Cooking On The Ranch

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Buffalo Burger Recipe with Smoky BBQ Cream Sauce

By 5 Comments

A buffalo burger recipe using ground bison and Mexican chorizo. The burgers are seasoned with Southwestern flavors and then topped with a smoky BBQ cream sauce and caramelized red pepper rings. Add some cheese and some spicy pickles, you’ve got a burger to brag about.

I have been compensated and provided with product by Stubbs Legendary Bar-B-Q sauces for this article. My opinions are my own. 

This burger will knock your socks off. Chorizo and Buffalo meat come together for an exciting burger. Add a creamy bbq sauce and caramelized red onion rings and you've got a winner.

Partnerships

A couple of years ago, I was contacted by Stubbs Legendary Bar-B-Q to become an ambassador for their brand. It couldn’t be a better fit for my Western, Southwestern, meat and potato themed blog. And with their extensive line of products to enhance those meat and potatoes, it’s a delicious partnership.

With that said, let the Summer games begin…Memorial Day is the official kickoff to grilling season. This weekend burgers will be searing on grill grates across our nation. But don’t fall into the burger blahs…ditch the basic ketchup and mustard, it’s time to elevate those burgers to a new level with Stubb’s big bold BBQ Sauce along with some crazy fun toppings. What are your favorites? Pickled jalapenos…blue cheese…slaw…fried eggs?

Stubbs BBQ Sauce burger recipe. Chorizo and bison burger with smoky BBQ cream sauce and caramelized red bell pepper rings.

Let’s Build that Burger

For my latest burger creation, I picked Stubbs Original BBQ Sauce to make a smoky cream sauce for a topping. Stubbs signature sauce is the real deal. It has no high fructose corn syrup and it’s tangy tomato, vinegar, molasses and black pepper flavor treats you right no matter what kind of meat you’re firing up on that grill.

This buffalo burger recipe is a combination of two meats, ground bison and ground chorizo. This meat blend results in a great textured burger, and a juicy burger that packs a big wallop of Western flavor. The smoky cream sauce is a perfect compliment to the flavor of the meat, and once the red bell peppers are caramelized, they bring a ring of sweet smoke to the party. Add some spicy sweet pickles and of course some creamy melted cheese to complete the perfection.

Stubbs Smoky Cream Sauce for grilled Burgers.

How to Make a Delicious BBQ Burger Sauce

For the sauce for this buffalo burger, I combined equal parts of Stubbs Original BBQ Sauce and sour cream, and sweet smoked paprika. A very special treat that I think would make a great dipping sauce for fries, as well. (Note to self)

Rocky Stubblefield - grandson of C.B. "Stubb" Stubblefield who founded Stubbs - has a good burger tip:  Make a thumbprint in the middle of each patty before putting it on the grill. This will help the patty come out nice and flat and not puffy in the middle. And the meat will cook more evenly.

Buffalo Burger with Creamy Barbeque sauce on a bun with pickles.

Buffalo Burger Recipe with Smoky BBQ Cream Sauce

I hope you give this buffalo burger recipe with bison and chorizo a try and if you do, please come back and give the recipe a star rating, and leave a comment about your experience with the recipe.

And if you have a favorite burger recipe using bison meat, let me know, I’d love to give it a try.

More Hamburger Recipes

And if you’re a burger fanatic like us, don’t miss my post which features a line up of Best Grilled Burgers recipes. I’m positive you’ll find something you’ll fall in love with.

If you liked this recipe, please leave a star ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating in the recipe card below and leave a comment. I always appreciate your feedback and hearing how everything went.

And, don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter for more delicious recipes and cooking tips. Make it a delicious day … every day.

bison burger topped with sauce and onion rings, served with fries
Print Recipe
5 from 1 vote

Buffalo Bill Burgers with Smoky BBQ Cream Sauce and Caramelized Red Pepper Rings

How to make a delicious BBQ Burger. Smoky and creamy.
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time45 minutes
Course: Main Course Beef
Cuisine: American
Servings: 6
Calories: 608kcal
Author: Lea Ann Brown

Ingredients

  • 1 pound ground bison
  • 1 pound ground Mexican chorizo bulk
  • ⅛ teaspoon salt
  • ⅛ teaspoon pepper
  • ¼ cup Stubbs Original BBQ Sauce
  • ¼ cup sour Cream
  • ¾ teaspoon sweet smoked paprika
  • 2 red bell peppers sliced in thick rings
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • ¼ teaspoon sugar
  • 6 slices Muenster Cheese or Monterey Jack
  • spicy pickles and lettuce

Instructions

  • For the burgers: In a large bowl, place the ground bison, and add the Mexican chorizo in small pieces so it will blend well. Add salt and pepper and mix the two meats together until pretty well blended, without handling to meat too much. 
  • Using a kitchen scale, form the meat into patties each weighing ⅓ pound. 
  • For the sauce: Mix BBQ Sauce, Sour cream and paprika until well blended. Set aside.
  • For the caramelized peppers: Heat a fry pan over medium heat until hot. Add butter and olive oil. When butter is melted, add the pepper rings. Turn heat down to medium low, sprinkle with sugar and sautee until browning on edges. About 15 minutes. 
  • In the meantime, heat a grill to 600 degrees. Lower temp to 350. Grill the meat patties about 5 minutes per side. 
  • A tip from Rocky from Stubbs: Make a thumbprint in the middle of each patty before putting it on the grill. This will help the patty come out nice and flat and not puffy in the middle. And the meat will cook more evenly.
  • Just before removing patties from grill, top each patty with a slice of cheese. Let cheese melt before removing. Also heat or toast buns on grill.
  • Build that burger:  On the bottom bun, place a leaf of lettuce, then a slice of caramelized red pepper ring. A couple slices of pickle, the meat patty and then drizzle with the Smoky BBQ Cream Sauce. 

Nutrition

Calories: 608kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 48g | Saturated Fat: 21g | Cholesterol: 142mg | Sodium: 979mg | Potassium: 394mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 2256IU | Vitamin C: 51mg | Calcium: 226mg | Iron: 3mg

I have been compensated and provided with product by Stubbs Legendary Bar-B-Q sauces for this article. My opinions are my own. 

Buffalo Bill Burger with Smoky BBQ Cream Sauce and Caramelized Red Pepper Rings … It’s what’s for Memorial Day

Arugula Salad with Balsamic Black Truffle Vinaigrette

By 3 Comments

This Arugula salad dressed with Balsamic Black Truffle Vinaigrette is a perfect “feel fancy” light Summer dinner to serve on the patio. Perfect with that special bottle of chilled white wine. A slice of double cream cheese and some crusty bread makes this a light meal salad.

Salads made with arugula and dressed with truffle vinaigrette.

What You Can Expect From This Recipe

This is a very simple salad to assemble and brings with it a restaurant quality elegant feel.

Arugula is tossed with a delightful combination of aged balsamic vinegar and black truffle oil.

A truly good quality aged balsamic carries a sweet flavor and thick consistency. And when combined with the black truffle oil, makes a full flavored dressing for peppery arugula. This black truffle dressing is so easy you simply won’t believe the flavor it returns.

Until now, my only rendezvous with anything “truffle” is an order of truffle fries at a local restaurant. Which, from what I read is nothing but a dirty little trick. Truffles are incredibly expensive, at $1200 a pound, your local pub probably isn’t shelling out that kind of cash to flavor a $3 pile of fried potatoes.

From what I learned in Culinary School, most truffle oils and salts are flavored with a process much like companies blend perfume. Concocted by mixing olive oil with a fake flavoring chemical.

With that said, I have this beautiful little 1.8 ounce bottle of Urbani Truffle Oil which is the real deal. Urbani is a company in Italy who harvests and sells white and black truffles and also truffle oils. It’s a bit pricey at $13.00 for a small bottle. But, using only three tablespoons to make this truffle dressing, you’ll get two uses.

I’ve included an Amazon link for your convenience. I can also consistently find this truffle oil at Whole Foods. Disclaimer: I am an Amazon Affiliate and if you order this truffle oil using the link, I receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.

We were served this salad at an outdoor wine tasting luncheon at a Winery in Oregon. It’s everything you’d expect a winery to serve with a beautiful crisp white wine. Served with a slice of artisan bread, and double cream cheese, it’s simply delightful.

I couldn’t wait to make it in my own kitchen and share the recipe with you.

Let’s take a look:

Ingredients You’ll Need

Ingredients to make a salad with balsamic truffle vinagrette.
  • We’ll use peppery Arugula for the greens.
  • Double cream cheese: Double cream cheese has extra cream added before the curd is formed. Making them rich, creamy, spreadable and slightly tangy in flavor. Brie cheese is a common double cream cheese and check with your specialty cheese counter for more options.
  • Truffle Oil: Make sure you’re getting real truffle oil that is naturally flavored with real truffle flavor. I purchase Urbani Truffle Oil from Whole Foods.
  • Aged Balsamic Vinegar: Seek out a good quality aged balsamic vinegar. A reputable aged balsamic will have been aged in wooden barrels for at least 12 years. Resulting in a thick, sweet unforgettable vinegar experience. A good olive oil and specialty vinegar store is a good bet for quality.

Step by Step Instructions, It’s Easy

How to make black truffle vinaigrette.
Dressing arugula with black truffle vinaigrette.
  1. Step 1: In a small bowl, using a whisk, combine the truffle oil with the balsamic vinaigrette until well combined.
  2. Step 2: Place arugula in a salad bowl. Drizzle the black truffle vinaigrette over the greens and use tongs to toss until all of the leaves are coated with the dressing.

How To Plate This Salad

Arugula salad with balsamic truffle vinaigrette, cheese and bread.
  1. Step 3: This salad makes four servings: Place two ounces of the sliced double cream cheese on each plate. Add wedges of hard or soft boiled eggs, halved cherry tomatoes, dressed greens and a slice of bread.

Questions You Might Have

Can I Use White Truffle Oil?

You can, but black truffle oil is preferred to partner and compliment the flavor of aged balsamic vinegar. Black truffle oil has a stronger and earthier flavor than white truffle oil.

What White Wine Goes With Truffle Oil Vinaigrette?

Argyle Winery in Oregon served this with their highly acclaimed Sparkling Wine Vintage Brut. A cold crisp Sauvignon Blanc or a quality Chardonnay are both good choices.

Can I Make This Dressing In Advance?

Absolutely yes. But it’s so easy to assemble as you’re making the salad. Wait to dress the salad greens right before serving. The acid in the balsamic vinegar can wilt even tough greens like arugulaif dressed too soon in advance.

Tips for Success

  • Choose quality ingredients. Seek out a good quality aged balsamic vinegar and “real” truffle oil. Both of these ingredients will return a pure and exciting flavor.
  • Choose Cherub brand tomatoes. They’re a type of grape tomato that is sturdy in nature and easy to slice. They’re available year round.
  • Use a serrated knife to slice the tomatoes, but use a regular, very sharp, paring knife to slice the cheese. A serrated knife will leave groove marks in the delicate double cream cheese. You’ll appreciate the cleaner presentation.

Recipe for Arugula Salad with Black Truffle Vinaigrette

Next time you’re in a special mood, for a special salad with a special glass of white wine, I hope you give this salad with truffle vinaigrette a try. It check all of those “special” marks.

Don’t miss my step by step article on how to build the very best Accompaniment Salad. You’ll learn how to property dress a salad, how to wash and dry lettuce leaves and how to serve a restaurant quality side salad.

If you liked this recipe, please leave a star ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating in the recipe card below and leave a comment. I always appreciate your feedback and hearing how everything went.

And, don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter for more delicious recipes and cooking tips. Make it a delicious day … every day.

Arugula salad with black truffle vinaigrette.
Print Recipe
5 from 3 votes

Arugula Salad with Balsamic Black Truffle Vinaigrette

This Arugula salad with Truffle Vinaigrette is a perfect light Summer dinner to serve on the patio with a glass of white wine. Double cream cheese and a slice of crust bread make this a special treat.
Prep Time10 minutes
Total Time10 minutes
Course: Main Course Salad
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4
Calories: 510kcal
Author: Lea Ann Brown

Ingredients

  • 2 teaspoons Aged balsamic vinegar
  • 3 Tablespoons Black Truffle Oil
  • 3 Cups Arugula loosely packed
  • 2 hard boiled eggs cut into wedges
  • 12 cherry tomatoes halved
  • 8 ounces Double Cream Style Cheese
  • 1 baguette sliced

Instructions

  • In a small bowl, whisk together the Balsamic Vinegar and Truffle oil until very well blended.
  • In a large bowl, toss the Arugula with the balsamic vinegar and black truffle oil.
  • Place 2 ounces of cheese on each plate. Divide the sliced hard boiled eggs and cherry tomatoes between the plates. Pour a little more of the truffle oil over the cheese if you'd like. Serve with crusty bread. 

Notes

Tips for Success
  • Choose quality ingredients. Seek out a good quality aged balsamic vinegar and “real” truffle oil. Both of these ingredients will return a pure and exciting flavor.
  • Choose Cherub brand tomatoes. They’re a type of grape tomato that is sturdy in nature and easy to slice. They’re available year round.
  • Use a serrated knife to slice the tomatoes, but use a regular, very sharp, paring knife to slice the cheese. A serrated knife will leave groove marks in the delicate double cream cheese. You’ll appreciate the cleaner presentation.

Nutrition

Calories: 510kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 35g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Cholesterol: 156mg | Sodium: 607mg | Potassium: 345mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1497IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 146mg | Iron: 3mg

Arugula Salad with Balsamic Black Truffle Vinaigrette …It’s what’s for an Appetizer.

Cowboy Cocktail, Salty Dog with Saddle Leather

By 4 Comments

This Cowboy Cocktail is a unique version of a Salty Dog cocktail using carbonated grapefruit juice and beef jerky for garnish. Your new favorite Western Themed Cocktail has arrived.

Cocktail glass with salty dog cocktail garnished with pink sea salt and beef jerkey

What Is A Salty Dog Cocktail?

While I was sure the drink has nothing to do with a dog, or a dog that been salted, my curiosity sent me to Google to research how the salty dog became a salty dog.

Wikipedia tells us that a salty dog is a cocktail of gin or vodka and grapefruit juice served in a highball glass with a salted rim.

The salt is the only difference between a Salty Dog and a Greyhound. A recipe for a similar cocktail with the name “Greyhound” appears in Harper’s magazine in 1945. “The cocktails were made of vodka, sugar, and canned grapefruit juice — a greyhound. This cocktail was served at a popular restaurant chain that was located at Greyhound bus terminals, called ‘Post House’.”

I recently dug out my cookbook “Shinin’ Times at The Fort” to browse for some western cuisine inspiration. As I was turning the pages , I really wasn’t looking cowboy cocktails, but this recipe called Salty Dog with Saddle Leather caught my attention.

I think it’s adorable that the saddle leather is a stick of buffalo jerky that garnishes the cocktail.

The recipe in the book is simple, with canned grapefruit juice and vodka, and salt for the rim of the glass.

Two cocktail glasses holding salty dog cocktails with beef jerky for garnish.

However, a while back I picked up some carbonated grapefruit juice that I had yet to try. I also had some salmon colored Hawaiian Premium Red Sea Salt, in the pantry that I thought would be a nice compliment for that salty rim.

The result? Delicious, sparkling fresh and fabulous. I love the true to grapefruit flavor of the Bai Bubbles product, and of course those bubbles make the cocktail a fizzy success. The Hawaiian sea salt was  perfect compliment and the leather a unique conversation piece.

Cowboy Cocktail, Salty Dog Cocktail with Saddle Leather

I hope you give this cowboy cocktail recipe a try. It’s a fun and refreshing treat for a back yard BBQ where a Western Themed dinner is on the menu.

And if you do make this, please come back and give the recipe a star rating. And leave a comment about your experience with the recipe.

I hope you give this Western themed Salty Dog recipe a try, and if you do, please come back and give the recipe a star rating, and leave a comment about your experience with the drink.

And if you have a favorite unique salty dog recipe, let me know, I’d love to give it a try.

More Cocktail Recipes

  • Rio Grande Paloma Recipe This pink grapefruit juice cocktail is thirst quenching, light, fruity and fizzy. One of the smoothest tequila cocktails you can mix.
  • Blood Orange Margarita Beautifully orange in color this is a great football cocktail recipe for any team that sports the color orange. Cointreau makes this one special drink.
  • Pumpkin Pie Martini A perfect Fall-themed cocktail for Thanksgiving. Absolutely delicious and creamy. 

And if you’re looking to host a cocktail party, don’t miss my Appetizer and Beverages category, you’ll find lots of cocktail party recipe ideas. Including one of the most popular beverage on my site for Micheladas, a Mexican Beer Cocktail.

Cocktail glass with salty dog cocktail garnished with pink sea salt and beef jerkey
Print Recipe
5 from 1 vote

Cowboy Cocktail, Salty Dog With Saddle Leather

This cocktail has been on the menu of Denver's Famous Fort Restaurant since 1963. The "saddle leather" is a stick of buffalo or beef jerky garnishing each glass.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time0 minutes
Total Time10 minutes
Course: Cocktails and Beverages
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4
Calories: 170kcal
Author: Lea Ann Brown

Ingredients

  • 2 ½ cups Grapefruit juice
  • 6 ounces gin or vodka
  • 1 tablespoon pink sea salt or regular salt
  • 4 sticks buffalo or beef jerky for garnish. It must be pliable.

Instructions

  • Dampen each glass rim and press the rims in salt. Pour all ingredients over ice cubes in 4 highball glasses. Stir well. Garnish with jerky and serve.

Notes

Carbonated Grapefruit Juice makes this a special treat.

Nutrition

Calories: 170kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 1768mg | Potassium: 239mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin C: 40mg | Calcium: 12mg | Iron: 1mg

The Fort Restaurant is a Denver landmark full of western culture, history, charm and western food. Do Rattlesnake, Quail Eggs Wrapped in Buffalo Sausage, Rocky Mountain Oysters and Bone Marrow get your attention?

For as long as I've lived here, (30 years) it's been "the place" to take out-of-town guests for a taste of the Wild West. With its unique menu items and servers dressed like Kit Carson, The Fort reflects the years when trappers, settlers and Army explorers first traveled the Santa Fe Trail to our region.

Salty Dog Cocktail with Beef Jerky Saddle Leather … It’s what’s for a Country Western Themed Cocktail

Apricot Brandy Sauce For Chicken Cordon Bleu

By 36 Comments

This is a recipe for an elegant, easy and quick sauce for Chicken Cordon Bleu. Ready in just a few minutes and perfect for entertaining, learn why this Apricot Brandy Sauce is fit for royalty.

Chicken cordon bleu served with apricot sauce and asparagus.

If you’re a regular reader, you’ll remember that before Christmas I went to high tea at Cherokee Castle and Ranch. What a lovely experience and I came home with a great little cookbook written by Tweet Kimball’s Chef and Butler. Tweet was Colorado’s First Lady in cattle ranching, successfully introducing Santa Gertrudis Cattle to Colorado.

Cherokee Ranch, Colorado. Tweet Kimble's Cherokee Castle

She loved to entertain and lived in the stately Cherokee Castle just a few miles south of what is now Highlands Ranch. 

You can read all about the property in my first post about the castle and our tour of the castle. I featured her recipe for Deviled Ham Canape Appetizer. 

High society locals were regularly invited to join her for dinner with world famous people like Winthrop Rockefeller and Princess Anne.

My latest adventure in cooking from this Colorado cookbook, which I’ve come to adore, is this recipe for Apricot Brandy Sauce for Chicken Cordon Bleu.

What an outstanding treat this is. And such an easy recipe for dinner party entertaining.

Especially if you have a good source for pre-made Chicken Courdon Bleu. Which I do. My local specialty and meat market, Tony’s Market on Dry Creek always has it, and I’ve also seen it at King Soopers (Kroeger) … ready to bake.

If you’re going to make it at home I would always trust Tyler Florence and his recipe, or even Taste of Home always seems to a reliable source.

This is an easy sauce that takes this classic Swiss recipe to a new level. Ready in a few minutes, made on the stove top.

Let’s take a look:

Ingredients You’ll Need

Ingredients to make sauce for chicken cordon bleu.
  • Good Quality Apricot Preserves or Apricot Jam
  • Brandy
  • Butter
  • Lime Juice

That’s all it takes for the big wow factor. The flavors compliment each other so well.

Ingredient Substitutions

  • Preserves: Peach Preserves is an excellent substitution for Apricot Preserves.
  • Liquor: Substitute bourbon or rum for brandy.

Step by Step Instructions, It’s Easy

Ingredients to make apricot sauce for chicken cordon bleu.
Cooking apricot brandy sauce for chicken cordon bleu.
  • Step 1: In a small sauce pan, over medium heat, melt butter. Add apricot preserves, brandy and lime juice.
  • Step 2: Whisk until hot and steamy and well blended. Serve immediately over cooked Chicken Cordon Bleu.
What is Chicken Cordon Bleu?

Chicken Cordon Bleu is a classic comfort food where boneless skinless chicken breasts or cutlets are pounded thin, coated in bread crumbs (Panko is good here) and then wrapped around thin sliced ham and Swiss cheese. Swiss in origin, Cordon Bleu refers to the wide blue ribbons worn by the highest members of Knighthood instituted by Henry III of France.

What Is Brandy?

Brandy is a spirit made from distilled wine or other fermented fruit juices. Brandy is not a whiskey as whiskey is distilled from grain. An excellent reference to learn more about Brandy is this article from Total Wine.

Can I Make This Sauce Ahead?

Yes. To make this easy chicken meal even easier, make the sauce a couple of days ahead of time. Store in the refrigerator in a sealed container. I like to save Mason style jars for this very purpose. To reheat, simply pour the sauce in a saucepan and use medium low heat to warm it up. Stir occasionally so it doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan.

Is This Sauce Gluten Free?

This sauce for Chicken Cordon Bleu is naturally gluten free, however, to make this meal gluten free, you would need to coat the chicken with gluten free bread crumbs.

Tips for Success

  • You don’t need expensive brandy to cook with. Save the good stuff for sipping. Choose a standard brandy made from grapes rather than a flavored brandy.

How Else Can I Use This Sauce?

This sauce would also compliment the saltiness of a Grilled Ham Steak, or pair well with Grilled Pork Tenderloin. And if you’re looking for an easier option, simply use it as a glaze for grilled chicken breasts or grilled or fried pork chops.

What Goes With Chicken Cordon Bleu?

Since Chicken Cordon Bleu is somewhat of an elegant dish, I like to keep side dishes simple with a sauteed asparagus, this recipe for Green Vegetable Medley or even a simple Green Salad. Mashed potatoes or Scalloped Potatoes would also be delicious here.

Apricot Brandy Sauce for Chicken Cordon Bleu

Chicken cordon bleu served with apricot brandy sauce.

The sweet, tangy, boozy apricot sauce is a nice partner for the salty ham, Swiss cheese and chicken. And how fun to tell your dinner guests that Tweet Kimball served this for Princess Anne. I hope you give this simple Chicken Cordon Bleu sauce a try. It’s healthier than a cream sauce and just so easy. Plus it brings such a special feel for a simple dinner.

With a simple side dish of sauteed asparagus with lemon, we thought this was a very nice meal. Let’s take a look:

More Baked Chicken Recipes

And if you’re looking for more, don’t miss my Main Course Chicken Category. You’ll find lots of delicious choices for chicken dinners. Including the most popular on my site for Chicken Mushroom Spinach Skillet.

And if you’re looking for more sauce ideas for chicken, check out this one for Cherry BBQ Sauce for grilled chicken.

If you liked this recipe, please leave a star ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating in the recipe card below and leave a comment. I always appreciate your feedback and hearing how everything went.

And, don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter for more delicious recipes and cooking tips. Make it a delicious day … every day.

Chicken cordon bleu served with apricot sauce and asparagus.
Print Recipe
5 from 6 votes

Apricot Brandy Sauce For Chicken Cordon Bleu

A beautiful recipe for dinner party entertaining. And easy if you have fresh ready to bake Chicken Cordon Bleu available for purchase.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Course: Main Course Chicken
Cuisine: Swiss
Diet: Gluten Free
Servings: 8
Calories: 101kcal
Author: Lea Ann Brown

Ingredients

  • 8 bundles Prepared Chicken Cordon Bleu Bundles Cooked
  • 1 small jar Apricot Preserves
  • 6 Tablespoons butter
  • ⅓ cup brandy regular, peach or apricot flavored
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice

Instructions

  • Cook Chicken Cordon Bleu according to instructions.
  • Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, melt butter. Once butter is melted add Apricot Preserves, brandy and lime juice.  Cook until hot and well blended. A whisk works well here.
  • Drizzle the sauce over cooked cordon bleu's and serve immediately.

Notes

Tips for Success:
  • You don’t need expensive brandy to cook with. Save the good stuff for sipping. Choose a standard brandy made from grapes rather than a flavored brandy.

Nutrition

Calories: 101kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 23mg | Sodium: 76mg | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 262IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 3mg

Apricot Brandy Sauce for Chicken Cordon Bleu …It’s what’s for Dinner.

Homemade Taco Seasoning for Ground Beef and Beyond

By 4 Comments

Homemade Taco Seasoning for ground beef. Easy to make. Easy to store in the pantry. And with a perfect blend of spices, this DIY version is much more flavorful than store bought. Use this homemade taco seasoning mix for beef, chicken, rice, and even soups. Let’s take a look.

Homemade Taco Seasoning for Ground Beef.

How To Make Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix

Getting ready to make Mexican recipe and don’t have a packet of taco seasoning? Make you own, and better yet, keep a stash of this taco seasoning in the pantry – you’ll be glad you did.

Making homemade taco seasoning mix is such a breeze. Almost as easy as standing in front of the Mexican seasoning section at the store and trying to figure out which brand to buy, or which brand offers the best flavor.

Skip that and make your own stash for the pantry. It will last about a year if stored correctly.

And speaking of the pantry, you probably already have all the ingredients you need to make this recipe.

Just mix all of the ingredients together and store in an air-tight container = done!

You’ll find the full recipe below, but I want to address some of the key ingredients that will make a difference in the flavor.

  • One of the secrets that makes this a great homemade taco seasoning mix is Mexican Oregano. Mexican oregano has a stronger flavor that Mediterranean Oregano, which is more readily available for purchase. It has a more earthy flavor which is better suited for Mexican and Tex-Mex cuisines.
  • A good quality Hot Smoked Paprika.  Ever since I discovered smoked paprika a few years ago, I’ve gone crazy using it. And sprinkling some in taco seasoning is no exception. If you don’t have a good quality spice shop available to you, Simply Organic brand is a good choice. If you want less heat, use regular smoked paprika.
  • And of course, my favorite ingredient, New Mexico Red Chile Powder.  What’s so special about chile powder from New Mexico? It reliably delivers medium heat with earthy fruity undertones. That one you may not have on your shelf, so just substitute cayenne pepper or Ancho Chile Powder. I’d advise against Chipotle Chile powder due to it’s smoky flavor. The smoked paprika is already taking care of that.

Is there gluten in taco seasoning? Possibly in the packets you buy in the store, but this is a gluten free taco seasoning mix recipe. Store in a Mason Jar or a good sealing baggie.

How Long Does Taco Seasoning Last?

Here’s the good news. If stored in an air-tight container, I prefer a glass mason jar over a baggie, it will last 6 months to a year. Just store it in a dark dry place. Your pantry cabinet is perfect.

How to use homemade taco seasoning

Substitute this homemade taco seasoning for a packet from the store for any Mexican recipe. How much taco seasoning is in a packet? Usually about 2 – 3 tablespoons, depending on the brand.

Use about 3 tablespoons instead of a store purchased packet.

Homemade taco seasoning brings a whole new level of earthy depth to any Mexican dish. And just look at that bold color.

When using homemade taco seasoning for 1 lb. ground beef, just add 3 tablespoons of seasoning and 1 cup of water and simmer for about 20 minutes. Taste and add more seasoning if desired.

But don’t stop with beef. Use this taco seasoning for ground chicken tacos, ground pork tacos, or use it as a rub for roasted chicken, or even seafood.

Homemade Taco Seasoning For Ground Beef

I hope you give this simple Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix a try. And if you do, please come back and let me know how you liked it and give the recipe a star rating. Your feedback is valuable to me for developing future recipes.

And if you make this taco seasoning, please let me know how you used it, I’m always looking for new ideas.

Use this taco seasoning mix to make:

And if you love Mexican food as much as we do, don’t miss my Mexican Southwestern Category. You’ll find plenty of great recipes including the most popular on my site for Hatch Green Chili Colorado.

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Homemade Taco Seasoning for Ground Beef.
Print Recipe
5 from 4 votes

Homemade Taco Seasoning For Ground Beef

Easy to make, homemade taco seasoning is so much better than those store bought packets.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time0 minutes
Total Time10 minutes
Course: Mexican
Cuisine: Mexican
Servings: 3
Calories: 34kcal
Author: Lea Ann Brown

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon whole cumin seeds freshly toasted and ground, or 1 ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoons hot smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon onion power
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon Mexican Oregano

Instructions

  • Put all the ingredients in a small jar and shake to combine. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 month. 
  • To use, break up 1 pound of ground beef in a wide skillet over medium heat. As soon as it starts to sizzle, sprinkle on 2-3 tablespoon of this taco seasoning and add 1 cup water. Continue stirring. As moisture cooks out of the meat and simmers, it will be thickened by the cornstarch.

Notes

When using homemade taco seasoning for 1 lb. ground beef, just add 3 tablespoons of seasoning and 1 cup of water and simmer for about 20 minutes. Taste and add more seasoning if desired.

Nutrition

Calories: 34kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1642mg | Potassium: 155mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 2074IU | Calcium: 41mg | Iron: 3mg

Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix … It’s Whats for Tacos