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Sticky Bourbon Chicken Skewers

Sticky bourbon chicken skewers with a rich bourbon-brown sugar glaze are grilled until caramelized and glossy. Chunky chicken is marinated, basted, and finished with sesame seeds and green onions for a sweet-savory, sticky coating.
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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: 520
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Chicken
  • 2 lb chicken breasts Cut into chunks for even grilling.
Bourbon marinade and glaze
  • 0.25 cup bourbon Use for both marinade and reserved basting.
  • 0.25 cup soy sauce Adds savory depth to the sweet glaze.
  • 0.25 cup brown sugar Helps caramelize into a sticky finish.
  • 2 tbsp honey For sheen and sticky texture.
  • 2 garlic Minced.
  • 1 tsp fresh ginger Grated.
  • 0.5 tsp red pepper flakes Add gentle heat.
Skewers and garnish
  • 1 wooden skewers Soaked to prevent burning.
  • 1 sesame seeds For garnish.
  • 1 green onions For garnish.

Equipment

  • 1 grill

Method
 

Make the marinade
  1. Whisk together bourbon, soy sauce, brown sugar, honey, garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes until the sugar dissolves and the mixture looks glossy.
Marinate the chicken
  1. Reserve 1/4 cup of the marinade for basting so you have enough glaze to brush on the skewers during grilling.
  2. Marinate chicken breasts in the remaining marinade for 1-4 hours, turning once if possible, until the pieces look evenly coated.
Skewer and grill
  1. Thread chicken chunks onto soaked wooden skewers, leaving a little space between pieces for better caramelization.
  2. Grill over medium-high heat for 5-6 minutes per side, basting with the reserved marinade each time you flip so the glaze turns glossy and sticky.
Finish and serve
  1. Garnish with sesame seeds and green onions right before serving for fresh color and extra texture.

Notes

Pro tip: reserve the basting portion before marinating so you don’t contaminate the glaze. Refrigerate marinated chicken up to 1-4 hours (best within 2 hours); grilled skewers keep 3 days in an airtight container. Freeze chicken skewers after grilling for up to 2 months (reheat to re-glaze if needed). For a lower-sugar option, use a brown-sugar substitute in equal amounts to keep the sticky caramel effect while reducing added sugar.