Servings: 6
Preparation Time: 20 minutes
Start to Finish Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
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Southern Bourbon BBQ Chicken with Cornbread Topping: A Show-Stopping Twist on Classic Barbecue
Ready to spice up your next barbecue and surprise your guests with something unforgettable? Look no further than Southern Bourbon BBQ Chicken with Cornbread Topping—a mouthwatering dish that perfectly blends the bold flavors of bourbon-infused barbecue chicken with the comforting crunch of a golden cornbread crust. This isn’t your average BBQ fare; it’s a dish that brings a delightful twist to traditional outdoor grilling by combining smoky, sweet, and savory flavors all in one bite.
At www.5starrecipe.com, we love cornbread, our favorite cuisine is barbecue, and our best cooking utensil is a cast iron skillet. So naturally, we couldn’t resist creating this recipe that brings all of our favorites together. The result? Southern Bourbon BBQ Chicken with Cornbread Topping, a true celebration of everything we adore about Southern cooking—rich barbecue flavors, the satisfying crunch of cornbread, and the unbeatable heat retention of a trusty cast iron skillet.
For those who love barbecue, this recipe is a must-try. The juicy barbecued chicken, infused with bourbon and smoky spices, is rich and flavorful on its own. But when topped with a layer of crumbly, moist cornbread that soaks up all the delicious barbecue sauce, it transforms into something truly special. It’s the kind of dish that elevates any barbecue gathering, offering more than just the typical burgers and hot dogs, and it’s guaranteed to leave your guests talking long after the meal is over.
The magic happens when the cast iron skillet is introduced. It ensures the cornbread topping cooks up crispy on the edges while staying soft and tender inside, perfectly complementing the juicy bourbon BBQ chicken underneath. It’s the ultimate marriage of flavors and textures, combining the rich, saucy barbecue with the golden crunch of cornbread. And if you love a little heat, this dish can easily be cranked up to a 2-alarm level with the addition of hot pepper sauce. Just remember, the full 3 tablespoons of hot pepper sauce will bring a fiery kick, so feel free to dial it back if you’re serving guests who prefer a milder spice.
Not only is this Southern Bourbon BBQ Chicken with Cornbread Topping packed with flavor, but it’s also versatile. It works beautifully for a casual weekend cookout or even as the star of a more formal barbecue gathering. The combination of familiar Southern ingredients with the depth of bourbon and the sweet heat of barbecue makes it feel both comforting and sophisticated.
This dish pairs perfectly with other classic BBQ sides like creamy coleslaw, baked beans, or a fresh summer salad, but it also stands strong as a centerpiece on its own.
And let’s not forget the drinks—serve this alongside a cold bourbon cocktail or a refreshing iced tea, and you’ve got yourself a full Southern feast.
At www.5starrecipe.com, we believe that the best recipes come from combining our favorite things—and with Southern Bourbon BBQ Chicken with Cornbread Topping, we’ve created a dish that’s sure to become a new favorite at your next barbecue. So fire up your grill, whip up this cornbread-topped masterpiece in your cast iron skillet, and get ready to impress your guests with a delicious surprise that’s full of Southern charm and flavor!
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Ingredients:
BBQ SAUCE:
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 cloves garlic, grated or finely chopped
1 medium red onion, finely chopped
1 dash salt
1 dash black pepper
3 tablespoons tomato paste
1 tablespoon smoked paprika
1 1/2 cups low sodium chicken broth
1/4 cup brown sugar
3 tablespoons hot pepper sauce (see NOTES)
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon orange zest
1 tablespoon orange juice
BBQ CHICKEN MIXTURE:
1 pound chicken breast, skinless, boneless, coarsely chopped
1 1/2 pound chicken thighs, boneless & skinless, coarsely chopped
3/4 cup bourbon (or whiskey)
4 each scallions, thinly sliced
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
2 8-1/2 ounce boxes corn muffin mix (batter mixed according to package directions)
Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 375° F
BBQ SAUCE (20 minutes):
In a medium saucepan, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and red onion and cook until tender, 4 to 5 minutes; seasoning with salt and pepper.
Stir in the tomato paste and smoked paprika and cook until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes.
Stir in the chicken broth, brown sugar, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, orange zest and orange juice and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer the barbecue sauce until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes.
BBQ CHICKEN MIXTURE (45 minutes):
Meanwhile, in a large oven-proof skillet, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the chicken, season with salt and pepper and cook until golden brown on all sides, 6 to 8 minutes.
Pour the barbecue sauce into the skillet and drizzle the bourbon on top. Remove the pan from the heat and light the alcohol with a match. Return the pan to the heat and cook until the flames subside.
Fold the scallions and 1/2 cup cheese into the mixed corn bread batter. Spoon the mixture evenly over the barbecue chicken in the skillet. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup cheese on top.
Bake until the corn bread is golden-brown, about 30 minutes.