Cherry-Bourbon Chicken Wings

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These chicken wings are saucy, sweet, and sour—plain and simple, lip-smacking good! The tanginess and tartness of the cherries is balanced by the sweetness of the ketchup and brown sugar. Bourbon is added to the sauce and cooked just long enough to cook off the alcohol but maintain all of its caramel notes. As the wings finish on the grill, the crispy, caramelized bits are the best part. Pair these wings with traditional cookout fixings such as slaw, grilled veggies, potato, or pasta salad. Skipping the grill? These turn out great in a 500°F oven. Just make sure to line your pan with foil for easy cleanup.

Super Bowl Food Ideas: Cherry Bourbon Chicken Wings
These chicken wings are so good, you’ll keep them on rotation before, during, and after football season. The sweet and sour Bourbon sauce helps the wings get nice and crispy on the grill, and they pair well with traditional cookout fixings such as slaw and potato salad. Get the recipe: Cherry Bourbon Chicken Wings. Photo: Victor Protasio
Hands On Time:
20 mins
Total Time:
30 mins
Yield:
4

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup olive oil, divided

  • 1 shallot, chopped 

  • 2 cloves garlic, chopped

  • 3 tablespoons bourbon

  • ½ cup pitted sour cherries

  • ¼ cup ketchup

  • ¼ cup apple cider vinegar

  • 2 tablespoons light brown sugar

  • ¾ teaspoon dry mustard

  • 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt, divided

  • 2 pounds chicken wings

Directions

  1. Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a small saucepan over medium. Add shallot and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 2 minutes. Add bourbon and cook, stirring and scraping to loosen any browned bits from the bottom of the saucepan. Stir in cherries, ketchup, vinegar, brown sugar, mustard, and ¾ teaspoon of the salt. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring often, until thickened, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool slightly, about 10 minutes. Transfer mixture to a blender, and process until smooth, about 15 seconds.

  2. Preheat grill to medium-high (about 450°F). Toss chicken wings with remaining 2 tablespoons oil and ¾ teaspoon salt. Grill, uncovered, turning occasionally, until cooked through, 20 to 25 minutes. Brush wings evenly with sauce and continue to grill, turning once, until caramelized, about 4 minutes more.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

422 Calories
30g Fat
15g Carbs
22g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Calories 422
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 30g 38%
Saturated Fat 6g 31%
Cholesterol 136mg 45%
Sodium 1017mg 44%
Total Carbohydrate 15g 5%
Total Sugars 13g
Protein 22g

*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

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