Grilled BBQ Chicken
Grilled BBQ Chicken that turns out tender, juicy and delicious! This simple barbecue chicken is brined and then grilled with a homemade barbecue sauce. A tasty dinner that will have everyone running to the dinner table.
Grilled chicken can be a challenge but I’m sharing our secrets for tender and juicy chicken that is sure to beat take out day of the week. We also love this Pecan BBQ Chicken when we have whole chickens on hand.
How to Make Grilled BBQ Chicken:
- Make a brine with 4 quarts of warm water in a large pan. Add salt, peppercorns, fresh garlic, rosemary and lemon peel. Add chicken pieces and cover. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.
- Prepare grill to 350°.
- Remove chicken from brine and pat dry with paper towels. Drizzle with olive oil and season with kosher salt and fresh ground pepper.
- Place chicken on grill and close the lid. Cook 10 minutes, turning chicken over about half way through. Baste with barbecue sauce and continue cooking with the lid closed. Turning about every 10 minutes and basting with more sauce.
- Check chicken with a meat thermometer, cooking about 40-50 minutes or until chicken reaches 165° in the thickest part, near the bone.
- Remove from grill and allow to rest 5 minutes before slicing. Serve with additional barbecue sauce if desired.
Tips for Grilling Chicken:
- Brining chicken is the best way to get the most flavorful and juiciest chicken. No one likes dry chicken!
- Don’t over brine your chicken. I recommend at least 2 hours but not over 24, so that your chicken does not become to salty.
- Keep your grill fire moderate about 300-350°.
- Use a meat thermometer to be sure the chicken is cooked through but not over cooked.
- Brush with barbecue sauce or glaze.
- Allow the chicken to rest before slicing.
How Long do you Grill Bone In Chicken?
At 350° bone in chicken should cook through in about 40-50 minutes. Testing the thickest part of the meat, near the bone until it reaches 165°.
What Barbecue Sauce is Best for Grilled Chicken?
For this recipe we used our Homemade Barbecue Sauce which is thick and hearty. It’s slightly sweet with garlic and onions, plenty of black pepper and a tangy bite.
Dr Pepper Barbecue Sauce is another favorite for grilling. It’s sticky sweet and makes a great glaze on grilled meats.
If you like things spicy, you have to try our homemade Jalapeño Barbecue Sauce. It’s knock your socks off delicious and does a nice job coating the chicken.
If you are looking to try something outside of the box, this White Barbecue Sauce is incredible. It’s creamy with a nice garlic bite and has a nice tang from the vinegar.
I do highly recommend making your own barbecue sauce for grilling. All of our barbecue sauce recipes are really quick and easy. If you have extra sauce, just store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 months.
Dishes to Serve with Grilled BBQ Chicken:
Creamy Coleslaw is a must for any barbecue meal and this one is made with simple ingredients. You can’t go wrong with Fried Squash, it’s a great addition to any meal on the grill.
More Grilled Chicken Recipes to Try:
Smoked Chicken with Mustard BBQ Sauce is a sweet and savory twist on classic barbecue. If you are a mustard fan, you are going to love tis easy grilled chicken!
Grilled Chicken Fajitas are a family favorite. Grilled chicken and vegetables served up on flour tortillas with all of your favorite toppings.
Grilled BBQ Chicken
Ingredients
For the Brine:
- 4 quarts warm water
- 1 cup kosher salt
- 2 garlic cloves sliced in half
- 3 sprigs fresh rosemary
- 1 tablespoon peppercorns
- peel of 1 lemon
For the Chicken
- 4 pound bone in chicken we used breasts
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon fresh ground pepper
- 2 cups Homemade Barbecue Sauce
Instructions
- Add warm water to a large pan. Whisk in kosher salt until dissolved.
- Add garlic cloves, rosemary, peppercorns and lemon peel.
- Place chicken into brine and cover with a lid. Refrigerate at least 2 hours and up to 24 hours.
- Prepare the grill to 350°.
- Remove chicken from brine and pat dry with paper towels.
- Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
- Place chicken on grill and close the lid. Cook 10 minutes, turning chicken over about half way through.
- Baste chicken with barbecue sauce and close the lid.
- Turn chicken about every 10 minutes, basting with more sauce for about 30-40 more minutes.
- When chicken reaches 165° in the thickest part, near the bone, remove from the grill.
- Allow chicken to rest 5 minutes before slicing.
