Spirited Chicken Recipes

Updated September 13, 2010
Credit: Iain Bagwell; Karen Shinto

Add flavor to basic chicken recipes with wine, beer, and other spirits. Substitutions are included if you prefer not to use alcohol.

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Chicken with White Wine and Mushrooms

Chicken with White Wine and Mushrooms Tout

Dress up a canned soup sauce by adding of a cup of white wine.

Non-alcoholic version: Replace 1 cup of white wine with 1 cup no-salt-added chicken broth.

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Charred Lemon Chicken Piccata

Credit: Justin Walker; Styling: Carla Gonzalez-Hart

Charred Lemon Chicken Piccata Recipe

Lightly charring the lemon slices intensifies their flavor and creates a gorgeous look. Be sure to include any of the sweet, tangy liquid the lemons give off in the bowl; it adds incredible depth to the sauce.

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Chicken Cacciatore

Credit: Dana Gallagher

Chicken Cacciatore Tout

This classic dish features chicken pieces that are simmered in a mixture of tomatoes, onion, carrot, celery, garlic and red wine.

Non-alcoholic version: Replace 1/3 cup of red wine with 1/3 no-salt-added chicken broth or water.

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Mustard-Tarragon Roast Chicken with Egg Noodles

Credit: Ditte Isager

Mustard-Tarragon Roast Chicken with Egg Noodles Tout

Deglaze the pan with white wine to make a rich sauce from the drippings and browned bits remaining after cooking the chicken.

Non-alcoholic version: Deglaze the pan with ½ cup of no-salt-added chicken broth instead of white wine.

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Red Wine-Braised Chicken with Couscous

Credit: Randy Mayor; Jan Gautro

Red Wine-Braised Chicken with Couscous Tout

Braise the chicken in a savory mixture of red wine, chicken broth and tomato, and add extra flavor with capers and kalamata olives. Serve the chicken and the chunky sauce over fluffy couscous.

Non-alcoholic version: Add an additional 2 cups of chicken broth in place of the 2 cups of wine.

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Grilled Chicken with Whiskey-Ginger Marinade

Credit: Randy Mayor; Melanie J. Clarke

Grilled Chicken with Whiskey-Ginger Marinade Tout

Use mellow bourbon along with soy sauce, hoisin sauce, brown sugar, lime juice, and fresh ginger to make an Asian-style marinade. The bourbon adds a distinct flavor to the dish that can't really be replicated by another ingredient. However, if you use chicken broth instead of the bourbon, you'll still have the Asian flavors of the soy and hoisin sauces.

Non-alcoholic version: Use 1/2 cup of chicken broth instead of bourbon.

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Oven Barbecue Beer-Can Chicken

Credit: Lee Harrelson

Oven Barbecue Beer-Can Chicken Tout

A variation on the grilled favorite where a beer can with smoked seasoning is inserted into the chicken cavity, this oven version cooks in a fraction of the time.

Non-alcoholic version: Use a non-alcoholic beer in place of the can of regular beer.

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Coq au Vin

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Cindy Barr; Sabrina Bone; Kathleen Kanen

Coq au Vin Tout

This classic French stew features chicken pieces braised in red wine and vegetables and flavored with bacon and herbs.

Non-alcoholic version: To keep the full, rich flavor, use 2 cups of non-alcoholic red wine. Don't use grape juice or the dish will be too sweet. If you can't find a non-sweet non-alcoholic wine, use 2 cups of chicken broth.

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Chicken with Dark Beer (Coq à la Bière)

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Sissy Lamerton

Chicken with Dark Beer (Coq à la Bière) Tout

Southern France is known for chicken cooked in red wine, but in northern France, chicken is often cooked in dark beer with onions to get a rich, caramelized flavor.

Non-alcoholic version: Use a dark non-alcoholic beer or 1 cup of chicken broth in place of the dark beer.

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White Wine Coq au Vin

Credit: Peden & Munk; Styling: Amy Wilson

White Wine Coq au Vin Tout

A traditional coq au vin is made with red wine, but this version of the classic French stew features white wine for a slightly crisper, fresher flavor.

Non-alcoholic version: Use an additional 1 ½ cups of chicken broth in place of the Chardonnay.

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Lemon Drop Chicken Wings

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Karen Shinto

Lemon Drop Chicken Wings Tout

The lemon drop cocktail has the starring role as a marinade for chicken wings in this sweet and tangy dish.

Non-alcoholic version: Use 1/2 cup of no-salt-added chicken broth or water in place of the vodka.

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