A quick and easy recipe for the BEST Grilled BBQ Chicken. Smokey and a juicy chicken breast smothered in barbecue sauce and grilled to perfection.

The ultimate dinner idea for this grilling season, joining our popular grilled salmon and juicy grilled vegetables!

A white baking sheet with bbq grilled chicken topped with greens.

Grilled BBQ Chicken Recipe:

Chicken breast is marinated in our simple Grilling Marinade and then grilled and smothered in barbecue sauce. We love enjoying this recipe all summer long for a hearty lunch or easy dinner. It’s even great for a potluck or barbecue with friends.

Try our other barbecue chicken recipes like our delicious BBQ chicken wings, juicy chicken drumsticks in BBQ sauce or our BBQ pulled chicken.

Chicken smothered in bbq on the grill.

Ingredients:

This recipe is not only easy to make but also requires only a few ingredients!

  • Chicken– You can use any chicken for this recipe we used boneless skinless chicken breast. You can also use chicken thighs, tenders, chicken wings, drumsticks, or any bone-in chicken parts with or without the skin.
  • Marinade– For the marinade, we use our classic grilled chicken marinade recipe that is simple and so delicious.
  • Barbecue– You want to use your favorite barbecue sauce! We love using Sweet Baby Ray’s Barbecue Sauce.
A glass bowl with bone-in chicken drumsticks and chicken thighs in marinade.

Grill BBQ Chicken:

Have this juicy chicken ready in no time! Chicken will overcook quickly, so have all your vegetables ready.

  1. Marinade Chicken- Marinade your choice of chicken using our marinade for grilled chicken, marinate at room temp while prepping and preheat the grill.
  2. Grill– Grill the chicken until crispy and cooked through, flipping halfway.
  3. Smother– Brush the chicken with barbecue and cook for a couple of minutes.
  4. Serve– Remove from the grill and serve with your choice of toppings.
Grilled chicken on the grill.

FAQ:

Should I have the grill preheated before cooking the chicken?

Yes, you always want the grill ready before adding your meat or veggies to the grill.

How do I know that my chicken is cooked?

The internal temperature of cooked chicken should read 165°F. We like to use THIS meat thermometer.

What is the proper grill time for the type of chicken I use?

Check out our Grilled Chicken Marinade for the proper grill time for each type of chicken.

How do I store leftovers?

Store leftover chicken in an airtight container for up to 2-3 days in the fridge.

Can I freeze chicken leftovers?

Yes, you can freeze leftover bbq chicken! Once the chicken is cooled, add it to a freezer-safe bag and freeze for up to 2-3 months.

How hot should my grill be?

The grill should be at 350°F (med/high heat) when adding your chicken to the grill.

Bbq grilled chicken on a plate with creamy mashed potatoes and corn on the cob.

Serve BBQ Chicken with:

Have the ultimate dinner when you pair it with the best sides! Here are our favorite sides to pair it with:

Grilled BBQ Chicken Recipe

Author: Valentina
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5 from 2 votes
A quick and easy recipe for the BEST Grilled BBQ Chicken. Smokey and juicy chicken breast smothered in barbecue sauce and grilled to perfection.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Marinade Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 6 servings

Ingredients

  • 3 lbs bone-in chicken thighs & drumsticks
  • 1 cup barbecue

grilled chicken marinade-

  • 1/3 cup oil
  • 2 ¼ tsp salt, or to taste
  • tsp garlic powder
  • tsp ground paprika
  • ¾ tsp onion powder
  • tsp italian seasoning
  • ½ tsp ground black pepper, or to taste

Instructions

marinating the chicken-

  • Add the chicken into a large bowl or plastic bag and toss with the oil.
  • Combine the salt, garlic, paprika, onion, Italian, and black pepper in a small bowl.
  • Add the seasoning mixture to the chicken and mix again until combined.
  • Marinate for atleast 30 minutes or overnight.

grilling the chicken-

  • Once you are ready to grill the chicken, remove from the fridge and let it sit at room temp for about 15 minutes. In the meantime, preheat the grill to 400°F and clean and prep the grill.
  • Add the marinated chicken to the grill and cook on medium/high heat for 15 minutes on once side. Flip the chicken and cook for an additional 10-15 minutes.
  • With a pastry brush, brush the barbecue on the chicken, covering all sides and cook for an additional 5 minutes.
  • Remove from the grill and serve with desired side dishes.

Nutrition

621kcal Calories21g Carbs32g Protein45g Fat10g Saturated Fat10g Polyunsaturated Fat21g Monounsaturated Fat1g Trans Fat189mg Cholesterol1513mg Sodium537mg Potassium1g Fiber16g Sugar513IU Vitamin A1mg Vitamin C43mg Calcium2mg Iron
Nutrition Facts
Grilled BBQ Chicken Recipe
Amount Per Serving
Calories 621 Calories from Fat 405
% Daily Value*
Fat 45g69%
Saturated Fat 10g63%
Trans Fat 1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 10g
Monounsaturated Fat 21g
Cholesterol 189mg63%
Sodium 1513mg66%
Potassium 537mg15%
Carbohydrates 21g7%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 16g18%
Protein 32g64%
Vitamin A 513IU10%
Vitamin C 1mg1%
Calcium 43mg4%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
(The nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.)