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Bourbon BBQ Chicken Skewers with Bacon for an Easy Grilled Dinner

BBQ Chicken Kebabs for the Ultimate Summer Grill Night

These BBQ Chicken Kebabs for the Ultimate Summer Grill Night are packed with bold, smoky flavor and made for warm-weather cookouts. Juicy chicken gets coated in a savory bacon-spice mixture, grilled until tender, then brushed with a rich bourbon BBQ sauce for the perfect sticky finish. They’re easy enough for weeknight dinners but impressive enough for backyard parties, holiday grilling, or weekend entertaining. Every bite is loaded with sweet, smoky, and savory goodness that keeps everyone coming back for more. Serve these flavorful skewers fresh off the grill with extra sauce on the side for a fun and unforgettable summer meal.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Course: Appetizer, Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 16 ounces barbecue sauce
  • ¼ cup bourbon
  • 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground white pepper
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • 2 tablespoons paprika
  • 3 tablespoons dark brown sugar packed
  • 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
  • 6 slices uncooked bacon chopped into small pieces

Method
 

    1. Preheat the Grill

    Heat your grill to medium-high so it’s ready to go once the skewers are assembled.

    2. Make the Bourbon BBQ Sauce

    In a small bowl, stir together the barbecue sauce and bourbon until fully blended. Set aside for later.

    3. Prepare the Bacon Spice Mixture

    Add the salt, white pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, smoked paprika, brown sugar, and chopped bacon to a food processor. Blend until the mixture turns into a smooth, spreadable paste.

    4. Coat the Chicken

    Place the chicken thigh pieces in a large bowl. Add the bacon mixture and toss well until every piece is evenly covered.

    5. Build the Skewers

    Thread the coated chicken onto skewers.If you’re using wooden skewers, make sure they’ve been soaked in water beforehand to help prevent burning.

    6. Grill the Kebabs

    Place the skewers on the hot grill and cook for about 5 minutes per side, or until the chicken is almost fully cooked through.

    7. Brush with Sauce

    During the final couple of minutes, brush the skewers generously with the bourbon BBQ sauce. Grill for about 1 more minute per side so the sauce gets sticky and caramelized.

    8. Serve

    Remove the kebabs from the grill and serve hot with the extra BBQ sauce on the side for dipping or drizzling.

Notes

Notes

This recipe makes extra bourbon BBQ sauce, which is great for serving alongside the skewers.
If you’d rather avoid leftovers, you can simply cut the sauce ingredients in half and still have enough for cooking and serving.