Grilled Peach Chicken

Summer is the perfect time to enjoy fresh, seasonal ingredients, and this Saucy Grilled Peach Chicken is a wonderful way to do just that. Tender grilled chicken is coated in a sweet and savoury peach glaze, creating a flavourful dish that’s ideal for family dinners, backyard barbecues, or casual entertaining. Easy enough for a weeknight meal yet impressive enough for a weekend gathering, it’s a delicious recipe that brings together the perfect balance of sweet, smoky, and savoury flavours.

Ingredients

• 2 lbs boneless/skinless chicken breasts (or chicken thighs)
• 3/4 cup peach preserves
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 cup peach-flavoured whiskey
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon packed dark brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• 4 garlic cloves, finely minced
• 2 teaspoons dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• Kosher salt & fresh ground black pepper- to taste
• 2-4 medium peaches, halved & pitted- for garnish & serving- optional

Instructions

1. Prep chicken. Pat the chicken dry with a paper towel. Lay the chicken breasts on a cutting board and use a meat mallet to pound the chicken to an even thickness, about 1/2 inch thick. Then place the chicken breasts into a shallow baking dish or large resealable plastic bag, and set aside.
2. To make the marinade: In a large bowl, combine the peach preserves, soy sauce, whiskey, olive oil, brown sugar, balsamic vinegar, garlic, dijon mustard, dried thyme, red pepper flakes, and salt/pepper- to taste. Whisk the marinade until well combined. Reserve half of the marinade and refrigerate.
3. Marinate the chicken. Pour the remaining half of the marinade over the chicken breasts and toss to evenly combine and coat the chicken. Cover the dish with plastic wrap/foil or seal the bag and then refrigerate to marinate for at least 6 hours or up to overnight.
4. Cook chicken. You can cook up your chicken in a variety of ways (indoor grill pan or traditional grill).
5. To grill chicken: Preheat the grill with the indirect heat method to 400°F (medium-high heat) and lightly grease the grates. Shake off excess marinade and add the chicken breasts to the hot grates. Let the chicken grill for about 6-8 minutes per side or until the chicken registers at least 165°F when checked with a meat thermometer. Then transfer the chicken to a serving platter for a few minutes to cool down.
6. To grill peaches (optional): Brush the cut side of the peaches with a bit of olive oil and grill cut-side down for 3 minutes or until char marks form. Then set aside.
7. Simmer the reserved marinade. Meanwhile, place the reserved marinade along with 1-2 tablespoons of water (if needed to loosen), in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Let the marinade simmer for a few minutes until warmed through, then remove from the heat.
8. Glaze chicken & serve. Brush the grilled chicken with the marinade and garnish with the grilled peaches (if desired). Serve the grilled peach chicken immediately alongside your favourite sides.

Recipe courtesy of Butter Be Ready