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Bourbon Barbecue Chicken Wings Recipe (Mammoth Cave National Park)

By: Author Bram Reusen

Posted on Last updated:

Bourbon barbecue chicken wings recipe inspired by: Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky

Few food items are as quintessentially “Kentucky” as bourbon and (fried) chicken. In this recipe, inspired by Kentucky’s only national park, Mammoth Cave, we’re combining those two American favorites.

These Mammoth Cave National Park-inspired bourbon barbecue chicken wings will be an instant hit at your next backyard barbecue party.

While you can, of course, use any store-bought barbecue sauce, we’re upping this national park grilling recipe and are making our very own bourbon barbecue sauce. This is amazingly easy and doesn’t require any advanced cooking skills whatsoever.

Slather your homemade bourbon barbecue sauce on grilled wings and you’ve got a delicious, relatively quick, and easy grilled dinner inspired by the national parks.

Bourbon barbecue chicken wings on the grill, recipe inspired by Mammoth Cave

This Mammoth Cave National Park-inspired recipe for bourbon barbecue chicken wings contains affiliate links. You can read more about our Terms of Use / Disclosure here.

Mammoth Cave Bourbon Barbecue Chicken Wings

  • Prep time: 10 minutes
  • Cook time: 1 hour
  • Total time: 1 hour 10 minutes
  • Servings: 4
  • Calories per serving: 772

I recommend using your favorite Kentucky bourbon for this homemade barbecue sauce, whether it’s Maker’s Mark, Jim Beam, Buffalo Trace, Wild Turkey, Woodford Reserve, or Bulleit.

Both Mammoth Cave National Park and the Bourbon Trail are among Kentucky’s top tourist attractions, which come to together in a delicious way in this recipe.

Slathered on grilled chicken wings, and served with the traditional carrots and celery sticks, it’s one of the most typical American grilling recipes there are.

With a nod to Kentucky’s Mammoth Cave National Park, it’s a great dish to serve at a national park-themed grilling party!

Bourbon barbecue chicken wings, recipe inspired by Mammoth Cave National Park

Necessary Kitchen and Barbecue Tools

Kentucky Bourbon barbecue chicken wings, inspired by Mammoth Cave National Park
Yield: 4 servings

Mammoth Cave Bourbon Barbecue Chicken Wings Recipe

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

Inspired by Kentucky's Mammoth Cave National Park and Bourbon Trail, this bourbon barbecue chicken wings recipe is a delicious addition to your backyard cookout menu.

Ingredients

Chicken Wings

  • 1.75 pounds chicken wings
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

Bourbon Barbecue Sauce

  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 cup Kentucky bourbon
  • 1/4 cup yellow onion, minced
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2/3 cups ketchup
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 3 tablespoons (hot) honey
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika

Instructions

Marinate Chicken Wings

  1. Pat chicken wings dry and add to a large bowl.
  2. Add extra-virgin olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and stir to combine.
  3. Let chicken wings marinate while you make the bourbon barbecue sauce.

Make Bourbon Barbecue Sauce

  1. Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high.
  2. Add onion and stir until softened, about 5 minutes.
  3. Add garlic and stir until fragrant, about 1 minute.
  4. Pour in Kentucky bourbon and heat for about 3 minutes.
  5. Add tomato paste to the saucepan, stirring to incorporate it into the onion-bourbon mixture.
  6. When tomato paste is fully mixed in, add all other barbecue sauce ingredients and mix well. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low.
  7. Simmer, semi-covered, for about 15 minutes or until the sauce has reached your preferred thickness.
  8. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  9. Set aside to cool while you light your grill and grill the wings.

Grill Chicken Wings

  1. When using a charcoal grill, arrange charcoal briquettes in the center of the grill.
  2. Lightly oil the perimeter of the grill grate with olive oil.
  3. Arrange chicken wings around the perimeter of the grate, kind of like a clock.
  4. Close the lid and grill over indirect heat, about 20-25 minutes, turning the wings once or twice.
  5. Once the wings are no longer pink inside, brush the tops with your bourbon barbecue sauce.
  6. Continue grilling for 2-4 minutes, then turn the wings and brush the other side with barbecue sauce. Grill for another 2-3 minutes until lightly charred.
  7. Serve right away with extra barbecue sauce on the side, along with your favorites sides.
  8. Enjoy!

Kentucky Bourbon barbecue chicken wings recipe inspired by Mammoth Cave National Park

Nutrition Information

Yield

4

Serving Size

1
Amount Per Serving Calories 772Total Fat 55gSaturated Fat 18gCholesterol 163mgSodium 1389mgCarbohydrates 35gFiber 1gSugar 11gProtein 34g

A general nutrition calculator was used to determine the nutritional information of this recipe, which is meant solely as an indication of the dish's nutritional values. Depending on specific ingredients, quantities used and/or serving size, the ultimate dish you end up making may have different nutritional aspects. Please consider the information provided here only as guidance and not as an absolute fact.

© Bram
Cuisine: Chicken / Category: Meat Recipes
If You Decide to Make This Awesome Bourbon Barbecue Chicken Wings Recipe Inspired by Mammoth Cave National Park at Home, Feel Free to Tell Everyone About It Below! Happy Cooking!

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