Grilled Peach Chicken Thighs

If peach season had an official dinner, I'm pretty sure it would be this grilled peach chicken. It's sticky-sweet, savory, a little tangy, and brushed with the easiest bourbon peach marinade that makes simple chicken thighs taste like something you'd serve at a summer cookout. 

The marinade is simple, but it brings big summer flavor. It turns into a sticky peach glaze on the grill and gives the chicken thighs that sweet, savory, cookout-style finish.

As a Southern dietitian, I love when a recipe feels fun and seasonal but still realistic for busy nights, BBQs, and last-minute get-togethers. This one checks every box and tastes like you did way more work than you actually did.

If you love easy summer recipes, be sure to try my grilled balsamic chicken, mexican street corn smashed potatoes, peach tomato burrata salad, and smoky peach BBQ sauce next.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• Easy summer flavor marinade: The simple marinade does the heavy lifting, so the chicken turns out flavorful without a lot of prep. 
• Made for summer grilling: This is the kind of juicy, sticky-sweet chicken you'll want for backyard dinners, BBQ spreads, and peach season while it lasts.
• Perfect for peach lovers: If you love a sweet and savory combo, this is such a fun way to bring peaches to the dinner table. 

Ingredients for Grilled Peach Chicken

This peach bourbon chicken uses simple ingredients to create a sticky, savory-sweet marinade!

• Chicken thighs: Boneless, skinless chicken thighs are my favorite here because they stay juicy on the grill and soak up the peach marinade beautifully. You can use bone-in thighs too, but they will take longer to cook.
• Peach preserves: Peach preserves give the marinade its sweet peach flavor and help create that glossy glaze on the outside of the chicken. I like preserves with little pieces of peach for extra texture.
• Soy sauce: Soy sauce adds salty, savory flavor that balances the sweetness from the peach preserves.
• Bourbon: Bourbon gives the marinade a warm Southern flavor that pairs so well with peaches and grilled chicken. You do not need anything fancy, just use one you enjoy cooking with.
• White wine vinegar: A little vinegar brightens the marinade and keeps the glaze from feeling too sweet.
• Olive oil: Olive oil helps carry the flavor and keeps the chicken from sticking as much on the grill.
• Garlic: Fresh garlic adds savory flavor and makes the marinade taste more homemade.
• Dijon mustard: Dijon adds tang and helps the marinade come together.
• Fresh peaches: Fresh peaches are an optional add-in, but if the grill is already fired up, firm-ripe peaches are best because they soften slightly without falling apart.

See the recipe card below for the full list of ingredients and measurements.

Substitutions & Variations

A few easy changes can help this grilled peach chicken fit your table.

• Use apple juice, peach nectar, chicken broth, or water to make this recipe without bourbon while still keeping the marinade sweet and flavorful.
• Swap in chicken breasts instead of chicken thighs if you prefer, but pound them to an even thickness first so they grill evenly and stay tender.
• Add red pepper flakes, hot honey, chili garlic sauce, or chipotle powder to give the chicken a little extra kick.
• Stir a spoonful of BBQ sauce into the reserved glaze if you want more of a peach BBQ chicken flavor.
• Use apple cider, rice, or balsamic vinegar in the marinade if you do not have white vinegar and still want that sweet and tangy peach glaze.
• Finish the grilled chicken with a jalapeno peach salsa if you want a fresh topping that brightens up the whole platter.

How to Make Grilled Peach Chicken Thighs

Here's how to bring this sticky-sweet grilled peach chicken together.

Step 1: In a medium bowl, whisk together the peach preserves, soy sauce, bourbon, olive oil, white wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, and garlic until smooth. Taste the marinade and add salt or pepper if needed. 

Step 2: Reserve a portion of the marinade in a separate small bowl before adding the raw chicken. This will be used later for brushing and serving. I like to save about ⅓ - ½ of the marinade. 

Step 3: Add the chicken thighs to a large zip-top bag or shallow dish, then pour the remaining marinade over the chicken.

Step 4: Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, or up to 8 hours for more flavor.

Step 5: Preheat the grill to medium-high heat and lightly oil the grates.

Step 6: Remove the chicken from the marinade and let any excess drip off. Discard the used marinade.

Step 7: Grill the chicken thighs for 5 to 7 minutes per side, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.

Step 8: During the last few minutes of cooking, brush the chicken with the reserved peach glaze. Flip once or twice to help the glaze set without burning.

Step 9: (Optional) While the chicken cooks, place halved peaches cut-side down on the grill and cook for 2 to 4 minutes per side, or until lightly charred and softened.

Step 10: Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving with the grilled peaches and any extra reserved glaze.

Tips For Best Peach Glazed Chicken

A few simple grilling tips will help you get juicy chicken with plenty of flavor!

• Don't forget to reserve some marinade before adding the raw chicken so you have peach glaze to brush over the chicken at the end!
• Check the thickest part of each thigh with a meat thermometer so your grilled chicken thighs reach 165°F without overcooking.
• Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before slicing so the juicy chicken thighs stay tender and flavorful.

What to Serve with Easy Grilled Peach Chicken

This grilled peach chicken recipe is sweet, savory, and a little tangy, so it pairs well with fresh summer sides!

• Serve it with cilantro lime rice, white rice, or coconut rice for an easy dinner bowl.
• Pair it with grilled corn, roasted vegetables, or a big green salad for a produce-forward meal.
• Add crispy potatoes, pasta salad, baked beans, or cornbread if you're serving it at a BBQ or summer party.
• Slice the leftovers over a salad with grilled peaches, goat cheese, cinnamon pecans, and balsamic glaze.
• Turn it into a bowl with rice, grilled peaches, avocado, cucumber, red onion, and fresh herbs.
• Serve it on a platter with grilled peaches and extra herbs for an easy but pretty summer dinner centerpiece.

Storage

This peach grilled chicken stores well, which makes it great for meal prep or easy leftovers after a cookout.

• Refrigerator: Store leftover chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.
• Reheating: Reheat gently in the microwave, air fryer, or a covered skillet until warmed through.
• Freezer: Freeze cooked chicken thighs in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 3 months.