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Bourbon Maple BBQ Chicken Skewers

Bourbon maple BBQ chicken skewers with a glossy, caramelized glaze—sweet savory from maple syrup and tangy vinegar. Threaded on skewers and grilled until sticky, they’re ideal party food with dark, lacquered BBQ 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: 420
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Chicken skewers marinade and glaze
  • 2 lb chicken breasts cubed
  • 0.5 cup BBQ sauce
  • 0.25 cup bourbon
  • 0.25 cup maple syrup
  • 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 can (15 oz) wooden skewers soaked

Equipment

  • 1 grill

Method
 

Make the bourbon-maple glaze
  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 sauce for basting, then set the remaining sauce aside for marinating.
Marinate the chicken
  1. Add the cubed chicken to the remaining sauce and marinate for 1-4 hours in the refrigerator.
  2. Soak the wooden skewers before threading so they don’t burn on the grill.
Thread and grill
  1. Thread the marinated chicken onto the soaked skewers, leaving a little space between pieces so they cook evenly.
  2. Preheat the grill to medium heat and grill the skewers for 5-6 minutes per side, basting frequently with the reserved sauce.
  3. Continue grilling until the chicken reaches 165°F and the glaze looks sticky and glossy with caramelized dark edges.

Notes

Pro tip: keep basting toward the end so the surface caramelizes without burning. Refrigerate leftovers in a sealed container for up to 3 days; freeze cooked skewers for up to 2 months. For a bourbon-free option, use apple cider or additional BBQ sauce in place of bourbon for a similar sweet-savory profile.