We get to enjoy a large variety of deep, rich flavors when fall and winter come along. After all, it’s really not all about the pumpkin spice; apples make an appearance in mouthwatering, savory apple recipes, our maple syrup game is strong and sage takes the stage in every holiday stuffing. Another ingredient that warms us up is whiskey — OH YES. Adding a splash of bourbon (a type of American whiskey) to a sweet and sticky sauce or drizzling a little into a normally bland veggie side can *really* amp things up. Want to make waves at the dinner table this week? Here are 15 recipes with whiskey that no one will pass on (except maybe the kiddos).
1. Bacon Honey Bourbon Chicken Meatballs: If you’re looking to jazz things up at the dinner table, these tender chicken meatballs are the perfect thing. Not only are they easy to put together, but they’re simmered in an out-of-this-world honey bourbon barbecue sauce that can’t be matched. (via Gal on a Mission)
2. Dry-Rubbed Ribs With Bourbon-Spiked BBQ Sauce: These perfectly spiced ribs are wonderfully messy and super easy to make — they don’t even require a grill. Rather, they’re baked in the oven to perfection and then slathered with a finger-lickin’ barbecue sauce. (via Supergolden Bakes)
3. Muenster, Apple and Maple Bourbon Bacon Grilled Cheese: Innovative gourmet grilled cheese creations have been all the rage for a few years now. This ‘wich takes the whole “grown-up grilled cheese” thing to a higher level with the addition of bourbon. (via Fit Foodie Finds)
4. Bourbon-Basted Cheese Burgers: No one can deny a crowd-pleasing burger like this one. These tender meat patties are basted with a sweet and deeply flavored bourbon sauce, then topped with lettuce, tomatoes and super melty cheese. (via Simply Delicious)
5. Best Ever Vegan Baked Beans: If you’ve ever wondered how to whip up a knock-your-socks-off baked bean side, this is the way to go. As if the inclusion of blackstrap molasses wasn’t amazing enough, bourbon is splashed into the mix. It’s so good, you might even skip the meat. (via Connoisseurus Veg)
6. Bourbon Chicken: Sticky and yummy bourbon sauces certainly aren’t reserved for pork and beef — this tender chicken *thrives* in a garlicky ginger-laced bourbon sauce. Serve it atop a bed of fluffy rice or hearty noodles and you’re set. (via Chef Savvy)
7. Bourbon Cured Salmon With Dill and Fennel: Easy recipes are everywhere, and they’re great, but sometimes gettin’ a little fancy is nice too. That’s why we encourage this fresh Alaskan salmon cured with bourbon. An appetizer has never been SO worth the wait. (via The Crepes of Wrath)
8. Grilled Maple Bourbon Glazed Panzanella Salad: Salads can be so much more than your average garden blend these days, and for that we are thankful. Not only are we turning salads into full and exciting meals, but we’re grilling them — and in this wonderful case, adding a splash of boozy goodness. (via Vegetarian Ventures)
9. Roasted Walnut and Bourbon Pork Tenderloin: Lazy Sundays go hand-in-hand with comfort food, but you’ll have *one* dish in particular on your mind every Sunday after trying this roasted pork tenderloin. It’s generously coated with a full-flavored bourbon walnut sauce. ‘Nuff said. (via Blackberry Babe)
10. Orange and Bourbon Glazed Ham: The usual beer-basted ham we’ve all grown to love gets an exciting makeover with a sweet and syrupy bourbon glaze. This dish is so delish, you just might forgo the turkey this holiday season and serve this piece of meat instead. (via Culinary Ginger)
11. Bourbon Brown Sugar Chicken Tenders: Get ready for your mind to be BLOWN. With a kick from the chili powder and a light sweetness from the brown sugar, these tender bites offer a perfect balance of heat and sweet. They’re perfect for a side or a game-day snack. (via Yummy Addiction)
12. Pulled Jackfruit With Peach Bourbon BBQ Sauce: Here’s a hearty and “meat-y” sandwich all you vegetarians and vegans can sink your teeth into. Who needs pulled pork when you have jackfruit on your side? Tossed in a peachy and bourbon-y sauce, these juicy bad boys are an absolute *godsend.* (via The Roasted Root)
13. Honey Bourbon Steak Tips: You’ve spent the entire summer grilling the perfect T-bones and rib-eyes, but it’s time to change things up for fall. May we suggest these mouthwatering boozy steak bites? Seared on the outside and juicy on the inside, these sweet and salty nibbles are a total game changer. (via Spicy Southern Kitchen)
14. Maple Bourbon Glazed Salmon: To anyone who ever dubbed salmon bland and boring, we present you with this. The good-for-you fish is phenomenal when cooked properly and dressed just right. You truly can’t go wrong with a deeply flavored maple bourbon glaze. (via Half Baked Harvest)
15. Maple Bourbon Braised Carrots: Things are about to change for that obligatory side of carrots we could all do without; magic happens when you get your carrots a little drunk. Braised with a mix of maple and bourbon, no one will pass on these. (via On Sugar Mountain)
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Dana Sandonato
Born in Canada and now living in the beautiful state of North Carolina, Dana is a coffee-reliant food writer with a healthy appetite, a taste for culinary adventure, a thirst for good beers, and an endless hunger for food photography. When not writing for Brit + Co, she can be found pouring herself into her blog-turned-webzine, Killing Thyme, or taste-testing at local breweries with her husband. Dana's ideal down time includes pizza, marathoning on Netflix, or watching her fave flicks from the 80s and 90s - no matter how great or awful they are!
