These Bourbon Maple BBQ Chicken Skewers are the perfect summertime recipe, and the BBQ sauce is so flavorful you will want to put it on everything!
Bourbon Maple BBQ Chicken Skewers
It’s hard to believe that we are basically all the way through July, but summer isn’t over just yet, and these bourbon maple bbq chicken skewers are the perfect way to celebrate. The great thing about this recipe is how simple it is to make. A quick BBQ sauce comes together with bourbon, maple syrup, and essential seasonings and spices swimming together over a low simmer. This addicting sauce is brushed on boneless, skinless chicken thighs which are then skewered to be grilled to a crispy and charred perfection. These chicken skewers are sure to be hit, so get the recipe below!
What will I need to make these BBQ chicken skewers (see recipe below for entire ingredient list)
1/2 cup bourbon or whiskey
1 cup ketchup
1/2 cup maple syrup
1 tbsp dijon mustard
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
2 tsp chili powder
2 tsp paprika
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
salt and black pepper
2 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs
Can I use chicken breast instead?
Of course you can! We prefer to use chicken thighs for this recipe because they are really hard to overcook and rarely get tough. Chicken breast will totally work though. Keep an eye on temperature and remove it from the grill as soon as it hits an internal temperature 165 degrees F. This will keep the chicken from getting super tough, which tends to happen when you overcook chicken breast.
Bourbon Maple BBQ Chicken Skewers
Should I soak my skewers in water if I’m using the wooden version?
As you can see from the photos, you can certainly tell that I DID NOT soak my skewers, and I should have. We will just call this laziness because I usually do soak them. I like to soak them more so that they don’t crumble rather than worrying about them catching on fire. If you are using wooden skewers, I definitely recommend soaking them in water for 30 minutes before using them over an open flame.
Can you taste the bourbon in the BBQ sauce?
I feel like you can smell the bourbon more than you can taste it, but it is definitely potent. If you are not a huge fan, feel free to decrease the amount by half.
Are you looking for more great chicken recipes on Cooking and Beer? Well, we have a ton of them! Check out some of my favorite chicken recipes!
Bourbon Maple BBQ Chicken Skewers
Servings:
6 skewersNutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup bourbon or whiskey
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1/2 cup maple syrup
- 1 tbsp dijon mustard
- 2 tsp worcestershire sauce
- 2 tsp chili powder
- 2 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- salt and black pepper to taste
- 2 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs cut into 1-2 in. cubes
Instructions
- To a medium saucepan, add all ingredients through the onion powder. Turn the heat on medium-high to high, and stir until the ingredients are combined. Bring the sauce to a heavy simmer, and then reduce the heat to medium-low. Simmer the BBQ sauce for 10-15 minutes. Adjust seasoning and add salt if needed.
- Meanwhile, prepare the chicken. Season the chicken all over with salt. Add all but 1/2 cup of the BBQ sauce to a large bowl. Add the chicken and toss to combine.
- Skewer the chicken by dividing the chicken among the 6 skewers. Set the heat on your grill to medium-high heat. Grill the chicken for about 10-15 minutes, continuously turning so that the chicken does not burn but chars slightly. Grill until the chicken is completely cooked through.
- Serve the chicken immediately with extra BBQ sauce, and enjoy!
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