These delicious marinaded maple bourbon chicken breasts are loaded with flavor and are perfectly juicy. Ready to serve in 30 minutes, this brown sugar baked chicken is perfect for an easy weeknight meal.
Place chicken breasts in a large Ziplock bag, and set aside.
2-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
In a medium bowl, melt the butter in the microwave, then add in all of the other ingredients. Whisk together to combine. Reserve ¼ cup for additional glazing after cooking, and then pour in remaining glaze into the Ziplock bag, covering the chicken, and seal the bag.
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, ¼ cup bourbon, ½ cup brown sugar, ½ cup maple syrup, 2 tablespoons apple juice, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
Place the bag in the refrigerator and let the chicken marinate for 1-2 hours. In the last 30 minutes of the marinade time, preheat your oven to 400°F.
Remove the chicken from the bag and place the chicken in a casserole dish or pie plate. Leave a small amount of the marinade in the dish to bake with the chicken and discard the rest along with the bag.
Bake the chicken in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes. Turn the chicken over halfway through cooking so the top half bakes in the marinade.
When done, turn back over, and broil on high for an additional 2-3 minutes. This isn’t necessary as the chicken should be thoroughly cooked, but broiling it adds the extra crispness with the marinade and goldens the chicken.
Using the reserved marinade, you can also add on another layer of glaze before serving. Broil for 2-3 minutes if you'd like the sauce to be sticky.
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Notes
Set aside glaze so you have some that hasn’t come in contact with the raw chicken. Although the glaze in the pan with the chicken is safe since it has been cooked.
Chicken shouldn’t be poked or forked to marinade as it could dry out the chicken.
The chicken can be grilled or cooked stovetop as well. Place a skillet (or grill) over medium heat and cook the chicken for 5-7 minutes per side or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
Storage: Store maple bourbon chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.