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Bourbon Maple BBQ Chicken Skewers

Bourbon maple BBQ chicken skewers with a glossy, caramelized glaze. Marinated chicken is grilled until sticky and reaches 165°F for sweet-savory party food.
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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: 420
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Chicken skewers marinade and glaze
  • 2 lb chicken breasts cubed
  • 0.5 cup BBQ sauce reserve 1/4 cup for basting
  • 0.25 cup bourbon
  • 0.25 cup maple syrup
  • 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 wooden skewers soaked

Equipment

  • 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.
  2. Reserve 1/4 cup of the mixture for basting so it stays separate from the marinade.
Marinate and prep for grilling
  1. Add the cubed chicken to the remaining sauce and marinate for 1-4 hours.
  2. Thread the marinated chicken onto soaked wooden skewers in an even layer.
Grill and glaze
  1. Grill the skewers over medium heat for 5-6 minutes per side, basting frequently with the reserved sauce.
  2. Cook until the chicken reaches 165°F and the glaze is sticky, with a glossy caramelized look.

Notes

For the stickiest glaze, baste during the last few minutes of grilling and avoid burning the bourbon-maple sugars; if flare-ups happen, move skewers to a cooler spot. Refrigerate leftovers in a sealed container for up to 3 days; freezer: yes, up to 2 months, thaw in the fridge before reheating. For a lighter option, use low-sugar BBQ sauce to reduce overall sweetness while keeping the bourbon-maple flavor.