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Sticky Bourbon Chicken Skewers

Sticky bourbon chicken skewers with a glossy, sticky bourbon-brown sugar glaze that caramelizes on the grill. Marinated chicken skewers get basted with reserved marinade for sweet-savory flavor and visible glaze.
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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: 430
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Marinade and glaze
  • 0.25 cup bourbon
  • 0.25 cup soy sauce
  • 0.25 cup brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • 2 garlic minced
  • 1 tsp ginger grated
  • 0.5 tsp red pepper flakes
Chicken and skewers
  • 2 lb chicken breasts cut into chunks
  • 1 wooden skewers soaked
Garnish
  • 1 sesame seeds
  • 1 green onions

Equipment

  • 1 grill

Method
 

Make the bourbon marinade
  1. Whisk together bourbon, soy sauce, brown sugar, honey, garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes until smooth. The mixture should look glossy and fully combined.
  2. Reserve 1/4 cup of the marinade for basting. Cover and keep it aside so you can brush it on during grilling.
Marinate and skewer
  1. Marinate the chicken in the remaining marinade for 1-4 hours. Refrigerate so the chicken stays cold while it soaks up flavor.
  2. Thread the marinated chicken onto soaked wooden skewers. Arrange pieces so they’re snug with minimal gaps for even caramelizing.
Grill and finish
  1. Grill the skewers over medium-high heat for 5-6 minutes per side, basting with the reserved marinade during grilling. Cook until the surface looks caramelized and the glaze turns glossy and sticky.
  2. Garnish with sesame seeds and green onions before serving. Top right as you pull them off so the garnish stays fresh and visible.

Notes

Pro tip: Start basting once the chicken has seared (after the first turn) so the sugars caramelize without burning. Store leftovers in the refrigerator up to 3 days. Freezing is not recommended because the glaze texture changes after thawing. For a lighter option, use low-sodium soy sauce and reduce the brown sugar to 3 tbsp while keeping the bourbon and honey the same.