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Bourbon Maple BBQ Chicken Skewers

Bourbon maple BBQ chicken skewers with a glossy, caramelized glaze—sweet, smoky, and tangy. Cube-and-skewer grilled chicken is basted often for sticky char and flavor that clings to every bite.
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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
  

Bourbon-maple BBQ sauce and marinade
  • 0.5 cup BBQ sauce
  • 0.25 cup bourbon Use bourbon for the marinade and glaze.
  • 0.25 cup maple syrup Adds the sweet-savory caramelized finish.
  • 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar Provides tang to balance the sweetness.
  • 1 tbsp Dijon mustard Helps emulsify the sauce.
Chicken skewers
  • 2 lb chicken breasts Cube into even pieces for uniform cooking.
  • 1 Wooden skewers, soaked Soak to prevent burning on the grill.

Equipment

  • 1 grill

Method
 

Make the bourbon-maple BBQ sauce
  1. Mix BBQ sauce, bourbon, maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, and Dijon mustard in a bowl until smooth and well combined.
  2. Reserve 1/4 cup of the mixed sauce for basting, then set it aside.
Marinate and skewer
  1. Add cubed chicken breasts to the remaining sauce and marinate for 1-4 hours in the refrigerator.
  2. Thread the marinated chicken onto the soaked wooden skewers, using even spacing so they cook at the same rate.
Grill and baste
  1. Preheat the grill to medium heat, then place the skewers on the grate.
  2. Grill for 5-6 minutes per side over medium heat, basting frequently with the reserved sauce.
  3. Continue cooking until the chicken reaches 165°F and the glaze turns sticky and glossy.

Notes

Pro tip: Keep basting during the grill so the bourbon-maple glaze keeps caramelizing—don’t let it pool and burn. Refrigerate marinated chicken up to 24 hours (for best texture, cook within that window). Freeze cooked skewers for up to 2 months; thaw in the fridge overnight and rewarm gently. For a lower-sugar option, use a reduced-sugar BBQ sauce and consider cutting maple syrup by 1-2 tbsp while still maintaining the same grilling time.