Description

This BBQ Chicken Recipe delivers juicy, flavorful grilled chicken perfect for any outdoor gathering. Featuring a smoky spice rub combined with tangy barbecue sauce, this versatile recipe works with chicken breasts, thighs, drumsticks, or wings. Grilling imparts a charred, smoky flavor while keeping the meat tender and moist. Ideal for a quick yet satisfying meal, this recipe takes just under an hour from prep to finish.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken

2 pounds bone-in chicken breasts (or chicken thighs, drumsticks, or wings; skin optional)

Spice Rub

1½ tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons smoked paprika
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder

Other Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cups barbecue sauce (store-bought or homemade)

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Instructions

Preheat Grill: Preheat your grill to medium-high heat to ensure it’s ready for cooking the chicken evenly with great sear marks.
Prepare Chicken Breasts: If using chicken breasts, check their thickness. Slice in half for thinner pieces or pound them between parchment or plastic wrap to an even thickness to promote even cooking.
Make Spice Rub: In a small dish, combine chili powder, smoked paprika, kosher salt, onion powder, and garlic powder. Rub olive oil and the spice mixture thoroughly over all chicken pieces to coat them fully.
Initial BBQ Sauce Brush: Brush half of the barbecue sauce over the coated chicken pieces to start infusing the flavor as they cook.
Grill Chicken Breasts/Thighs: Place chicken breasts or thighs on the grill and cook for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway. Use a meat thermometer to ensure internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C). Brush remaining barbecue sauce on during the last few minutes.
Grill Chicken Drumsticks: Grill drumsticks for 30-35 minutes, flipping every few minutes to cook evenly and develop a charred crust. Brush additional barbecue sauce on during the last few minutes.
Grill Chicken Wings: Grill wings for about 20 minutes, turning frequently every few minutes. Apply the remaining barbecue sauce near the end of cooking to glaze the wings.
Rest the Chicken: Remove chicken from the grill and let it rest for 5-10 minutes to allow the juices to redistribute, ensuring moist and tender meat before serving.

Notes

For optimal flavor, marinate chicken with the spice rub and olive oil for 30 minutes to 2 hours before grilling if time allows.
Use a meat thermometer to verify chicken is cooked safely to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
If you prefer skinless chicken, remove the skin before cooking to reduce fat content.
The grilling times vary depending on the cut and thickness of chicken; adjust accordingly.
Leftover BBQ chicken can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for longer storage.