Hill Country Honey Bacon Quail Recipe

Name: Hill Country Honey Bacon Quail
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 4 semi boneless quail; 2-3 slices of bacon (mine were very long so I used 2); 1/4 cup finely diced shallot (one very large shallot); 2 teaspoons fresh thyme; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 2-3 pinches aleppo pepper (or sub pepper flakes if you can't get your hands on aleppo - they will be spicier, a hint of heat is a good thing); 2-3 pinches salt; 1 tablespoon honey; 1/2 cup dry white wine; 1-2 sliced green onions (I used 1 but ours are huge)

Servings: persons

1
Lightly season the quail on both sides with salt and set aside. Crisp the bacon up in a large non-stick skillet big enough to later accommodate the 4 quail. Remove it and set aside. Leave the fat in there.
2
Add the olive oil to the pan and set the heat medium-high. Add the shallots and cook them until they are just clear, 3 or 4 minutes. Now push the shallots to the edges and add in the quail breast side down. Let them brown to just golden on one side . This won't take long, just a few minutes. You don't want to over cook the quail, they can get a bit of a livery flavor if you do, and they don't need anywhere near the cook time of other birds. Flip the quail and add the Aleppo pepper, thyme, honey and wine. Now turn the heat down a bit and let this all reduce to a nice glaze. Flip the quail back and forth a few times so that they get glazed all over, and taste for salt. They will look like an odd shiny little dance troupe in the pan, which makes it more fun to cook them. Your total cook time will be around 10 minutes or so. In the last minute, add the green onions to just barely cook them, and finish them with the bacon that you have crumbled up.
3
If the look of the whole quail weirds you out, half them to serve (over lentils is nice) or if you are a sick twist like me just arrange them doing the jitterbug on your plate and dig in.

343

kcal

Calories

Fat

Carbs

Protein

Fat Carbs Protein

* Per serving · 4 servings · Values may vary.

Tips for the best results

Read through all the steps once before you start and measure out your ingredients first — it makes everything go more smoothly.
Taste as you go and adjust the seasoning before serving.
Avoid overcrowding the pan — cook in batches if needed for the best texture.
Let the dish rest for a few minutes before serving so the flavors settle.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and enjoy within a few days.

Variations & substitutions

Swap the honey for maple syrup or agave for a slightly different but equally rich sweetness.

No specific allergen information. Please check the ingredient list for possible allergens.

My Personal Notes

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How did you like this recipe?

This recipe makes 4 servings. You can adjust the portion size directly on this page.

You need 10 ingredients. The key ingredients include: 4 semi boneless quail, 2-3 slices of bacon (mine were very long so I used 2), 1/4 cup finely diced shallot (one very large shallot), 2 teaspoons fresh thyme, and more.

Yes, Hill Country Honey Bacon Quail falls under the Meat & Poultry category and is a great choice for this type of meal.

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days. Reheat gently before serving.

That's it — enjoy your meal!

Hill Country Honey Bacon Quail

Tips for the best results

Variations & substitutions

My Personal Notes

How did you like this recipe?

Frequently Asked Questions