Chicken Liver Recipe with Bacon & Mushroom Sauce (Video) - (2024)

Published on Updated on June 15, 2022

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The Best Chicken Liver Recipe is made with tender chicken livers, caramelized onions, and salty bacon in a creamy mushroom sauce. It’s a one-pan meal idea that can be served on toast for breakfast or mashed potatoes for dinner!

As you may be aware, I’m a big fan of chicken livers. One of my other favorite recipes is my chicken livers in a white wine sauce and part of why I adore them is because they’re highly nutritious, relatively budget-friendly and they’re so versatile. The other part is that they’re majorly delicious and easy to make!

Chicken livers are incredibly nutrient-dense and packed with protein and iron among other health benefits. They are one of the healthiest forms of animal protein around. Despite them being robust in flavor and quite meaty, they complement surrounding flavors so well without overpowering anything.

WhenYOU make this Chicken Liver Recipe take a picture & DM me your Food Creation on Instagram@MunchkinTimeBlog & hashtag #munchkinrecipes. We would love to see your creation!

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When cooked properly, chicken livers are tender, buttery, and melt in your mouth. This easy-to-follow chicken liver recipe I’m sharing with you will walk you through the steps of how to get chicken livers to the perfect taste and texture in every bite. The secret is soaking them in milk!

If you’ve ever tried to cook chicken livers before and they were too dry or rubbery, I promise you, it’s worth trying again. My hubby loves chicken liver with bacon, which makes the “what’s for dinner” decisions super easy!

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What are Chicken Livers?

Chicken livers are exactly that. They’re not considered red meat, despite their appearance, but they are organ meat. Coming in different sizes, they’re rich in Vitamin C, amino acids, folate, and iron (among many many other things). They are quite strong in flavor which is why soaking them in milk helps.

Many people find it has a bit of a metallic taste, but when cooked properly and with the right seasoning, this delicacy can quickly become traditional comfort food!

Ingredients Needed

  • Oil – Avocado oil to start the bacon sauté process. Bacon will release its own fat, but the avocado oil is lighter and healthier.
  • Bacon – You’ll need 6-8 strips of bacon cut into bite-sized pieces.
  • Onions – Medium-sized, cut into slices. Yellow onions are nice and mild with a subtle sweetness which is great when caramelized.
  • Mushrooms – I use brown mushrooms (cremini) because they’re a bit deeper in flavor than white button mushrooms, but you use what you prefer.
  • Chicken liver & milk – Rinse the 1 lb of chicken liver and trim the connective tissues and any off colored (usually green/white) things off and soak them in milk for 1 hour. This will help with not only texture but it gets rid of that peculiar metallic taste (probably from the iron) that not everyone can handle.
  • Butter & All purpose flour – Once everything has been sautéed we use butter and flour to make a roux. This is used to thicken the broth to create a luscious and smooth cream sauce.
  • Chicken broth – The liquid component in the sauce. You can use regular, homemade or low sodium, it’s up to you.
  • Soy sauce – Adds a nice saltiness to it and darkens it up just a bit!
  • Salt & pepper – To taste.

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How to Cook Chicken Liver

Step 1: Heat avocado oil in a skillet over medium heat and cook the bacon for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Then, add the onions and cook until soft.

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Step 2: Add the mushrooms and cook for about 3-5 minutes. The bacon will have produced a lot of oil, and the mushrooms will have released a lot of water.

Step 3: Use a slotted spoon to transfer the contents of the skillet onto a plate. Leave behind about 2 Tbsp of bacon grease in the pan.

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Step 4: Increase the heat to medium-high and add chicken livers to the pan. Cook for 5 minutes until the chicken liver is cooked through, flipping halfway. Remove them to a plate.

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Step 5: Make a roux by melting butter and adding the flour and stirring or whisking until it becomes a paste with a nutty aroma. Slowly add the soy sauce until everything is combined.

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Step 6: Stir in the broth and season with salt and pepper. Whisk everything until it comes to a gentle boil and the sauce is nice and thick.

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Step 7: Add the chicken liver, bacon, onions, and mushrooms back into the pan and smother everything in the sauce. Cook for about 1 minute until everything is heated through.

Garnish with greens over a bed of creamy mashed potatoes. Enjoy!

How Do I Know When Chicken Livers are Done?

When cut into smaller pieces, it doesn’t usually take them long to cook through. The best most accurate way to tell is by using a digital thermometer. The internal temperature should read 165 degrees F.

Ways to Eat Chicken Liver

  • Usually a quick sauté with a simple seasoning is enough to enjoy chicken livers on any given day. When you want to jazz it up a bit to impress a crowd (or impress your kids!) make this simple caramelized onion, bacon, and mushroom version.
  • For a Southern twist, coat them in breading and deep-fry them for a crispy crunchy element.
  • Purée the cooked chicken liver into a mousse or a pate.
  • Serve it on mashed potatoes to soak up whatever sauce you’re cooking them in, or on a bed of rice. You can even have these for a protein-packed breakfast or a special brunch item when served on a slice of toast.

More Yummy Dinner Recipes:

10-minute Honey Garlic Shrimp Recipe

Loaded Mashed Potatoes

Super JuicyOvenBaked Chicken Wings

Baked Chicken Pasta in Buttery White Sauce

Oven Baked Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs

The Best Creamy Chicken Pasta

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Chicken Liver Recipe with Bacon Onions & Mushroom Sauce

Love Keil

Super Delicious Chicken Liver Recipe with Bacon Onions & Mushroom sauce. I love cooking with chicken liver for its taste and its nutrients, check out this deliciousness using chicken liver - The Best Sauteed Chicken Livers Recipe in White Wine Sauce.

4.91 from 11 votes

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Course Chicken Recipe, Main Coarse, Main Dish

Cuisine American

Servings 4

Calories 436 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons avocado oil
  • 6-8 strips bacon chopped into bite pieces
  • 2 medium onions cut in half and sliced
  • 2 cups mushrooms sliced
  • 1 lb chicken liver soaked in milk for 1 hour, rinsed & trimmed
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup chicken broth homemade
  • salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Using a skillet, over medium heat - heat 2 tablespoons of avocado oil and add bacon, cook for 5 minutes stirring few times. Add onions and cook for 10 minutes or until softened.

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  • Next, add mushrooms and cook stirring few times for 3-5 minutes. After using a slotted spoon, remove bacon with onions onto a plate. Leave 2 tablespoons of bacon grease in the skillet.

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  • Heat over medium/high heat and add chicken liver, cook for 5 minutes, or until chicken liver is cooked thru, flipping on the other side once. Remove chicken liver onto a plate.

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  • Now, melt 2 tablespoons of butter with 2 tablespoons of flour and 1 tablespoon of soy sauce, over medium heat. Stir until everything is combined about 1 minute. Pour in 3/4 cup of chicken broth. Season with salt and pepper and whisk until gentle boil and the sauce is thickened.

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  • Return chicken liver and bacon with onions back into the pan, stir with the sauce and let everything heat thru, about 1 minute. Garnish with greens and serve with mashed potatoes. Enjoy!

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Video

Notes

WhenYOU make this Chicken Liver Recipe take a picture & post it on Instagram@MunchkinTimeBlog & hashtag #munchkinrecipes, we would love to see your creation.

Hi! All content & images are copyright protected. Please do not use my images without prior permission. If you want to republish this recipe, please re-write the recipe in your own words, or simply link back to this post for the recipe. Thank you.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 436kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 27gFat: 32gSaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 428mgSodium: 766mgPotassium: 604mgFiber: 2gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 12737IUVitamin C: 28mgCalcium: 24mgIron: 11mg

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Q. DoYOU like this Chicken Liver Recipe?

Let me know in the comments below, I would love to hear from you!

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ThankYOUforYOURComment, Share & Recipe Review!

Quote of the Day

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Have an amazing day!

This post was updated on June 7, 2022 the recipe is still the same.

Chicken Liver Recipe with Bacon & Mushroom Sauce (Video) - (2024)

FAQs

Why do you soak chicken livers in milk? ›

They're not considered red meat, despite their appearance, but they are organ meat. They are quite strong in flavor which is why soaking them in milk helps. If you've ever tried to cook chicken livers before and they were too dry or rubbery, I promise you, it's worth trying again.

Do you rinse chicken livers before cooking? ›

Do not wash or rinse raw meat or poultry before you cook it. Washing can cause bacteria found on the surface of meat or poultry to be spread to ready-to-eat foods, kitchen utensils, and counter surfaces. This is called cross-contamination. Rinse fruits and vegetables before eating.

Are chicken livers good for you? ›

When eaten in moderation as part of a balanced diet and sourced from healthy farms, chicken liver is deeply nutritious, acting as a fantastic source of protein, various vitamins including B12, and minerals such as selenium.

What makes chicken livers pop when frying? ›

Since they're packed with moisture, liver is prone to splattering during frying. Letting them sit for a couple minutes in the seasoned flour before coating the other side will allow more flour to be absorbed into the egg, creating a thicker, crunchier barrier around the creamy inside.

What are you suppose to soak liver in before cooking? ›

While we are used to soaking liver in vinegar or lemon to get rid of the bad smell and kill any remaining toxins, American and European chefs advise to soak liver in milk. Yes, that's right: Milk! They claim that in addition to getting rid of toxins that usually are present in raw liver, milk helps tenderizing it.

Should you soak liver in milk or water? ›

Soak the liver in a dish or bowl of milk for 30-60 minutes. This is an important step in removing the bitter flavor from the liver. Salt and pepper the liver generously, and leave it out at room temperature while you prepare the remaining ingredients. Pat the liver dry.

How do you know when chicken liver is fully cooked? ›

Livers should be cooked until they are no longer bloody in the core. Colour is not a reliable indicator of effective cooking. Studies have shown that liver tissue can remain pink after it has reached a safe temperature (see figure 2). Ensure juice from uncooked livers does not leak onto other foods.

How do you know when chicken livers are done? ›

Always Cook Chicken Liver All the Way through

Use a food thermometer (you can't tell by looking). Cook the inside of the liver to 165°F, just like you would for other chicken parts.

How do you take the bitterness out of chicken livers? ›

What are some cooking techniques we can use to reduce the bitter taste of chicken liver? - Quora. Milk or Buttermilk. Milk will get rid of a lot of the bitterness and gamey flavor. BUTTERMILK will also really tenderize it and will improve the texture as well.

When should you not eat chicken livers? ›

However, due to their rich nutritional content, you will need to take chicken livers in moderation (like once a week) to avoid overdose. Pregnant women, for example, are advised against eating chicken livers as they provide too much Vitamin A that could harm the unborn baby.

What are the cons of chicken liver? ›

Here are some possible drawbacks of eating large amounts of liver: High cholesterol. Liver is high in dietary cholesterol. While many people can eat high-cholesterol foods without a problem, people trying to lower their cholesterol or who take cholesterol medications should watch their intake.

Is chicken liver bad for cholesterol? ›

You should avoid liver and offal altogether because they are very rich sources of cholesterol. Some shellfish such as co*ckles, mussels, oysters, scallops and clams are all low in cholesterol and in saturated fat and you can eat them as often as you like.

Why are my chicken livers yellow? ›

Normal poultry livers range in color from tan or yellow to deep mahogany red. A yellow liver indicates a fattier liver. Occasionally a liver may be a shade of green. Green livers are condemned at the slaughter plant and are rarely seen by consumers.

Why are chicken livers sometimes bitter? ›

The fact liver also produces bile, however, can perhaps also help to explain the slightly bitter aftertaste of this type of meat.

How do you not overcook chicken livers? ›

Increase the heat to high, add the chicken livers and sage and cook briefly, turning frequently, until the livers just lose their raw color, about three minutes or a bit longer. Season with salt and pepper and transfer to a warmed bowl; keep hot.

How long do you soak chicken liver in milk for? ›

Soaking in Milk (Optional)

Some chefs like to soak the chicken livers in milk for a short while, between thirty and sixty minutes, normally. This process gives the livers a softer taste and eliminates any possible bitterness. Once they have soaked, remove and use a paper towel to pat dry.

Do you have to soak chicken livers in milk? ›

Soaking in milk, which is very mildly acidic, will remove some of this taste. But don't soak it very long, or the meat will be too soft. Cleaning the liver properly (removing veins) will do more to make it enjoyable. Milder livers like chicken and duck liver don't really need to be soaked at all.

How long should you soak liver in milk before cooking? ›

Place the rinsed liver in a large bowl and cover with milk toss gently with hands to coat all the pieces evenly in the milk; place in refrigerater for 2 hours. Meanwhile heat 3-4 tablespoons butter or oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.

Do you rinse liver before soaking in milk? ›

Gently rinse liver slices under cold water and pat dry with paper towels. Place in a shallow dish; pour in enough milk to cover. Let stand while preparing onions, or set aside for longer if you have time. Soaking will remove any bitterness.

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