Description
Bacon and beer create a rich, flavorful braise for tender chicken thighs. Serve over rice or with crusty bread for a comforting meal.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 1/4 lb uncured, thick cut bacon, chopped into 1/2" chunks
- 2 lbs (907 g) chicken thighs (or drumsticks, or a combination)
- 1 medium onion, finely diced
- 3 cloves of garlic, minced
- 12 oz (340 ml) lager, I used Sam Adams Boston Lager
- 2 tbsp fresh thyme
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1.5 tbsp whole wheat flour
- 1 tbsp butter
Instructions
- In a large Dutch oven or flat-bottomed pot, cook bacon on medium-low heat for 5-6 minutes, until browned.
- Pat each piece of chicken with paper towels until totally dry.
- Turn heat up to medium and place each piece of chicken, skin side down, in the pot.
- Brown the chicken on each side for 4-5 minutes, until the skin is golden and crispy.
- Remove chicken from pot and set aside.
- Add onions and garlic to bacon and sauté until glassy, approximately 6-8 minutes.
- Add beer, salt, pepper, and thyme; deglaze the pot, scraping any bits off the bottom.
- Arrange chicken in the pot, ensuring the liquid covers only about half of each chicken piece.
- Cover, reduce heat to low, and cook chicken for 40-50 minutes, turning once.
- Remove chicken and set aside.
- Whisk flour and butter into the sauce.
- Increase heat to medium and simmer the sauce, uncovered, until reduced, 8-10 minutes.
- Arrange chicken on a serving tray, pour sauce over chicken, and garnish with fresh thyme.
Notes
- For deeper flavor, marinate the chicken in the beer for at least 30 minutes before cooking.
- If you don’t have lager, substitute with another beer like stout or pale ale; adjust seasoning to taste.
- To thicken the sauce further, stir in a cornstarch slurry (1 tbsp cornstarch mixed with 2 tbsp cold water) during the final simmering.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Braising
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 700
- Fat: 25
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Unsaturated Fat: 10
- Carbohydrates: 20
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 35
- Cholesterol: 150