BBQ Chicken

Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 47 minutes
Servings 4 servings

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This BBQ Chicken is made with a simple seasoning, grilled to perfection and coated in sweet and savory bbq sauce! It’s tender and juicy every time!

See the step by step recipe video down in the recipe card.

close up image of two grilled chicken breasts with bbq sauce

BBQ Chicken is a summer classic, but it’s a favorite of ours all year long!

When the weather warms up, we definitely take advantage of it and throw this barbecue chicken on the grill, but I’ve included some tips to make it in the oven down below, just in case!

If you’re looking to make dinner even easier, try my Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken recipe here.

With the weather warming, everyone wants to have a classic, juicy bbq chicken recipe in their back pockets! This one is simple and foolproof.

Find even more grilled chicken recipes here.

Should I marinate my chicken breasts before grilling them?

You can, and we often do.

When we are marinating our chicken breasts, we use this Chicken Marinade Recipe — it’s perfectly sweet and savory and tangy and it’s always a hit!

For this BBQ Chicken recipe, I wanted simple, quick, and no-fuss. Perfect for last minute guests or quick dinners!

Instead of a marinade, we use a brine, which is quick to throw together (just salt and water) and only needs 30 minutes!

overhead image of four bbq chicken breasts with vegetables on the side
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Can I skip the brine?

My best answer is yes, but why would you?!

Now that I’ve started brining my BBQ chicken I will never do it any other way. It takes 5 seconds to whisk together your water and salt, and 30-60 minutes until you can start cooking.

We have done brined and not brined chicken breasts side by side on the grill, and you can tell the difference!

Both were good, but brined were much juicier and had great flavor.

Can I make my own BBQ sauce?

Absolutely! Here are a few of our favorites:

How long do you cook chicken on the grill?

That depends.

The two biggest factors which will determine your cook time are the temperature of your grill and the thickness of your chicken breasts.

For more even cooking, I recommend pounding any very thick ends of your chicken breasts so that they are more uniform in size.

Generally, boneless chicken breasts cook quickly and will require about 5-7 minutes per side at high heat — about 425 degrees F.

How do I know if my BBQ Chicken is done?

The best way to know if your chicken breasts are cooked through is to use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature.

You should remove your chicken breasts when the temperature has reached 160-165 degrees F. When the chicken rests, it will continue to cook slightly.

The longer you cook your chicken beyond this point, the drier it will be inside.

sliced bbq chicken breast on white plate

Can I use bone in chicken for this recipe?

Definitely! Bone in chicken is a great option for those who enjoy dark meat, and is often a less expensive option.

However, bone in chicken of all shapes and sizes requires a longer cook time, anywhere from 10-15 minutes per side for a total of 20-30 minutes.

Because of the longer cook time, you may want to reduce the grill temperature to 375-400 degrees F to ensure the outside doesn’t burn before the inside is cooked through.

How to make baked bbq chicken:

For a simple way to make this BBQ Chicken in the oven, see my Baked Chicken Breast recipe and simply brush liberally with barbecue sauce in the last few minutes of cook time.

What can I serve with this BBQ Chicken recipe?

We love serving BBQ chicken with a variety of cold, make-ahead salads, homemade Lemonade, and some grilled veggies! Here are a few of our favorite summer salads:

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BBQ Chicken

5 from 13 votes
This BBQ Chicken is made with a simple seasoning, grilled to perfection and coated in sweet and savory bbq sauce! It's tender and juicy every time!
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Brining time: 30 minutes
Total Time 47 minutes
Cuisine American, canadian
Course Main Course
Servings 4 servings
Calories 253cal

Ingredients

  • 2 cups water
  • 1 ¾ tablespoons salt
  • 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 2 tablespoons canola oil
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ cup barbecue sauce

Instructions

  • Brine: in a large glass measuring cup, whisk together salt and water.
  • Pour water over chicken breasts in a zip top bag or small container — you don't want too much extra room or the chicken won't soak.
  • Let chicken sit in brine for 30-60 minutes, but not any longer (it will taste too salty). If you prefer less salt flavor, drain at 30 minutes.
  • Preheat the grill to 400 degrees F or a skillet to medium-high.
  • Pat chicken dry with paper towels. Brush with oil and season with pepper.
  • Grill or cook on each side for 4 minutes. Brush with barbecue sauce and cook another 2-3 minutes per side, until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.
  • Remove from the grill and cover with foil. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 253cal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 72mg | Sodium: 3992mg | Potassium: 505mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 115IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 24mg | Iron: 1mg
Keywords bbq chicken, grilled chicken

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Meet Ashley

My name is Ashley Fehr and I love creating easy meals my family loves. I also like to do things my way, which means improvising and breaking the rules when necessary. Here you will find creative twists on old favorites and some of my favorite family recipes, passed down from generations!

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Comments

  1. Allie says

    Is the salt measurement using regular table or the less refined kosher salt in the recipe? Not sure how much it matters for its purpose but I have both and use them for different recipes so just curious, thanks!

    • The Recipe Rebel says

      Hi Allie, just regular table salt but you could really use any kind. If using kosher salt the amount would be less.

  2. Lisalia says

    Absolutely loved how this turned out. It paired perfectly with mashed potatoes, corn on the cob and side salad. My new favorite way to make chicken. Thanks!

  3. Sara Welch says

    Enjoyed this for dinner last night and it did not disappoint! So quick and easy; was delicious and made the perfect meal for a busy weeknight!

  4. Trang says

    The video made the recipe so easy to follow. Best bbq chicken recipe ever! Chicken was juicy and flavorful and perfect for outdoor dining.

  5. Christina Meister says

    Hi Ashley!

    If I were to use skinless, boneless chicken thighs, would I still brine it for 30-60 minutes? I would assume yes but just want to be sure! Thanks so much!

  6. ANGELICA says

    Hello there Ashley! Thanks for this amazing recipe. I’ve always been a chicken lover and this one is really awesome. Thanks for sharing!

    —-
    Angelica Aredidon
    Media & Advertising Administrator
    PhamilyPC.tk

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