If you're planning to make chicken skewers for your next cookout, this is the recipe you'll come back to again and again. The chicken is marinated in BBQ sauce, bacon, maple syrup, and a splash of bourbon. The result? A deep smoky flavor and melt-in-your-mouth tenderness. Whether you grill them outdoors, cook them in a pan, or broil them in the oven-these skewers are always a hit.
Smoky Chicken Skewers With Bacon and Bourbon BBQ Sauce
I made these chicken skewers for the first time during an American BBQ night. The whole menu had a classic American vibe, and chicken skewers just had to be part of it. These taste nothing like my mustard-soy skewers or my kebab-style skewers.
This recipe has bold Southern BBQ flavors, with bacon and barbecue sauce taking center stage.
My tip: Make extra. Once your neighbors catch a whiff of that smoky bacon-bourbon aroma, they'll be knocking at your door.
Tips for the Best BBQ Chicken Skewers Recipe-Bacon and Bourbon Flavor
- Marinate the chicken for at least 1 hour. Overnight is even better.
- Using wooden skewers? Soak them in water for 30 minutes to prevent burning.
- Grill on medium heat so the chicken cooks through without burning the sauce.
- Use whole slices of bacon, not bits-this gives a smooth, rich marinade.
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📖 Recipe
VIDEO
RECIPE CARD
Ingredients
- 6 slices smoked bacon
- 1 clove garlic, squeezed
- 1 shallot, quartered
- 1 cup barbecue sauce
- 3 tablespoons maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 tablespoons smoked paprika powder
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 3 tablespoons bourbon
- 2 ½ pounds chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
All my recipes are written both in Metric (gram / ml) and US Customary (cups / pounds). Here you can select which type of amount you would like to see.
Instructions
- Add bacon, garlic, shallot, BBQ sauce, maple syrup, salt, paprika, pepper, and bourbon to a blender. Blend until smooth.6 slices smoked bacon, 1 clove garlic, 1 shallot, 1 cup barbecue sauce, 3 tablespoons maple syrup, 2 teaspoons salt, 2 tablespoons smoked paprika powder, 1 teaspoon ground black pepper, 3 tablespoons bourbon
- Divide the marinade into two bowls: ⅔ in bowl one and ⅓ in bowl two.
- Thread the chicken onto skewers.2 ½ pounds chicken breasts
- Brush the skewers with marinade from bowl one and place in a dish. Pour the rest of bowl one over the top. Cover and chill.
- Marinate for at least 1 hour in the fridge.
- Grill the skewers for 5 minutes per side, until cooked through.
- Brush with marinade from bowl two and grill 1 more minute.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- Spicy: Add 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes to the marinade.
- No alcohol: Replace bourbon with apple juice or cola.
- Different meat: Try it with turkey breast or pork tenderloin.
- Uncooked:
- Fridge: Store for 1 day (covered).
- Freezer: Freeze for up to 2 months.
- Cooked
- Fridge: Store for up to 3 days (covered).
- Freezer: Store for up to 2 months.
- Reheat
- In oven: 10 minutes at 350 °F (ca. 180 °C).
- In microwave: 1-2 minutes on medium power.
Nutrition
Traci K says
Have you ever tried this with shrimp instead of chicken? Do you have any cooking suggestions for preparing it?
Andréa says
Not with this marinade, so I can't tell you how it tastes, but if you're going to prepare them I'm very curious, so let me know! When using shrimp, I would probably marinate for only 20 minutes and bake for a total of 6 minutes (3 on both sides).