Description
A quick and easy brown sugar bourbon marinade that creates a sticky, caramelized glaze on grilled meats. This balanced sweet, salty, and tangy sauce is perfect for flank steak, chicken, and pork.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
- 1/4 cup bourbon
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
Instructions
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine the brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, minced garlic, yellow mustard, black pepper, smoked paprika, and onion powder.
- Whisk the mixture vigorously until the brown sugar is completely dissolved and the liquid is smooth and homogenous. If needed, microwave the liquid ingredients for 30 seconds to help dissolve the sugar.
- Pour in the bourbon and stir gently to combine.
- Place your meat in a resealable plastic bag or shallow glass dish. Pour the marinade over the meat, ensuring it is fully coated. Squeeze out excess air if using a bag.
- Marinate in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to 4 hours. Do not exceed 4 hours to prevent the meat from becoming mushy.
- Remove meat from the marinade and let it sit at room temperature for 15 minutes before grilling. Pat the surface slightly dry with a paper towel.
- Grill the meat over medium-high heat, flipping every 3-4 minutes. Watch closely to prevent burning from the sugar.
- Move meat to a cooler part of the grill if charring occurs. Baste with reserved boiled marinade during the last few minutes to build a glaze.
- Cook until the internal temperature reaches your desired doneness (165°F for chicken).
- Let the meat rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing against the grain.
Notes
Do not reuse the raw marinade that touched meat unless it has been boiled for at least 5 minutes. For a non-alcoholic version, substitute bourbon with apple juice and vanilla extract. If the sugar burns, move the meat to a cooler zone on the grill. Let meat rest before slicing to retain juices.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: Approximately 1/4 of
- Calories: 60
- Sugar: 14
- Sodium: 300
- Carbohydrates: 15
- Protein: 1
Keywords: brown sugar bourbon marinade, BBQ glaze, grilled steak, chicken marinade, pork chops, easy grilling, sweet and savory sauce, weeknight dinner