Description
These Bourbon Chicken Skewers are sticky, smoky, and sweet—grilled to perfection and brushed with a glossy bourbon glaze. Perfect for backyard BBQs, weeknight meals, or party appetizers, this recipe brings bold flavor and juicy chicken to the table with ease.
Ingredients
1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into chunks
1/3 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup bourbon (or apple juice + 1 teaspoon vanilla extract)
2 tablespoons ketchup
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger
2 teaspoons cornstarch (for slurry)
2 tablespoons water (for slurry)
1 tablespoon chopped green onions or chives, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
1. In a bowl, whisk together soy sauce, brown sugar, bourbon, ketchup, garlic, ginger, and vinegar. Reserve 1/2 cup for the glaze.
2. Add chicken chunks to the marinade and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or overnight.
3. If using wooden skewers, soak in water for 30 minutes. Thread chicken pieces onto skewers.
4. Preheat grill or grill pan to medium-high heat and lightly oil the surface.
5. Grill skewers for 3–4 minutes per side until chicken reaches 165°F and is charred.
6. In a saucepan, simmer the reserved marinade. Stir in cornstarch slurry until thickened into glaze.
7. Brush cooked chicken skewers with glaze and sprinkle with green onions or chives. Serve hot.
Notes
Marinate the chicken overnight for the most flavor-packed result.
If substituting bourbon, apple juice + vanilla still gives great depth without the alcohol.
Use chicken thighs for juicier skewers that won’t dry out on the grill.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 skewer plate (about 1/4 of recipe)
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 680mg
- Fat: 13g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 39g
- Cholesterol: 110mg
Keywords: bourbon chicken, skewers, grill, glazed chicken