Bourbon-Spiced Whiskey Glazed Chicken Thighs
Juicy chicken thighs glazed with a rich bourbon and brown sugar sauce, perfect for an easy weeknight dinner with a hint of smoky sweetness. This American-inspired chicken recipe, ready in about 35 minutes, pairs bone-in chicken thighs, bourbon whiskey, brown sugar for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 6 pieces bone-in chicken thighs
- 1/3 cup bourbon whiskey
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 3 cloves minced garlic
- 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Pat dry 6 bone-in chicken thighs and season with 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper. Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken thighs skin-side down and sear for 5-6 minutes until the skin is golden brown and crispy.
- Step 2: Flip the chicken thighs and add 3 cloves minced garlic and 1 tbsp unsalted butter to the skillet. Sauté for 1 minute until fragrant, then remove chicken to a plate.
- Step 3: Pour 1/3 cup bourbon whiskey, 1/4 cup brown sugar, and 2 tbsp soy sauce into the skillet. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon, about 4-5 minutes.
- Step 4: Return the chicken thighs to the skillet, spooning the bourbon glaze over them. Add 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves and simmer gently for an additional 8-10 minutes, turning occasionally, until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce is sticky.








