The Best BBQ Chicken Recipe
This Best BBQ Chicken Recipe offers juicy, flavorful boneless skinless chicken breasts grilled or oven-baked to perfection, coated with your favorite BBQ sauce. Perfect for a delicious summer dinner or any time you crave smoky, tangy barbecue flavor with tender chicken.
- Author: mia
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes (grilling) or 23 minutes (oven)
- Total Time: 25-30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: American
Chicken
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- Extra virgin olive oil, for drizzling
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
BBQ Sauce
- 1/2 cup BBQ sauce (use your favorite)
- Prepare the Grill: Preheat your grill for direct cooking at high heat, around 450°F. Clean the cooking grates thoroughly to ensure the chicken doesn’t stick during cooking.
- Season the Chicken: Drizzle the chicken breasts with extra virgin olive oil, then rub the oil evenly over the meat. Season generously with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper on both sides.
- Grill the Chicken: Place the chicken breasts on the hot grill. Cover and cook for 5-6 minutes or until the chicken easily releases from the grates, indicating it’s ready to flip. Flip the chicken and cook for another 4-5 minutes.
- Baste with BBQ Sauce: Brush the chicken breasts with BBQ sauce, then flip and cook for 2 minutes on each side. Repeat this basting and flipping step to build up a nice glaze.
- Check Doneness: Continue cooking until the chicken breasts feel firm to touch and are opaque, with an internal temperature of 160°F. Keep in mind the temperature will rise to 165°F as the chicken rests.
- Rest the Chicken: Transfer the chicken to a plate and cover loosely with aluminum foil. Let it rest for 5 minutes to lock in the juices before serving. Serve with additional BBQ sauce if desired.
- Alternative Oven Method – Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 450°F and prepare a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil.
- Season and Bake: Drizzle each chicken breast with olive oil, season with kosher salt and black pepper, then place on the baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes in the oven.
- Baste and Continue Baking: Remove from oven and brush the top side of the chicken with BBQ sauce. Return to the oven and bake for an additional 5-8 minutes until the sauce bubbles and begins to char, and the internal temperature reaches 160°F.
- Rest Before Serving: Allow the chicken to rest for a few minutes before serving, letting the internal temperature rise to 165°F and the juices redistribute for maximum moistness.
Notes
- For best flavor, use your favorite BBQ sauce or make your own.
- Cooking times may vary slightly depending on the thickness of the chicken breasts.
- Always check internal temperature with a meat thermometer to ensure chicken is safely cooked.
- Resting the chicken after cooking is crucial to keep it juicy and tender.
- The recipe offers both grilling and oven baking options to suit your equipment and preferences.
Keywords: BBQ chicken, grilled chicken breasts, barbecue chicken recipe, easy chicken dinner, summer grilling recipe