The BEST BBQ Chicken Recipe

I recently shared my favorite recipes for BBQ Rub (here) and BBQ Sauce (here) on my blog and so today I am crazy excited to share our favorite, most delicious, tender, juicy and flavorful BBQ Chicken recipe!  This BBQ chicken recipe is packed full sweet and smoky flavor and will take grilled chicken to a whole new level.  So grab your chicken and let's get cooking!

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The BEST BBQ Chicken Recipe

This BBQ Chicken recipe calls for bone-in, skin-off chicken breasts, my favorite BBQ Rub and my favorite homemade BBQ Sauce.  It is cooked to perfection over coals and taken off as soon as it reaches 165 degrees.  It is sweet and smoky and the perfect weekend or weekday meal.

I love using bone-in chicken because the meat tends to stay juicier, but you can sub for boneless chicken breasts if you prefer.

How do you cook chicken on the grill?

I prefer to use a charcoal grill to cook chicken on.  You will want to put your chicken breast directly over the coals for a few minutes on each side to sear the chicken.  Then move the chicken off to the side in order to let it cook until it reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

Seasonings should be added prior to searing, and sauces should be added during the last few minutes of cooking.

How long do you BBQ chicken breast?

I never go by the time when I am BBQing or grilling any meat, I always go by temperature.  After I sear my chicken breasts as noted above, I move my chicken off to the side so that it can cook with indirect heat until it reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

I personally love this meat thermometer HERE.  I stick it into the thickest part of the chicken breast, without hitting the bone, and set it for 165.  When it beeps, it has reached temperature and I immediately remove my chicken from the grill.

Going by temperature instead of time will ensure that your chicken is fully cooked but still remains juicy and full of flavor.

How to grill the BEST BBQ Chicken ever:

• Use bone-in, skin-off chicken breast (I removed the skin myself.  If you like skin, feel free to keep it on, but my family doesn't like it.)
• Gently pat chicken breasts with my delicious BBQ Rub Recipe that you can get HERE.
• Use a charcoal grill without lighter fluid for the best taste.  (You can use a chimney to get your coals going but I honestly prefer to use a HomeRight ElectroLight because it gets my coals going so FAST!  You can buy one HERE and you can learn more about using one HERE.)
• Place seasoned chicken breasts directly over the hot coals for a few minutes to sear each side, then move them off to the side so the chicken can cook slower.  This will help your chicken cook on the inside without burning the outside.
• Add my favorite Homemade BBQ Sauce at the very end and allow it to caramelize just a bit before removing it from the heat.
• Use a meat thermometer like this one HERE and take the chicken off of the grill when it reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Allow meat to sit for 5 minutes before cutting to allow the juices to soak back into the meat.

The ElectroLight to get our coals going fast and a meat thermometer have been two of the best investments into grilling that we have made!  These two things will ensure you can grill quickly and perfectly every single time!

Life changing stuff you guys.

Go check out my post on the HomeRight blog HERE to learn more about how to use the ElectroLight!

Are you ready for the full recipe?  Ok.  Here we go:

BBQ Chicken

Ingredients:

• Bone-In, Skin-Off Chicken Breasts
• BBQ Rub
• Homemade BBQ Sauce

Supplies:

• HomeRight ElectroLight
• Charcoal Grill
• Charcoal
• BBQ Tongs
• Silicone Pastry Brush
• Meat Thermometer

Directions:

1. You will begin by prepping your chicken.  I bought bone-in chicken and decided to remove the skin from the chicken before cooking it.  My family doesn't eat the skin and I didn't want the yummy flavors to go into the skin that wouldn't get eaten, so I removed that before doing anything else.
2. Then I lightly patted my favorite sweet, spicy and smokey BBQ Rub onto all of the chicken breasts.  You can snag my BBQ Rub Recipe HERE.
3. I placed a large pile of charcoal in my grill and used my HomeRight ElectroLight to start the coals.  It is amazing how fast this is.  I don't like the flavor that comes along with using lighter fluid or easy light charcoals, but regular coals can take a while to get started even when using a chimney.  But when I use my ElectroLight, it just takes a few minutes and even the biggest pile of coals is ready to use quickly!  You can see all the details on how to use an ElectroLight HERE.  You can purchase your ElectroLight HERE.
4. Once the coals are ready, I place my seasoned chicken breasts on the grill directly over the coals.
5. Let them sear for a few minutes on both sides.
6. Then move your chicken breasts off to the side.
7. Place a meat thermometer like this one HERE into the thickest part of a chicken breast without touching the bone.  (I love this meat thermometer here.)
8. Put the lid on the grill, and let them cook until they reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
9. A few minutes before they reach the proper temperature, use a Silicone Pastry Brush like this one to cover the chicken breasts in homemade BBQ Sauce.  You can snag my BBQ Sauce Recipe on my blog HERE.
10. Remove the chicken breasts from the grill and allow them to sit for 5 minutes before cutting or serving so that the juices can reabsorb back into the meat.  This will ensure you have perfectly juicy, tender chicken every time!

Snag the printable recipe below:

If you enjoy this BBQ Chicken Recipe, you might also enjoy these recipes: 

The Best BBQ Sauce Recipe

BBQ Rub Recipe

Sheet Pan Fajitas

Honey Lemon Grilled Salmon

Grilled Pineapple Dessert

Frozen Chocolate Covered Key Lime Pops

Easy Instant Pot Ziti

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