Description
This Bourbon Blackberry Chicken recipe features tender, pan-seared chicken breasts glazed with a rich and tangy blackberry bourbon sauce. The combination of fresh blackberries, bourbon, and balsamic vinegar creates a flavorful glaze that perfectly complements the savory, seasoned chicken. Finished with fresh thyme for garnish, this dish is a delightful balance of sweet and savory flavors, ideal for a quick and elegant dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Blackberry Glaze
- ½ cup (72 g) blackberry preserves
- ¼ cup water
- 2 tablespoons bourbon
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
Chicken
- 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 3 medium breasts), pounded to an even thickness
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 ½ cups (216 g) fresh blackberries, divided
- Fresh thyme, for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the Blackberry Glaze: In a medium bowl, whisk together blackberry preserves, water, bourbon, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, kosher salt, and black pepper until fully combined. Set the glaze aside.
- Dry the Chicken: Pat the chicken breasts dry thoroughly with paper towels to ensure even seasoning and good searing.
- Season the Chicken: Combine kosher salt, black pepper, and paprika in a small bowl. Season both sides of each chicken breast evenly with this mixture.
- Cook the Chicken: Heat extra virgin olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add the seasoned chicken breasts. Cook for 6-7 minutes without moving to develop a golden crust. Flip and cook another 6-7 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C). Adjust the heat as necessary to prevent burning. Remove chicken from skillet and keep warm by loosely covering with aluminum foil.
- Sauté Fresh Blackberries: Add 1 cup of fresh blackberries to the same skillet. Cook over medium heat for 2-3 minutes, stirring gently until the berries soften and release their juices.
- Add the Glaze: Pour the prepared blackberry glaze into the skillet with the softened blackberries and stir gently to combine. Allow the glaze to simmer for 1-2 minutes to warm through and meld flavors.
- Return Chicken to Skillet: Place the cooked chicken breasts back into the skillet. Spoon the blackberry glaze over them, letting everything simmer together for 1-2 minutes to heat the chicken through and coat it with the sauce.
- Serve: Spoon additional glaze over the plated chicken breasts. Garnish with the reserved ½ cup fresh blackberries and fresh thyme sprigs for a fragrant and colorful finish.
Notes
- Make sure to pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness to ensure even cooking.
- Use fresh blackberries if possible for the best flavor; if unavailable, frozen can be substituted but thaw and drain first.
- Adjust the amount of bourbon according to preference; the alcohol mostly cooks off during simmering.
- Keep the heat moderate when cooking chicken to prevent burning the glaze due to the sugar content in preserves.
- Serve with rice, mashed potatoes, or a green vegetable to complement the rich flavors.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast with glaze
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg
