Grilled BBQ Chicken

Name: Grilled BBQ Chicken
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 13 min
Total time: 28 min
Ingredients: olive oil for greasing; 2 teaspoons brown sugar; 2 teaspoons smoked paprika; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 teaspoon onion powder; 1 teaspoon kosher salt; ½ teaspoon black pepper; 6 boneless (skinless chicken breasts, trimmed of any fat); ½ cup prepared BBQ sauce (plus additional for serving.)

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Seasoned with a sweet and smokey dry rub and basted in tangy BBQ Sauce, this Grilled BBQ Chicken is an easy recipe that produces juicy, flavorful barbecue chicken breasts with ease.

Grilled barbecue chicken is a summertime staple that everyone loves. Pair with Homemade Baked Beans and Instant Pot Potato Salad for the perfect summer meal, or follow the directions for Baked BBQ Chicken and enjoy year-round!

Grilled BBQ Chicken on white platter next to small container or barbecue sauce.

BBQ Chicken is a classic recipe that is always a crowd-pleaser. But it is also surprisingly easy to mess up.

However, with a few tips and simple ingredients, you can have the BEST BBQ Chicken.

This recipe uses a sweet and savory rub and homemade barbecue sauce for the best flavor. But the real trick to perfect BBQ Chicken comes down to the cooking. Whether grilled or baked the secret is to NOT overcook the chicken--that will guarantee your chicken is juicy and tender. And I will share with you exactly how this is done!

One thing is for sure, this Grilled BBQ Chicken is going to become your go-to summer staple.

Notes on Ingredients

Ingredients for bbq chicken on counter labeled.

Chicken: This recipe is written with instructions for using boneless, skinless chicken breasts. However, you can use boneless, skinless chicken thighs if desired.
Dry Rub: Made with brown sugar, salt, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and onion powder, this rub is the perfect combination of sweet and salty. In fact, it adds so much flavor to the chicken, that is delicious even without the addition of the BBQ sauce.
Barbecue Sauce: Use any BBQ sauce you like to baste the chicken as it grills. I personally love to use my Homemade BBQ Sauce.

How to Grill Barbecue Chicken

Preheat the grill to medium-high heat. Lightly brush the grill with oil.
In a small mixing bowl combine brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper together.
Rub the spice mixture evenly over each side of the chicken breast.

Raw chicken breasts with dry rub over chicken.

Place the seasoned chicken on the preheated grill. Cover and cook for 5 minutes without disturbing.
Flip the chicken and cook for an additional 4 minutes.

Brush the chicken breasts with BBQ sauce, flip and cook for 2 minutes.

Brush the chicken breasts again with BBQ sauce and flip. Cook for an additional 2 minutes or until the chicken reaches 160 degrees F, according to a digital thermometer.
Transfer the chicken to a clean plate and tent it with foil. Allow the chicken to rest for 5 minutes for the juices to redistribute and the temperature of the chicken to rise to 165 degrees F.
Serve with additional BBQ sauce on the side if desired.

Grilled BBQ Chicken on white platter topped with parsley.

Instructions for Baking

Don't be discouraged if you don't have a grill or the weather does not cooperate for you when you plan to grill out. Instead, you can bake the chicken.

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Rub each chicken breast with the dry rub and place it into an oven-safe baking dish. Baked for 15 minutes and then remove the chicken from the oven. Brush the top of the chicken with the BBQ sauce and then return the chicken to the oven. Cook for 6-10 minutes longer, or until the internal temperature of the chicken is 160 degrees F. Remove the chicken from the oven and allow to rest 5-10 minutes before serving.

How to Tell if Chicken is Fully Cooked

Don't be tempted to cut your chicken open to check if cooked through. This will cause the juices of the chicken to run out, leaving your chicken dry and is not always an accurate measurement. The BEST way to ensure you don't undercook or overcook your chicken is to use a digital thermometer to ensure the chicken reaches 160 degrees F. Once the chicken reaches 160 degrees, remove it from the heat and let rest for 5-10 minutes, this will ensure the chicken reaches 165 degrees F, which is considered safe by the FDA.

A digital thermoter is well worth the investment and they only cost about $20. Not only will it ensure your meat is not overcooked and tough and dried out, but you will also not worry about food poisoning from undercooked meat.

Leftovers

Leftover BBQ Chicken can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

I love to use it to make a BBQ Chicken Salad, dice it up and add to a cheese quesadilla or serve it on a bun with homemade coleslaw. The options are endless--and delicious!

Recipe FAQs

Can you use chicken thighs?

Absolutely! This recipe works with both boneless, skinless chicken breasts and/or thighs. Be sure to use a digital thermometer to ensure you cook the chicken to 160 degrees F, as chicken thighs tend to cook up a bit faster than chicken breasts as they are often much thinner.

Is the brown sugar necessary?

No! If you are looking to cut back your sugars, omit the brown sugar from the dry rub.

Is this BBQ Chicken Spicy?

As written, this is not spicy. However, if your BBQ sauce is on the spicy side, your chicken will be spicy as well. If you would like, you can add a dash or two of cayenne pepper to the dry rub for a little kick.

Is this recipe for BBQ Chicken allergy-friendly?

Yes! Be sure your BBQ sauce is gluten-free, soy-free, and/or corn-free, or use my homemade BBQ Sauce and this recipe is perfect for those with dietary restrictions.

What to Serve with BBQ Chicken

If you enjoyed this simple recipe for BBQ Chicken Breasts, I would love for you to leave a comment below.