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Lager-Poached Chicken with Chipotle Sauce

Lager-Poached Chicken with Chipotle Sauce

Spiced lager easily adds earthy flavor to chicken and doubles as a potent, cream-enriched sauce.

By Julia RackowOctober 13, 2020

  • Makes
    4 to 6 servings
  • Cook Time
    30 minutes

Smoky, spicy chipotle chilies and earthy cumin simmer in lager to create a flavorful poaching liquid for chicken breasts. There’s no need to seek out a craft brew for this—a 16-ounce can of Coors or Budweiser works just fine. We mix a few tablespoons of the poaching liquid with sour cream (or mayonnaise) to make a rich sauce. Serve with beans and rice or a fresh, crunchy salad.

Ingredients
  • 16

    ounce can lager beer (see note)

  • 1½

    teaspoons cumin seeds, toasted and lightly crushed

  • 2

    chipotle chilies in adobo sauce, torn, plus 4 teaspoons adobo sauce

  • Kosher salt and ground black pepper

  • 2

    pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, pounded ½ inch thick

  • 2

    tablespoons sour cream OR mayonnaise

  • 1

    teaspoon grated lime zest, plus 2 teaspoons lime juice, plus lime wedges to serve

  • Optional garnish: Roughly chopped fresh cilantro OR chopped fresh chives OR diced avocado

In a 12-inch skillet, simmer 2 cups water, the beer, 1 teaspoon of cumin, the chilies and 1 tablespoon salt. Add the chicken, cover and cook at a bare simmer until the chicken is opaque throughout, about 18 minutes; flip the chicken once halfway through. Transfer the chicken to a platter. Strain 3 tablespoons poaching liquid into a small bowl, then stir in the sour cream, adobo sauce, remaining cumin and lime zest and juice; season with salt and pepper. Serve the chicken with the sauce and lime wedges.