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Bourbon Maple BBQ Chicken Skewers

Bourbon maple BBQ chicken skewers with a glossy, caramelized glaze—sweet, savory, and built for grilling. Cube chicken, marinate in bourbon-maple BBQ sauce, then grill until sticky and reach 165°F.
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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
Calories: 520
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Chicken
  • 2 lb chicken breasts cubed
  • 1 wooden skewers soaked
Bourbon-maple BBQ sauce
  • 0.5 cup BBQ sauce
  • 0.25 cup bourbon
  • 0.25 cup maple syrup
  • 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tbsp Dijon mustard

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan
  • 1 grill

Method
 

Make the bourbon-maple BBQ sauce
  1. In a bowl, mix BBQ sauce, bourbon, maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, and Dijon mustard until smooth and uniform.
  2. Reserve 1/4 cup of the sauce for basting and set aside.
Marinate the chicken
  1. Add cubed chicken breasts to the remaining sauce, cover, and marinate for 1-4 hours in the refrigerator, turning once if possible.
Skewer and grill
  1. Thread the marinated chicken onto soaked wooden skewers, leaving a little space between pieces for even cooking.
  2. Preheat a grill to medium heat.
  3. Grill the skewers for 5-6 minutes per side, basting frequently with the reserved sauce to build a glossy, caramelized coating.
  4. Cook until the chicken reaches 165°F and the glaze is sticky, then remove immediately.

Notes

For the stickiest glaze, baste often during grilling and keep the heat at medium so the bourbon-maple sugars caramelize without burning. Refrigerate leftovers in a sealed container for up to 3 days; freeze cooked skewers for up to 2 months (thaw overnight in the fridge). For a lighter option, reduce bourbon to 2 tbsp and replace the rest with extra maple syrup or apple juice while keeping the same total liquid amount.