Whiskey-Glazed BBQ Chicken Thighs
Juicy chicken thighs simmered in a smoky whiskey glaze for a tender, flavorful barbecue dish. This American-inspired barbecue recipe, ready in about 50 minutes, pairs bone-in chicken thighs, whiskey, brown sugar for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 380 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 whiskey
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp olive oil
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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: Preheat your grill or oven to 375°F. Pat dry 6 bone-in chicken thighs and season with 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, 1 tsp smoked paprika, and 1 tsp garlic powder.
- Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken thighs skin side down for 4 minutes until golden and crisp, then flip and sear the other side for 3 minutes.
- Step 3: In a bowl, whisk together 1/3 cup whiskey, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup ketchup, 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar, and 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce until smooth and combined.
- Step 4: Transfer the seared chicken thighs to a baking dish and brush generously with half of the whiskey glaze. Bake for 20 minutes at 375°F.
- Step 5: Remove from oven and baste with remaining whiskey glaze. Return to oven and bake for an additional 10 minutes until the chicken is cooked through (internal temperature 165°F) and the glaze is sticky and caramelized.








