smoky mountain chipotle chicken

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 onion, grated
• 1/2 cup bourbon
• 1/4 cup vinegar
• 2 cups ketchup
• 1/4 cup worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon liquid smoke flavoring
• 1 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce, minced
• 1 teaspoon adobo sauce from canned chipotle peppers
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 4 (6 ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
• 2 tablespoons grill seasoning, or to taste
• 4 slices bacon, cut in half
• 4 thick slices red onion
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 4 slices provolone cheese

Recipe

Preparation Time: 35 mins Cook Time: 50 mins Ready Time: 3 hrs 55 mins


• heat 1 teaspoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. add garlic and onion; cook and stir until the onion softens and turns translucent, about 5 minutes. pour in the bourbon, and simmer for 10 minutes. have a lid ready to cover the skillet in case the bourbon catches fire.
• pour in the vinegar, ketchup, worcestershire sauce, liquid smoke, minced chipotle pepper, adobo sauce, and brown sugar. bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 15 minutes. pour sauce into a bowl, and refrigerate until no longer hot, about 30 minutes.
• season chicken breasts with grill seasoning, and place into a shallow glass dish. pour all but 1 cup of the cooled sauce over the chicken breasts, and turn to coat. refrigerate remaining sauce. cover the chicken and refrigerate 2 hours. place bacon in a large, deep skillet. cook over medium-high heat until evenly brown and crispy. drain on a paper towel-lined plate, and set aside.
• preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat.
• drain marinade from the chicken and discard. cook chicken on preheated grill, basting with reserved sauce, until the chicken is no longer pink in the center, and the juices run clear, about 10 minutes per side. meanwhile, brush onion slices with 1 teaspoon olive oil. secure the rings with toothpicks to keep them from falling apart. grill over indirect heat until soft, about 15 minutes.
• to serve, place chicken serving plates and top with a slice grilled onion, 2 slices of bacon and then a slice of provolone cheese. remove toothpicks before serving.