Summertime grilling is all about low stress and high deliciousness. This Grilled Bourbon Chicken with peaches is a light, slightly sweet, summery dish that's just right to feed hungry crowds at your next barbecue.
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Grilling season is here!
Summertime eating for our family means lighter meals packed with fresh seasonal fruits and veggies that are easy and fast to put together.
We love grilling up Ginger Cider Grilled Chicken, BBQ Bacon Burgers, and Steak with Cilantro Almond Pesto.
This Grilled Bourbon Chicken recipe is just the thing to serve up to friends and family for summer picnics, and really, any outdoor entertaining occasion.
Peach Bourbon Marinade
Peaches are the cream of the crop for many of you across the country during the summer, and I have a thing for peaches and bourbon together. It's just a lovely combo of summery sweetness from the peaches and caramel goodness from the bourbon.
You can mix the marinade up in a big bowl to marinade the chicken. Or, you can do what I did here and lay the chicken pieces out flat in a large glass baking dish, then pour the marinade evenly over the chicken.
FLAVOR NOTE: You can add spices like nutmeg and paprika to make this sauce less sweet and more of a balanced smoky/sweet sauce. I like the sweetness of this sauce for wings and drumsticks, but would probably add spices if I were grilling larger cuts of meat, such as chicken breasts or thighs.
Chicken Grilling Tips
To make this delicious grilled bourbon chicken, place the wings and drumsticks on a greased or nonstick foil in the top rack of your grill. Active grill time should be about 30 minutes; flip and baste with reserve marinade halfway through.
Watch the chicken carefully after about 25 minutes; the total time will depend on your particular grill.
Also: the wings will likely be done before the drumsticks, and so watch those carefully and remove when a meat thermometer reads the internal temperature of the wings at about 165 degrees. The drumsticks should be done at about 175 degrees.
Why This Grilled Chicken Recipe Works!
These Grilled Bourbon Chicken wings and drumsticks are:
- perfect finger foods for outdoor picnics and parties
- tender and moist
- sweet with summer flavors
- an excellent main dish that can go with a wide variety of side dishes
What To Serve With Peach Bourbon Chicken
For this grilled bourbon chicken dish, I would suggest pairing it with sides that are similar in lightness and seasonal freshness. Dishes like:
- fresh strawberries, peaches, grapes
- one of these simple summer salads
- Baby Potato Salad with Bacon
- Summer Slaw
- grilled corn on the cob with a lime cilantro butter
- Ricotta Crostini with Berries and Honey
Best wine pairing for grilled chicken
A stainless steel Chardonnay would pair well with this grilled bourbon chicken dish. The Stoller Dundee Hills Chardonnay ($25) has hints of summer peach and nectarine, which help bring out the peach bourbon flavors of the chicken. It's a nice, crisp white wine with low residual sugar that drinks beautifully on a hot summer day.
Grilled bourbon chicken recipe
Grilled Bourbon Chicken with Peaches
Ingredients
- 1 pound chicken wings
- 1 pound chicken drummettes
- ⅓ cup bourbon
- 3 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- ⅓ cup honey
- 3 large yellow peaches peeled, pitted, and diced
- 1 Tablespoon minced ginger
- 1 Tablespoon minced garlic about 2 medium garlic cloves, or 1 large + 1 small garlic clove
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- salt + pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a blender, puree together the bourbon, apple cider vinegar, honey, and diced peaches until well blended.
- Pour pureed bourbon peach mixture into an extra large plastic bag and add the minced ginger and garlic. Mix together, then pour about ¼ cup of the marinade into a separate bowl and set aside.
- Add chicken to the bag, seal, and gently shake and move the bag to coat all of the chicken pieces. You can then either refrigerate the entire bag to marinate the chicken, or you can pour everything out into a big bowl or a glass baking pan. I prefer to do the later because it's easier to ensure the chicken gets evenly coated and turned. Refrigerate the marinating chicken for at least 30 minutes, and up to 2 hours.
- Remove chicken from refrigerator and heat up your grill to 450 degrees.
- Spray foil with cooking spray, place foil onto the top rack of your grill, and place chicken evenly. You may need to grill in batches, depending on the size of your grill.
- Grill for about 15 minutes, turn over, and baste with reserve marinadee. Grill for another 15-20 minutes, or until chicken is completely cooked and at 175 degrees.
- Let rest for 5-10 minutes then serve.
Notes
-Remember to watch the grill time after about 20-25 minutes. Some grills will cook wings and drumsticks at 30 minutes, while others may take up to 45 minutes total.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is a general estimate. Actual nutrition details may vary depending on the exact foods & brands you use to make this recipe. It does not take into account any substitutions, toppings, or optional ingredients.
Sheila says
This looks really good. I love that it's healthy, flavorful and easy to prepare. Will definitely try this on our next barbeque weekend.
Mackenzie @ Food Above Gold says
I love your flavors notes for rounding out the flavor of this she sauce. Even though i think I'd like it sweet as-is, it's like having a bunch of different sauces in one! Can't wait to try this!
Molly Kumar says
The Bourbon Chicken sounds sooooo yummm! I've never cooked chicken with bourbon but I'm totally loving the flavor combination and the spices used in the recipe. Will have to try soon.
Soniya says
What a delightful combination!! I have tried chicken with mango and now this is on my to make list !! Yummilicious!
Jessica (Swanky Recipes) says
I love a good sweet wing and even more so since it's grilled! The hubs just got a new grill and I can't wait to share these with him. Tell love grilling these up for the family, yum!
Gloria @ Homemade & Yummy says
Well all you had to say was bourbon...and you know it would be a winner. These look delicious...and the flavour profile is fantastic. What a great way to grill some chicken....party perfect for sure.
Marisa Franca @ All Our Way says
WE love to grill out! I swear hubby would wear boots to get to the grill if we had snow. Chicken is one of our favorites on the grill - really like the flavors that are going on in this dish. I'm pinning!
Mari says
Such a great idea to pair chicken with peaches! And pics are so vibrant and inviting... :)
Noel Lizotte says
Everything about this screams summertime! This is a great flavor combination... and I love that you use wings and drums - lots of marinade to meat ratio ... always a good thing in my book.
Renee @ The Good Hearted Woman says
Yum! I love the combination of peaches and chicken, and bourbon makes everything better, right?!? I'm so happy that grilling season is Finally here in the PNW. I'm so ready to move the kitchen outside!
Pech says
I'm with you, wings over drumsticks!!
Veena Azmanov says
I love the combination of peaches with chicken. But I've never tried to combine it with bourbon. Love the sound of that.. Yum!!
Marlynn Jayme Schotland says
It really is a delicious combo! Thanks, Veena :)
Mark says
Yumm! I love this, I have similar recipe with bourbon and ginger that I use. I'm going to try this one this week!
Adriana Lopez Martn says
What a great combo love to use fruit with meats and this combination of peached and chicken sounds delightful wish I could have a bite
Marlynn Jayme Schotland says
Glad you like the flavor combo, Adriana! I do too! Thanks :)
Catherine @ Ten Thousand Hour Mama says
Yay grilling season! The summer has barely begun (and it's STILL raining, gah!), but we have been using the BBQ a lot more often lately. I just can't handle heating up the house when it's warm outside!