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Sticky Bourbon Chicken Skewers

Sticky bourbon chicken skewers with a rich bourbon-brown sugar glaze that turns glossy and sticky as they grill. Chunky chicken is marinated, skewered, then basted with reserved marinade for sweet-savory caramelized edges.
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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
  

Chicken and marinade
  • 2 lb chicken breasts Cut into chunks.
  • 0.25 cup bourbon
  • 0.25 cup soy sauce
  • 0.25 cup brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • 2 garlic Minced.
  • 1 tsp fresh ginger Grated.
  • 0.5 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 1 wooden skewers Soaked.
  • 1 sesame seeds For garnish.
  • 1 green onions For garnish.

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Make the bourbon marinade and prep to marinate
  1. Whisk together bourbon, soy sauce, brown sugar, honey, garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes until fully combined, glossy, and smooth.
  2. Reserve 1/4 cup marinade for basting and set it aside for later.
  3. Marinate the chicken in the remaining marinade for 1-4 hours, covered, so the pieces stay coated.
Skewer, grill, and glaze
  1. Thread the marinated chicken onto soaked wooden skewers in an even pattern so they cook at the same rate.
  2. Grill over medium-high heat for 5-6 minutes per side, basting with the reserved marinade during grilling until the glaze looks caramelized and sticky.
Finish and serve
  1. Garnish with sesame seeds and green onions before serving for a fresh, aromatic finish.

Notes

For best flavor and stickiness, let the chicken marinate closer to 4 hours and keep basting during grilling so the glaze visibly darkens. Refrigerate leftovers in a sealed container for up to 3 days (reheat gently so the glaze doesn’t scorch). Freezing is not recommended because the glaze can lose its glossy texture after thawing. For a lower-sugar option, use a sugar-free bourbon-style glaze by replacing some or all brown sugar with a brown-sugar substitute that measures 1:1.