Description
Bourbon Chicken Thighs bring southern comfort straight to your dinner table with a rich, caramelized glaze that makes taste buds dance. Marinated in whiskey and seared to golden perfection, these tender chicken thighs deliver a seriously delicious meal that feels like a warm culinary hug.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
Liquid and Seasonings:
- ½ cup soy sauce
- ¼ cup bourbon
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
Dry Ingredients and Aromatics:
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 2 green onions, sliced
- Sesame seeds
Instructions
- Create a zesty marinade by combining ½ cup soy sauce, ¼ cup bourbon, ¼ cup brown sugar, 3 minced garlic cloves, 1 tablespoon grated ginger, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, ½ teaspoon black pepper, and ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes in a mixing bowl.
- Transfer 8 bone-in chicken thighs to a large zip-top bag and pour half the marinade over them. Ensure each thigh gets completely coated. Seal and refrigerate for a minimum of 1 hour, though overnight will develop deeper flavors.
- Heat your grill to 400°F. Remove chicken from marinade, allowing excess liquid to drip off carefully.
- Place chicken thighs skin-side down on the grill. Cook for 6-7 minutes until golden brown and crisp.
- Flip thighs and continue grilling for another 6-7 minutes. Check that internal temperature reaches 165°F using a meat thermometer.
- Pour remaining marinade into a small saucepan. Simmer over medium heat for 5-6 minutes until the liquid reduces and thickens into a glossy glaze.
- Brush the reduced marinade glaze over each chicken thigh during the final 2 minutes of grilling.
- Remove thighs from grill and let rest for 3-4 minutes. Sprinkle with sliced green onions and sesame seeds before serving.
Notes
- Marinating overnight deepens the flavor and helps tenderize the chicken thighs for more delicious results.
- Reserve some marinade before adding raw chicken to create a safe sauce for basting without cross-contamination risks.
- Check the chicken’s internal temperature with a meat thermometer to ensure it reaches 165°F and prevents undercooking.
- For a lower-carb version, swap brown sugar with a sugar substitute like monk fruit sweetener or reduce the amount of sugar by half.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 475 kcal
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 1150 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 21 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 130 mg