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Honey Bourbon Grilled Chicken Thighs

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A quick and easy grilled chicken thigh recipe featuring a sticky, caramelized honey bourbon glaze that delivers smoky, sweet, and finger-licking BBQ flavor.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
  • 1/4 cup (85g) honey
  • 1/4 cup (60ml) bourbon
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • Optional: chili flakes for heat

Instructions

  1. Prepare the marinade: In a bowl, combine honey, bourbon, minced garlic, olive oil, apple cider vinegar, smoked paprika, sea salt, and black pepper. Whisk until well blended.
  2. Marinate the chicken: Pat dry chicken thighs with paper towels. Place in a shallow dish or zip-top bag and pour marinade over. Coat each piece well. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour, ideally 3-4 hours.
  3. Preheat the grill: Heat grill to medium-high (about 400°F). Lightly oil the grates to prevent sticking.
  4. Grill the chicken: Place chicken skin-side down on the grill. Cook 6-8 minutes without moving until skin crisps and grill marks appear. Flip and cook another 6-8 minutes.
  5. Apply the glaze: Brush remaining marinade onto chicken during the last 4-5 minutes of cooking, turning and glazing every couple of minutes to build a sticky coating.
  6. Check for doneness: Use a meat thermometer to ensure internal temperature reaches 165°F. If no thermometer, juices should run clear and meat feel firm but juicy.
  7. Rest the chicken: Transfer to a plate and let rest for 5 minutes before serving to lock in juices.

Notes

Pat chicken dry before marinating for crispy skin. Apply glaze mainly at the end to avoid burning. Manage flare-ups by moving chicken to indirect heat if needed. Rest chicken after grilling to keep it juicy. For non-alcoholic version, substitute bourbon with apple juice and a drop of vanilla extract.

Nutrition

Keywords: honey bourbon grilled chicken, BBQ chicken thighs, sticky glaze chicken, grilled chicken recipe, easy BBQ chicken

Find it online: https://sparklechew.com/honey-bourbon-grilled-chicken-thighs-recipe-easy-sticky-glaze-for-perfect-bbq/