Chicken Liver Pate Recipe

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This easy chicken liver pate recipe is ultra-smooth and creamy. Every bite is packed with flavor and great nutrition, plus it’s alcohol-free! It’s perfect as an appetizer or snack and pairs beautifully with toasted bread or crackers. Simple and delicious, it’s a dish you’d want to make if you want to impress.

Why Chicken Liver?

I love utilizing organ meats in our meals at home because not only do they provide many health benefits, but they’re very affordable, too. Did I mention they’re delicious? There’s no doubt this chicken liver pate is proof that organ meat recipes are worth eating, just like beef liver pate and ox liver pate. In fact, liver pate for keto and carnivore diets is one of the best ways to start with organ meat!

The health benefits of liver are impressive enough to make even the biggest organ meat skeptic want to try liver at least once. Chicken liver is high in protein and many nutrients. According to the USDA nutrient database, 100 grams of cooked chicken liver provides about 167 calories, including roughly 24–25 grams of protein, 5 grams of fat, and around 1 gram of carbohydrates.

There is an abundant amount of vitamin A, folate, various B vitamins, as well as vitamins C and E. There are small to moderate amounts of vitamin D and K2. This same amount of liver has 118% RDA of selenium and significant amounts of iron, phosphorus, zinc, copper, manganese and smaller amounts of other essential minerals. Amazing!

Nutrition Advance details the importance of these minerals and how chicken liver keeps us healthy. Like all meat and organs, chicken liver is bioavailable. This means we can easily digest and assimilate the nutrition without the interference of plant toxins or nutritional cofactors that impede digestibility. What you see on paper is really what you get in your body.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Simple ingredients
• Packed with flavor: A perfect balance of savory, aromatic ingredients that gives this pate depth and deliciousness. This dish also delivers a velvety texture that’s rich and luxurious with every bite.
• Nutrient-dense
• Budget-friendly: Enjoy a delicious, restaurant-quality appetizer without the hefty price tag. Perfect for entertaining on a budget.
• Party-worthy: Ideal for holiday gatherings, brunch spread, or an upscale snack, chicken liver pate is always a hit. Your guests will think you spent hours on this dish, but it comes together in a snap!
• Make-ahead friendly: This dish stores well, so you can prepare it ahead of time for stress-free meals throughout the week.

How to Make Chicken Liver Pate

With less than 10 ingredients, you can make a show-stopping chicken liver pate recipe! You only need 10 minutes of prep time and 5 minutes of cook time. The hardest part is waiting for it to chill, but I promise it’s worth it.

Scroll to the bottom of this post for a printable recipe card with a full list of ingredients, measurements, and step-by-step instructions.

Ingredients You Need

• Chicken livers: The superfood that provides the rich, savory flavor and creamy texture that define pate. Choose fresh chicken livers to avoid an overly strong flavor.
• Butter: For cooking the aromatics. Butter also adds richness, smoothness, and a velvety mouthfeel to the dish while helping bind the flavors together.
• Shallot: Brings a mild, sweet onion flavor that complements the richness of the chicken livers without overpowering them.
• Garlic cloves
• Parsley: Provides a fresh finish and a pop of color that balances the richness of the dish.
• Salt and ground black pepper

Step-By-Step Instructions

With just a handful of easy-to-find ingredients, you can make a special occasion-worthy dish that’s classic, delicious, and pairs well with many other appetizers. To make the perfect pate, follow the 5 simple steps below.

Step 1: Prep the chicken liver

To prepare the easy chicken liver pate recipe, begin by trimming the livers. Remove any sinew or connective pieces. These don’t blend well and will be chewy in the pate if you leave them.

Use a sharp knife or kitchen scissors to cut around the livers.

Step 2: Cook the aromatics

Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the shallot and garlic to the pan. Cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.

Step 3: Add the liver

Arrange the chicken livers in a single layer on the skillet and pan-fry until the first side is golden brown. Flip over and cook the second side for another few minutes. Cook for about 5 minutes total. Add parsley in the last minute or so of cooking. 

Chicken liver should be seared on the outside and remain rosy pink inside. Since this is a chicken liver pate without alcohol, we don’t simmer the livers in brandy or any other alcohol.

Step 4: Puree

Remove the livers from the heat and cool slightly before adding to a food processor. Blend with the remaining butter and season with salt and pepper. Puree until smooth. If you don’t have a food processor, use a blender or immersion or stick blender.

Step 5: Chill

Pour pate into ramekin dishes or a single container. Chill in the refrigerator for 4 hours or overnight.

Substitutions

Cooking is all about enjoying what you eat, and this chicken liver pate is a great example. Swap in whatever ingredients you have on hand or prefer to use! Here are a few easy substitutions to get you started:

• Parsley: Substitute fresh parsley with dried parsley, or replace it with fresh thyme, chives, or tarragon.
• Butter: If you don’t want to use butter, substitute it with schmaltz (chicken fat), duck fat, or coconut oil for a dairy-free option. You can also try ghee for a nuttier flavor.
• Shallot: Yellow onion, sweet onion, or leeks can be used in place of shallots. Use a small amount of red onion for a bolder flavor.

Expert Tips

• Trim the chicken livers: Trim the livers before cooking by removing any fat and connective tissue to avoid bitterness and ensure your pate turns out smooth and creamy.
• Don’t overcook: Cook the livers just until they’re slightly pink in the center. Overcooked livers can become grainy and lose their delicate flavor.
• Add a butter seal: For longer storage and a polished look, pour a thin layer of melted butter on top of the pate before chilling. It keeps it fresh and adds extra richness.
• Serve at room temperature: Allow the pate to sit at room temperature for about 20 minutes before serving to soften slightly and enhance its creamy texture.
• Taste and adjust: Before chilling, taste the pate and adjust the salt, pepper, or herbs to your liking. Remember, chilling can slightly mute flavors.

How to Store This Recipe

Transfer the pate to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Since it has to chill, it’s great for making ahead. Add the butter layer as detailed in the expert tips section, and it will store much longer in the fridge.

You can also freeze the pate. Pack it into a freezer-safe container or use ice cube trays to make individual portions to pop out as you need them.

What to Serve with Chicken Liver Pate

Serve chicken liver pate as an appetizer with regular, gluten-free, or low-carb crackers, crostini, or toasted baguette slices. Other pairs include celery or carrot sticks, cucumber slices, cooked bacon strips, and pork rinds. For a sweet contrast, add a dollop of jam, chutney, or a drizzle of honey on top.

More Easy Appetizers To Try

• Goat cheese-stuffed dates
• Nut-free cheese ball
• Prosciutto appetizer
• Salmon dip with cream cheese
• Bacon-wrapped asparagus