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Sticky Bourbon Chicken Skewers

Sticky bourbon chicken skewers with a rich bourbon-brown sugar glaze that turns glossy and sticky on the grill. Juicy chicken chunks marinated in bourbon soy sauce and basted for caramelized edges and sweet-savory flavor.
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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: 620
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Chicken marinade and glaze
  • 2 lb chicken breasts
  • 0.25 cup bourbon
  • 0.25 cup soy sauce
  • 0.25 cup brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • 2 garlic
  • 1 tsp fresh ginger
  • 0.5 tsp red pepper flakes
  • wooden skewers (soaked)
  • 1 tbsp sesame seeds for garnish
  • 1 tbsp green onions for garnish

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan
  • 1 grill

Method
 

Make the bourbon marinade
  1. Whisk bourbon, soy sauce, brown sugar, honey, garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes in a bowl until the sugar dissolves and the mixture looks glossy.
  2. Reserve 1/4 cup marinade for basting, then set the reserved portion aside.
  3. Marinate the chicken in the remaining marinade for 1-4 hours in the refrigerator, turning once if possible to coat evenly.
Skewer and grill
  1. Thread the marinated chicken onto soaked wooden skewers, leaving a little space between chunks for even caramelization.
  2. Grill over medium-high heat for 5-6 minutes per side, basting with the reserved marinade during grilling until the glaze is darkened and sticky at the edges.
Finish and serve
  1. Garnish the skewers with sesame seeds and green onions right before serving so the topping stays fresh and visible.

Notes

Pro tip: for the stickiest glaze, baste during the last 2-3 minutes of grilling rather than early, so it caramelizes instead of burning. Refrigerate leftovers in a sealed container for up to 3 days; reheat gently to avoid drying out. Freezing is not recommended because the glaze and chicken texture can soften. For a lower-sugar option, reduce the honey to 1 tbsp and increase brown sugar by 2 tbsp for a closer balance while keeping the sweet-savory profile.