Smoky Bourbon-Maple Glazed Chicken Thighs

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-21 · Updated 2026-04-21

Chicken thighs coated in a sweet-smoky glaze with bourbon and maple, creating a rich, caramelized finish. This Southern-inspired chicken recipe, ready in about 45 minutes, pairs chicken thighs, olive oil, smoked paprika for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 420 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

• 1.5 lbs, skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 3 tbsp bourbon
• 2 tbsp maple syrup
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar

The pan we’d use for this → Best Nonstick Cookware for 2026: Top 5 Skillet Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Pat chicken thighs dry with paper towels. In a small bowl, mix 1 tbsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper.
2. Step 2: Rub spice mixture evenly over all chicken pieces. Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering.
3. Step 3: Place chicken thighs skin-side down in skillet and cook for 8-10 minutes until skin is golden brown and crispy.
4. Step 4: Flip chicken and cook for 5 more minutes on the other side.
5. Step 5: In a small bowl, whisk together 3 tbsp bourbon, 2 tbsp maple syrup, and 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar.
6. Step 6: Pour bourbon glaze over chicken, reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes, turning once, until chicken is cooked through and glaze has thickened.