Mirjs Boozy Maple Chicken Recipes

MAPLE-GLAZED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Flatten chicken to 1/2-in. thickness. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. In a large skillet, cook chicken in oil for 5-6 minutes on each side or until no longer pink. Remove and keep warm. , Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine cornstarch and cider until smooth. Stir in syrup and onion powder; add to skillet. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Add chicken and turn to coat.

STICKY MAPLE BOURBON CHICKEN

Steps:

• Place a large heavy-bottom or cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat with the olive oil. Season the chicken liberally with salt and pepper. Add the chicken to the pan breast-side down and sear until deep golden brown, 4 to 5 minutes.
• While the chicken in searing, in a small dish whisk together the stock, syrup, and bourbon. Add the bourbon mixture to the skillet along with the thyme sprigs and continue cooking, turning the chicken occasionally, until the meat is cooked through and the sauce has reduced to a thick syrupy consistency, 8 to 10 minutes. (If the sauce reduces to a syrupy consistency before the chicken has cooked through, add a few splashes of stock to the skillet and continue cooking.)
• To serve, remove and discard the thyme sprigs. Spoon the sticky sauce over the chicken and enjoy warm.

MAPLE ROASTED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Using paper towels, pat the chicken dry and trim off any excess fat. Place in a large resealable plastic bag or medium bowl with a lid.
• In a medium bowl, stir together the maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika and 2 tablespoons salt. Pour into the bag with the chicken, seal and refrigerate overnight or for at least 1 hour.
• Heat oven to 400 degrees. Pull the brined chicken out of the fridge, drain off the brine and pat the chicken dry. On a rimmed sheet pan, rub the chicken with the olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt and the pepper.
• Set it skin side up and roast for 25 to 35 minutes, or until the juices run clear when pierced and the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.
• As the chicken roasts, make the glaze: Add the maple syrup, cinnamon, salt, fennel, paprika and ½ cup water to a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the mixture has reduced and thickened enough to coat the back of a wooden spoon.
• Brush the cooked thighs with the glaze and set under the broiler for 30 seconds to 1 minute, keeping an eye on the glaze as it is quick to burn. Serve hot.

MIRJ'S BOOZY MAPLE CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (or 200 degrees C).
• Clean the chicken pieces and season them with the salt, pepper and paprika.
• Place them skin side down in a roasting pan.
• Mix the whisky and maple syrup.
• Pour over the chicken.
• At this point you can marinate the chicken overnight, but this is an optional step.
• Place the chicken in the oven for 20 minutes, uncovered.
• After 20 minutes, turn the pieces over, and roast for another 20 minutes.
• Just a warning, when you open the oven door halfway through, be prepared to get tipsy on the fumes.
• Enjoy!

MINTY, BOOZY CHICKEN

Steps:

• Melt 1 tablespoon of the butter with 1 tablespoon of the oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the minced onion, garlic, cumin, salt, and pepper, turn the heat down to low, and saute for about 10 minutes, until the onion softens. Transfer the mixture to a blender, then add the mint and cilantro, zests, juices, and rum and puree. Reserve 1/2 cup of the puree and use the rest to marinate the chicken for a few hours in the refrigerator.
• Preheat the oven to 400˚F. Melt the remaining butter with the remaining oil in a large ovenproof skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken pieces, working in batches if necessary, and brown both sides, about 10 minutes.
• When nicely browned, transfer the chicken pieces with tongs to a plate. In the same skillet, cook the sliced onion gently for a few minutes, until slightly softened. Return the chicken to the skillet, skin side down, salt and pepper liberally, and pour the marinade over them. Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake for 30 minutes.
• Using tongs, flip each piece over, return to the oven, and bake for another 30 minutes, or until the chicken-especially thighs, if you're using them-is fully cooked. Remove the chicken and transfer to a serving platter. Pour the reserved 1/2 cup puree into the pan and mix it around with a spatula. Pour this sauce over the chicken. Serve with lime wedges and a small bowl of salt to pass around.

ROAST CHICKEN WITH MAPLE BUTTER AND ROSEMARY

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Pat the chicken dry and season it well with salt and pepper, both inside and out. Place the chicken breast-side up in a 10-inch cast-iron or ovenproof skillet and stuff the rosemary sprigs into the bird's cavity.
• In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Add the chopped rosemary and the maple syrup, and cook together until the rosemary is fragrant and the mixture has thickened slightly, about 1 to 2 minutes. Spoon all of the mixture over the chicken, making sure it is evenly covered. A decent amount will end up on the bottom of the pan, and that's O.K.
• Roast the chicken, basting with the pan juices every 15 to 20 minutes or so, until the chicken is glossy and golden brown and registers 165 degrees with an instant thermometer in the thickest part of the thigh, about 55 to 60 minutes. Remove from the oven and baste an additional time, if desired. Allow the chicken to rest for 10 minutes before carving. Whisk remaining juice and pass at the table.

THE TARDY HOSTESS'S VARIATION ON MIRJ'S BOOZY MAPLE CHICKEN

Steps:

• Rinse the chicken and drop it, unceremoniously, in a roasting pan.
• Mix together the wet stuff. Pour it on the chicken.
• Top with the onion.
• Bake. covered, at 350F for about 30 minutes, uncovering for the last 5-10 minutes so that it gets brown.