Maple Bourbon Chicken Marinade Recipe

plate of maple bourbon chicken with salad and bread

4.52 from 29 votes

Maple Bourbon Chicken Marinade Recipe

These delicious marinated maple bourbon chicken breasts are loaded with flavor and are perfectly juicy. Ready to serve in 30 minutes, this bourbon chicken marinade adds so much flavor to baked chicken breasts!

Prep Time10

Cook Time20

Total Time30

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Servings: people

Calories: 412kcal

Author: Becky Hardin

Ingredients

2-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts 4-6 ounces each*

For the Marinade:

1 tablespoon unsalted butter ⅛ stick
¼ cup bourbon **
½ cup brown sugar
½ cup maple syrup
2 tablespoons apple juice ***
½ teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon ground black pepper

Instructions

For the Marinade:

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.
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
Then add in all of the other marinade ingredients. Whisk together to combine.
¼ cup bourbon, ½ cup brown sugar, ½ cup maple syrup, 2 tablespoons apple juice, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
Reserve ¼ cup for additional glazing after cooking.
Pour in remaining bourbon marinade into the Ziplock bag, covering the chicken, and seal the bag.
Massage the sealed bag to help coat the chicken. Then place the bag in the refrigerator and let the chicken marinate for 1-2 hours.

To Bake the Chicken:

When ready to bake, preheat your oven to 400℉.
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, flipping the chicken over halfway through cooking.
Using the reserved marinade, you can also add on another layer of glaze before serving. Broil for another 2-3 minutes if you'd like the sauce to be sticky. The extra glazing and broiling is optional.

Video

Notes

*Boneless, skinless chicken thighs also work well!

**Use your preferred Bourbon for this marinade recipe.

***White grape juice or apple cider vinegar can be used in place of apple juice.

Tips:

Set aside a portion of the marinade to use as a serving glaze later. For food safety purposes, it's best to have some that hasn’t come in contact with the raw chicken.
Chicken does not need to be poked or forked to marinate. In fact, it could dry out the chicken.
This chicken can be marinated for as little as 15 minutes, or up to 2 hours in the fridge. A longer marinating time will add more flavor, but too long can break down the chicken in an unpleasant manner.
Glazing and broiling the chicken at the end helps give it a golden, crisp, slightly sticky texture.

Alternative Cooking Methods

Stovetop Instructions: Place a skillet (or grill pan) over medium heat and cook the marinated chicken for 5-7 minutes per side, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.

Grilling Instructions: Preheat your grill to medium-high (375-450°F) and grill the chicken for 5-6 minutes per side.

Air Fryer Instructions: Cook chicken breasts in a 380℉ Air Fryer for 16-20 minutes.

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.

Nutrition