Go Back

Bourbon Maple BBQ Chicken Skewers

Bourbon maple BBQ chicken skewers with a glossy, caramelized glaze that clings to every bite. Marinated chicken is grilled on soaked skewers until sticky and fully cooked at 165°F.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
marinating 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 32 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Chicken and skewers
  • 2 lb chicken breasts
  • 1 wooden skewers Soak in water so they don’t burn on the grill.
Bourbon-maple BBQ glaze and marinade
  • 0.5 cup BBQ sauce
  • 0.25 cup bourbon
  • 0.25 cup maple syrup
  • 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tbsp Dijon mustard

Method
 

Make the bourbon-maple BBQ sauce
  1. In a bowl, whisk together BBQ sauce, bourbon, maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, and Dijon mustard until smooth.
  2. Reserve 1/4 cup of the sauce for basting and set it aside.
Marinate the chicken
  1. Add the cubed chicken breasts to the remaining sauce and toss to coat evenly.
  2. Cover and marinate for 1-4 hours in the refrigerator.
Skewer and grill
  1. Thread the marinated chicken onto the soaked wooden skewers.
  2. Preheat the grill to medium heat (about 350°F to 400°F).
  3. Grill the skewers for 5-6 minutes per side, basting frequently with the reserved sauce.
  4. Cook until the chicken reaches 165°F and the glaze looks sticky and glossy with caramelized spots.

Notes

For the most caramelized glaze, baste during the last half of grilling so the sugars have time to set. Refrigerate leftovers in a sealed container for up to 3 days; freeze cooked skewers up to 2 months. For a lower-sugar option, use a no-sugar-added BBQ sauce while keeping the maple syrup.