What is Bronzed Chicken and How to Make It at Home

Bronzed chicken is a cooking technique that results in chicken with a beautifully golden, caramelized exterior. It’s easy to make at home and yields incredibly flavorful and tender chicken breasts, tenders or thighs. Here’s a complete guide to bronzed chicken including what it is, how it differs from blackened chicken, tips for cooking it perfectly, and some delicious recipe ideas.

What is Bronzed Chicken?

Bronzed chicken refers to chicken that has been seasoned coated with a bit of oil or butter then seared in a very hot skillet to develop a rich, golden brown exterior. It’s sometimes confused with blackened chicken, but bronzed chicken is cooked over lower heat which prevents the spices from burning and making the chicken black. Instead, bronzing allows the spices and seasoning to toast to a gorgeous bronze color.

The bronzing technique was popularized by renowned New Orleans chef Paul Prudhomme He developed the method as a lower-smoke alternative to blackening Bronzed chicken delivers big flavor without the burnt, acrid taste that can happen with blackened chicken if the heat is too high.

How is it Different from Blackened Chicken?

While bronzed and blackened chicken are similar in some ways, there are a few key differences

• Cooking temperature: Bronzed chicken is cooked over medium-high to high heat around 400°F. Blackened chicken calls for extremely high heat, usually around 500°F.

• Spice level: Blackened chicken uses lots of spicy Cajun seasoning while bronzed chicken tends to use less spicy spices.

• Color: Bronzed chicken develops a rich golden brown exterior while blackened chicken can become nearly black.

• Smoke: Bronzing produces very little smoke while blackening can create a lot of smoke in the kitchen.

Tips for Cooking Perfect Bronzed Chicken

Here are some helpful tips for achieving perfectly bronzed chicken at home:

• Use boneless, skinless chicken breasts, tenders or thighs – Boneless cuts ensure even cooking. Skinless is ideal for getting a crispy spice crust.

• Pound the chicken to an even thickness – This helps it cook evenly. About 1/2 inch thick is ideal.

• Use a heavy skillet – Cast iron or heavy stainless steel work best to retain heat.

• Get the skillet very hot – It should be just under smoking before you add the chicken.

• Use a flavorful spice blend – Cajun seasoning or a homemade blend works well.

• Quickly sear both sides – Cook each side just until golden brown, about 3-5 minutes per side.

• Let it rest before serving – This allows juices to redistribute for moist, tender chicken.

• Slice against the grain – Cutting against the grain of the muscle fibers makes bronzed chicken extra tender.

Delicious Bronzed Chicken Recipe Ideas

Bronzed chicken is incredibly versatile. Try it with these tasty spice blends and sauces:

• Jerk chicken – Rub jerk seasoning on chicken before bronzing. Serve with grilled pineapple salsa.

• Chipotle chicken – Use ancho chile powder, cumin, garlic and chipotle chili powder to bronzed chicken. Top with avocado crema.

• Barbecue chicken – Sprinkle barbecue dry rub on chicken then bronze. Brush with barbecue sauce after cooking.

• Teriyaki chicken – Marinate chicken in teriyaki sauce before bronzing. Garnish with toasted sesame seeds and scallions.

• Fajita chicken – Season chicken with fajita seasoning blend before bronzing. Add to tortillas with sauteed peppers and onions.

• Mediterranean chicken – Coat chicken in a blend of oregano, thyme, rosemary, garlic, salt and pepper before bronzing. Serve over couscous with tzatziki sauce.

• Tandoori chicken – Marinate chicken in yogurt, lemon juice and Indian spices before bronzing. Serve with mango chutney.

As you can see, the bronzing technique pairs perfectly with countless flavor profiles. Let your imagination run wild!

How to Make Paul Prudhomme’s Bronzed Chicken Breasts

Paul Prudhomme shared his original bronzed chicken breast recipe which highlights the delicious caramelized flavors this cooking method creates. Here’s how to make his signature bronzed chicken breasts at home:

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons Cajun or blackened seasoning
• 1 tablespoon flour
• 3⁄4 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast cutlets
• 2 teaspoons canola oil

Instructions:

1. Combine Cajun seasoning and flour in a shallow dish. Pat one side of the chicken cutlets in the spice mixture to evenly coat.
2. Heat a medium nonstick skillet over high heat until very hot. Add the oil and swirl to coat the pan.
3. Add the chicken cutlets, seasoned side down, and quickly sprinkle the remaining spice mixture onto the top side.
4. Cook until the chicken is deeply browned on the first side, about 2-3 minutes. Flip and cook the second side for 3-4 minutes until cooked through.
5. Check for doneness by cutting into the thickest part of a breast. It should be opaque all the way through. The internal temperature should reach 165°F.
6. Let rest 5 minutes before serving. Slice against the grain and serve warm. Enjoy!

The bronzing technique yields juicy, flavorsome chicken breasts encrusted with rich, toasted spices. By using high heat and a light coating of oil, you can achieve the signature golden bronze color and tender texture of Paul Prudhomme’s famous chicken. This recipe is simple to make for a weeknight dinner or easy appetizers for a get-together.

Common Questions about Bronzed Chicken

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about cooking bronzed chicken:

Can I use bone-in chicken parts for bronzing?

It’s best to stick with boneless cuts like chicken breasts, tenders or thighs. The bronzing method requires the chicken to lay flat against the skillet which bone-in parts do not do as evenly.

What oil should I use to bronze chicken?

A neutral oil with high smoke point works best such as canola, vegetable, grapeseed or avocado oil. Avoid olive oil since it can burn. Melted butter can also be used.

Does bronzed chicken need to be marinated?

Marinating is optional. You can marinate or directly coat with dry spices prior to bronzing. Marinades with acidic ingredients like lemon juice can help tenderize the chicken.

How long does it take to cook bronzed chicken?

In a very hot skillet, boneless chicken breasts take 5-7 minutes total to cook through. Chicken tenders or strips take just 2-3 minutes per side. Larger bone-in parts may need up to 15-20 minutes. Use an instant read thermometer to check doneness.

Can you oven “bronze” chicken?

Unfortunately oven “bronzing” won’t give quite the same results. The dry heat of an extremely hot skillet is needed to develop the signature golden brown crust. But oven roasted chicken coated in spices can still be very tasty!