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Bourbon Maple BBQ Chicken Skewers

Bourbon maple BBQ chicken skewers with a glossy, caramelized glaze—sweet savory chicken cooked right on skewers. Marinate for tenderness, then grill until sticky and the chicken hits 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
  

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

Equipment

  • 1 grill

Method
 

Make bourbon-maple BBQ sauce
  1. In a bowl, whisk together BBQ sauce, bourbon, maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, and Dijon mustard until smooth and glossy.
  2. Reserve 1/4 cup of the sauce for basting and set it aside.
Marinate
  1. Add the cubed chicken to the remaining sauce, cover, and marinate in the refrigerator for 1-4 hours (or up to overnight), turning once if possible.
Skewer and grill
  1. Thread the marinated chicken onto the soaked wooden skewers, leaving a little space between pieces for even charring.
  2. Preheat the grill to medium heat and place the skewers on the grates.
  3. Grill for 5-6 minutes per side, basting frequently with the reserved sauce as the glaze starts to darken and caramelize.
  4. Continue grilling until the chicken reaches 165°F and the bourbon-maple glaze is sticky and clings to the surface, then remove to rest briefly before serving.

Notes

For the stickiest glaze, baste during the last few minutes and avoid burning by keeping the grill at steady medium heat. Refrigerate leftovers in a sealed container up to 3 days; freeze cooked skewers up to 2 months. For a non-alcohol option, replace the bourbon with additional maple syrup or apple juice (use the same amount) and extend marinating by 1 hour for flavor depth.