Grilled BBQ Chicken

This Grilled BBQ Chicken is an easy summer recipe that’s perfect for backyard cookouts and family dinners. Tender chicken is brushed with barbecue sauce as it grills, creating a perfect sticky glaze everyone will love!

Holly’s Recipe Highlights: Grilled BBQ Chicken

Flavor: This chicken is smoky, sweet, and savory with juicy meat, crispy skin, and a rich caramelized barbecue glaze in every bite.

Recommended Tools: A pair of tongs, a basting brush, and an instant-read thermometer make this recipe easy and help ensure juicy chicken every time.

Serving Suggestions: I love serving this with classic summer sides like creamy coleslaw, potato salad, grilled corn, baked beans, or a big scoop of macaroni salad for the perfect backyard meal.

Total Time: 45 Mins Servings: 6 Cooking Method: Grilled

Ingredient Notes for Grilled BBQ Chicken

Chicken: Bone-in, skin-on chicken stays extra juicy and gives everyone a favorite piece, from tender breasts to flavorful thighs, drumsticks, and wings. Boneless breasts or thighs can be used, but they cook faster and need closer temperature checks.
BBQ Sauce: Use a barbecue sauce you love since it adds most of the flavor. Because sweeter sauces caramelize quickly, it’s best to brush them on during the last part of grilling to keep them from burning.

Easy BBQ Variations

Spicy BBQ chicken: Use a spicy barbecue sauce or stir in a little hot sauce.
Honey BBQ chicken: Choose a honey-style sauce for a sweeter, stickier finish.
Smoky BBQ chicken: Use a hickory or mesquite-style barbecue sauce, or add a pinch of smoked paprika to the seasoning.

Chicken pieces being brushed with BBQ sauce on the BBQ

How to Make BBQ Chicken

Rub the chicken with oil and season with salt and pepper.
Grill skin-side down first (full recipe below).
Flip the chicken and brush with sauce as it finishes cooking.

Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving to ensure it stays juicy.

Pat the Chicken Dry: Patting the chicken dry helps the skin crisp instead of steam.
Oil the Grates: Oiled grates help prevent the skin from sticking.
Medium Heat: Keep the grill at medium heat so the chicken cooks through before the outside gets too dark.
Add Barbecue Sauce: Add it after the first 15 minutes, since the sauce’s sugar can burn over direct heat.
Use a Meat Thermometer: Chicken breasts should reach 165°F in the thickest part, and thighs and drumsticks should reach around 175°F.

Grilled BBQ chicken on a plate with parsley on top

Save Every Saucy Bite

Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days and in the freezer for up to 4 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
Reheat in the oven at 325°F, covered with foil, until warmed through. Brush with extra sauce before reheating to keep the chicken moist.
Smaller pieces can also be reheated in the air fryer at a lower temperature, but watch closely so the sauce doesn’t scorch.

More BBQ Sauce Favorites

Did you enjoy this Grilled BBQ Chicken? Leave a comment and rating below.

image of Everyday Comfort cookbook by Holly Nilsson of Spend With Pennies plus text

Cook Time 45 minutes

Total Time 45 minutes

Preheat grill to medium heat.
Rub chicken with olive oil and season with salt & pepper to taste.
Cook chicken skin side down on an oiled grate for 15 minutes.
Turn over, baste with barbecue sauce. Cook an additional 20 to 30 minutes, continuing to brush with sauce (breast should reach 165°F and thighs should reach 175°F).
Rest 5 minutes before serving.

Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days and in the freezer for up to 4 months.

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

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