We will’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, attempt Chef Cayt’s Famous Apple Bourbon Caramel Sauce.
Why Our Recipe
- Candy, sticky, and executed in half-hour which is even quicker 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 likely one of the finest cities on the earth 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 mix of Native American, West African, French, and Spanish cuisines. New Orleans simply takes the very best from all the pieces and places it collectively. This dish has a candy and spicy sauce that can make your style buds tremendous pleased! I like the bourbon as a result of it provides a deep richness to the sauce—add a bit of or so much! And if you happen to don’t have bourbon readily available, we’ve a straightforward substitute choice for you.
Ingredient Notes


- Hen: Minimize 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 choice.
- Cooking Oil: You should use any impartial cooking oil like canola, avocado, or vegetable oil.
- Garlic: Freshly minced garlic offers the very best taste, however jarred minced garlic works if that’s what you’ve received.
- 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.
- Hen Broth: Utilizing a low-sodium choice permits you to finest management the flavour—it’s an ideal 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 mild 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 favor 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 choice for controlling the salt ranges, however your commonplace soy sauce is what we’ve utilized in recipe growth. Coconut aminos will also be used.
- Crimson Pepper Flakes: These add only a trace of warmth. Double it if you wish to convey extra warmth, or depart it out fully if you happen to aren’t into spicy.
- Inexperienced Onion: Provides a pop of colour and a bit of delicate onion chew.
Hen 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.
Hen breasts will work too. Simply take into account that they prepare dinner quicker and may dry out extra simply. You’ll wish 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 provides 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-about completely protected to serve to anybody.
For these wanting an alcohol-free choice, 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 provides an analogous 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 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, but it surely’s not required. A wok’s excessive, sloped sides make it straightforward to toss and stir all the pieces collectively with out spilling, they usually assist the sauce cling to each piece of rooster. It additionally heats up rapidly 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 executed. Simply be certain that it’s giant sufficient to present all the pieces a bit of house so the rooster sears as a substitute of steams. Use what you’ve received, 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 by means of.
Microwave parts on excessive in 30-second increments.
Extra takeout-inspired recipes…
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