The Smoothest, Most Delicious Chicken Liver Pâté Recipe Is Right Here (2024)

  • Christmas Appetizers
  • Chicken Liver
  • French

Blended smooth to spread on bread or crackers, it's a hit at parties.

By

Elise Bauer

The Smoothest, Most Delicious Chicken Liver Pâté Recipe Is Right Here (1)

Elise Bauer

Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.

Learn about Simply Recipes'Editorial Process

Updated January 10, 2024

The Smoothest, Most Delicious Chicken Liver Pâté Recipe Is Right Here (2)

13 ratings

Chicken liver pâté—looks atrocious, tastes great!

In fact, this is one of those instances where you pity the fool who refuses to eat something because it doesn't look appetizing. And then you're secretly happy because that means there's more for you.

The Smoothest, Most Delicious Chicken Liver Pâté Recipe Is Right Here (3)

Chicken liver pâté is perfect for spreading over crackers or toasted thin baguette slices. And unlike so many of the pâtés we make that require a weighted terrine in a water bath, this one is easy to make and takes hardly any time.

How to Cook Chicken Livers

You just trim the chicken livers of their connective tissue, sauté them in butter with shallots, garlic, and capers, add a little brandy, and then purée with cream and a little more butter. It's best served chilled, and because of its richness, a little goes a long way.

The Smoothest, Most Delicious Chicken Liver Pâté Recipe Is Right Here (4)

How Long Can You Store Chicken Liver Pâté?

Refrigerator: Refrigerate chicken liver pâté tightly covered for up to 1 week. To refrigerate it longer than 1 week but no longer than 1 month, pour a little melted lard or clarified butter on top to seal. Each time you dip into the pâté, you will need to reseal the top to preserve it.

Freezer: Tightly wrap leftover pâté in plastic wrap and then place it in a layer of foil, a freezer- safe zipper bag, or an airtight freezer-safe container. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw the pâté overnight in the refrigerator.

Party Appetizers to Serve with Chicken Liver Pâté

  • Asparagus and Ricotta Bruschetta
  • Easiest Ever Garlic Bread
  • Caramelized Onion Tart with Gorgonzola and Brie
  • Gouda and Bacon Stuffed Mushrooms
  • Mediterranean Mezze Platter

From the Editors Of Simply Recipes

Chicken Liver Pâté

Prep Time15 mins

Cook Time15 mins

Total Time30 mins

Servings16 servings

If you want, you can soak the chicken livers in milk for an hour or so before proceeding with the recipe. Soaking the livers in milk will take a bit of the edge off the liver and make them taste milder. This recipe makes a lot. You can easily halve (or double).

Ingredients

  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided

  • 1/3 cup minced shallot

  • 1 pound chicken livers

  • Kosher salt

  • 1 clove garlic, minced

  • 2 tablespoons capers

  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme

  • 1 teaspoon anchovy paste, optional

  • 1/4 cup brandy

  • 1/4 cup cream

Special Equipment

  • Food processor

Method

  1. Trim the connective tissue andfat:

    Trim any fat or connective tissue from the livers and discard.

    The Smoothest, Most Delicious Chicken Liver Pâté Recipe Is Right Here (5)

    The Smoothest, Most Delicious Chicken Liver Pâté Recipe Is Right Here (6)

  2. Brown the butter:

    Heat 2 tablespoons of the butter in a large sauté pan on medium heat and let the butter brown, about 3 to 5 minutes. Do not let it burn.

    How to Make Brown ButterREAD MORE:
  3. Sauté the shallots and livers:

    Add the shallots and sauté for 1 minute. Add the livers. Be sure to space them well in the pan so they can brown more easily. Sprinkle salt over the livers. Flip the livers when one side browns, about 2 minutes.

    The Smoothest, Most Delicious Chicken Liver Pâté Recipe Is Right Here (7)

  4. Add the capers, thyme, garlic, and anchovy paste:

    Once the livers have browned, add the capers, thyme, garlic, and anchovy paste if using, and sauté another minute.

  5. Deglaze the pan with brandy:

    Take the pan off the heat and add the brandy. (Be careful when you return it to the heat, as it could flame up, especially if you are using a gas range. If it does, cover the pan for a moment.) Increase the heat to high and let the brandy boil and reduce to the consistency of syrup, about 1 to 2 minutes. Turn off heat and allow the mixture to cool.

    The Smoothest, Most Delicious Chicken Liver Pâté Recipe Is Right Here (8)

  6. Purée in a food processor:

    Put the mixture into a food processor or blender and pulse a few times to combine. Add the remaining butter and the cream and purée. The mixture will look a little loose, but it will firm up in the fridge.

  7. Place into ramekins and chill:

    Pack the pâté into ramekins or a small bowl, cover and refrigerate for at least an hour before using.

    The pâté will last a week or so in the fridge. If you want to preserve it for up to a month, pour a little melted lard or clarified butter on top to seal. Each time you dip into the pâté, you will need to reseal the top to preserve it.

    Serve spread on crackers or baguette slices.

    Did you enjoy this recipe? Let us know with a rating and review!

The Smoothest, Most Delicious Chicken Liver Pâté Recipe Is Right Here (9)

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
108Calories
8g Fat
1g Carbs
7g Protein

×

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 16
Amount per serving
Calories108
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 8g10%
Saturated Fat 4g21%
Cholesterol 175mg58%
Sodium 85mg4%
Total Carbohydrate 1g0%
Dietary Fiber 0g1%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 7g
Vitamin C 8mg42%
Calcium 10mg1%
Iron 3mg19%
Potassium 92mg2%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.

The Smoothest, Most Delicious Chicken Liver Pâté Recipe Is Right Here (2024)

FAQs

Which pâté is smooth? ›

The choice of meat used in pâté can significantly influence its flavor and texture. For example, chicken liver pâté tends to be smooth and spreadable, while a game pâté may be more robust and coarse.

How long will chicken liver pate keep in the fridge? ›

Refrigerator: Refrigerate chicken liver pâté tightly covered for up to 1 week. To refrigerate it longer than 1 week but no longer than 1 month, pour a little melted lard or clarified butter on top to seal. Each time you dip into the pâté, you will need to reseal the top to preserve it.

How healthy is chicken liver pate? ›

Chicken liver is made up of about 25% protein, with a moderate level of fat and minimal carbohydrate. It is wonderfully high in B12 (100g provides 287% of the RDA), vitamin A, folate, vitamin B2, selenium and iron. It also contains good levels of phosphorous, zinc and copper.

What is the name of the coarse pâté? ›

Pâté de campagne, or country pâté, has a coarse, hearty texture.

Why is my liver pate grainy? ›

If you're not familiar with cooking liver the temptation is to overcook it but this will cause your pâté to become grainy. The best thing to do is to not overcrowd the pan – this way the livers will get enough heat to colour and cook within 6 minutes.

Why is my chicken liver pate bitter? ›

Blood can give the pâté a bitter taste. (Step 2) Livers soaking in milk under refrigeration. Using a sieve, separate the milk from the livers and allow the livers to drain for two minutes before rinsing them under a running tap to remove the last traces of milk.

Do you eat the butter on top of pâté? ›

Homemade pâté recipes, for example, often suggest pouring a layer of melted butter on top of the finished product to extend its shelf life, even though pâté keeps well in the refrigerator. If the extra fat bothers you, you can take it off the part of the pâté you'll be consuming at the moment, but it's not necessary.

Why is my chicken liver pate runny? ›

Assuming it's chicken liver pate, have you tried adding butter, cream or other saturated fat? This can thicken and so firm pate quite well. Or you could use some kind of meal - oat flour or matzo meal, breadcrumbs etc that would absorb the liquid.

How often should you eat liver pâté? ›

It's possible, and dangerous, to get too much vitamin A. Eating large amounts of liver can lead to symptoms of vitamin A toxicity, which happens when your own liver can't process the excess vitamin A quickly enough. Most doctors recommend that people without vitamin deficiencies eat just one serving of liver per week.

Can you eat too much liver pâté? ›

Liver and liver products, such as liver pâté and liver sausage, are a good source of iron, as well as being a rich source of vitamin A. However, because they are such a rich source of vitamin A, we should be careful not to eat too much liver and liver product foods.

Is chicken liver pate full of iron? ›

If, like me I confess, eating liver doesn't really appeal, then how about as pate? My mum used to make chicken liver pate regularly and it's still a favourite of mine. It has 2.8g of iron per 30g serve so provides a real iron boost to your day.

What makes the liver taste better? ›

Soak liver in milk for 1-2 hours before cooking.

If you follow a strict paleo diet, you can use coconut milk instead of dairy milk; you'll get the same benefit of mellowing out the flavor. Buttermilk is also a great option!

How can I make my liver more flavorful? ›

Cook It With Lots of Flavorful Ingredients.

To Do: I believe onions and garlic are almost a necessity when cooking liver. Also try bacon, chilies, and aromatic herbs like thyme or sage.

How can I make my liver less disgusting? ›

The key is to slice and soak the liver; the soaking removes the pungent taste. After soaking, the liver is battered, fried, and dipped in garlic aioli -- it's a crowd-pleasing, crunchy preparation.

Is brussels pâté smooth? ›

The smooth Brussels Pate is a pure Pork liver pate made using only the freshest liver meat, eggs and cream and a mixture of spices to form a soft pâté.

What's the difference between Brussels pâté and Ardennes pâté? ›

A famous paté from Belgian cuisine, Ardennes is an incredibly tasty paté that has a deep and rich flavour. Similar to Brussels paté, but with a coarser and more varied texture the result is a delicious paste that is excellent served with oatcakes and fresh crusty bread.

What is the most popular French pâté? ›

Some of the most popular types of pâté in France include pâté de campagne, made with pork, pâté de foie gras, made with duck or goose liver, and pâté en croûte, which is baked in a pastry crust.

References

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