If you’re looking for something easy that feels a little more fun than your usual grilled chicken, this bourbon chicken is it. It’s marinated in a sweet and smoky bourbon BBQ sauce with soy sauce, garlic, and ginger, giving it that perfect balance of bold, slightly sticky flavor.

It grills up juicy with just the right amount of caramelization, and the extra sauce gets simmered down into something you’ll want to drizzle on everything.

Whether you’re firing up the grill for a summer BBQ, planning a Father’s Day menu, or just trying to make weeknight dinner less boring, this one delivers big flavor without a lot of effort.

Serve it over rice with green onions, and you’re done.

grilled bourbon chicken on a plate with rice and green onions next to a glass or bourbon

Serves: 6-8
Prep Time: 5 minutes (plus 30+ minutes for marinating)
Cook Time: 15-20 minutes

Love homemade marinades?

This marinade has the same sweet-savory balance you’ll find in our pineapple marinade and our huli huli sauce.

Ingredients:

2 ½ lbs boneless chicken thighs (or breasts)

For the marinade:

⅓ cup bourbon
⅓ cup soy sauce
⅓ cup barbecue sauce
2 Tbsp brown sugar
2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 inch piece of peeled, grated ginger (or 1 tsp ginger powder)
2-3 garlic cloves (minced or pressed)

Optional:

cooked rice for serving with
chopped green onions for garnish

a bottle of bourbon next to a tray of chicken thighs, bowls of brown sugar, oil, vinegar, and soy sauce, bottles of barbecue sauce and worcestershire sauce with fresh garlic and ginger

Get the full printable instructions with measurements at the bottom of the post in the recipe card.

Step-by-Step Directions:

Step 1: Pat the chicken dry and trim off any excess fat. Place the chicken in a plastic bag or glass dish. Mix all of the marinade ingredients together in a bowl with a whisk.

Step 2: Reserve about 1/3 of the marinade and pour the rest over the chicken, making sure to evenly coat each piece. Cover and refrigerate the chicken and leftover marinade. Let sit for at least 30 minutes or up to overnight.

Step 3: Prepare your grill by preheating it to medium-high heat, then cleaning and oiling the grates uf desired (you can use a high heat non-stick spray or coat them with vegetable or avocado oil). Place the chicken pieces on the grill and cook on one side for 5-8 minutes (or until nicely browned) with the lid closed. Discard any marinade that the chicken was in.

Step 4: While chicken is cooking, pour reserved marinade into a small saucepan and heat over high heat until it boils. Reduce the heat and simmer for a few minutes to warm the sauce and burn the alcohol out of it.

Step 5: Flip the chicken over and cook for another 5-8 minutes with the lid closed until cooked through (165º F when taken with an instant thermometer).

Step 6: Slice the chicken and serve with the sauce over rice with chopped green onions if desired.

Tips for grilling:

Unsure of which bourbon to choose? Bulleit is a favorite at our house. You can also use mini (50 ml) bottles if you’re not a bourbon drinker.
We prefer chicken thighs because they cook up quickly and have a lot of flavor. Chicken breasts can be used if you’re looking for a leaner dish. Pound the thicker end with a mallet to help them cook evenly.

More grilled favorites:

grilled steak fajitas – grilled beef plus toppings = yum
chicken skewers – easy marinade and quick grill time

Before you go . . .

If sticky, saucy chicken is your thing, you’re going to want the full lineup. We’ve got a mix of easy tropical dinner recipes that keep things from getting boring.

Easy Grilled Bourbon Chicken (Sweet & Smoky BBQ Chicken)

Succulent grilled chicken served over fluffy white rice on a decorative plate, garnished with chopped green onions, perfect for easy dinner recipes and meal prep.

This easy grilled bourbon chicken is sweet, smoky, and marinated in a bold bourbon BBQ sauce. Juicy, caramelized, and perfect for summer grilling or a quick weeknight dinner.

Beth

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 15

Marinate Time: 30

Total Time 50

Servings

Ingredients

2 ½ lb. boneless skinless chicken thighs (or breasts)

For the Marinade:

⅓ cup bourbon
⅓ cup soy sauce
⅓ cup barbecue sauce
2 Tbsp brown sugar
2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 inch piece of ginger (grated or 1 tsp ginger powder)
2-3 garlic cloves (minced or pressed)

Instructions

Pat the chicken dry and trim off any excess fat. Place the chicken in a plastic bag or glass dish. Mix all of the marinade ingredients together in a bowl with a whisk.
Reserve about 1/3 of the marinade and pour the rest over the chicken, making sure to evenly coat each piece. Cover and refrigerate the chicken and leftover marinade. Let sit for at least 30 minutes or up to overnight.
Prepare your grill by preheating it to medium-high heat, then cleaning and oiling the grates uf desired (you can use a high heat non-stick spray or coat them with vegetable or avocado oil). Place the chicken pieces on the grill and cook on one side for 5-8 minutes (or until nicely browned) with the lid closed. Discard any marinade that the chicken was in.
While chicken is cooking, pour reserved marinade into a small saucepan and heat over high heat until it boils. Reduce the heat and simmer for a few minutes to warm the sauce and burn the alcohol out of it.
Flip the chicken over and cook for another 5-8 minutes with the lid closed until cooked through (165º F when taken with an instant thermometer).
Slice the chicken and serve with the sauce over rice with chopped green onions if desired.

Nutrition

Disclaimer: All nutrition values are per serving and approximate. They will vary depending on products and quantities used.

Easy Grilled Bourbon Chicken (Sweet & Smoky BBQ Bourbon Chicken)

Love homemade marinades?