogous sweetness with just a bit fruitiness and the vinegar mimics the bitter punch of alcohol.

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 all the things 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 fantastically with out burning.

A 12-inch skillet will completely get the job finished. Simply make sure that it’s massive sufficient to present all the things somewhat area so the rooster sears as a substitute of steams. Use what you’ve obtained, and the outcomes will nonetheless be scrumptious.