This is the best BBQ chicken recipe you’ll ever make, rubbed with a smoky chipotle spice rub, grilled to perfection, then slathered in sweet and smoky homemade BBQ sauce. It’s my go-to grilled BBQ chicken that’s juicy, tender, and loaded with flavor. The perfect summer dinner!
My favorite sides to serve alongside this juicy BBQ chicken are grilled corn salad, creamy potato salad (with bacon!), and a refreshing fruit salad.
What makes this chicken recipe so mouthwatering is the layer upon layer of flavor. First, I rub the chicken with a smoky chipotle dry rub. Next, it gets flavor from the grill itself, all smoky and slightly charred. Lastly, I slather my homemade BBQ sauce all over the chicken. It’s sweet, tangy, and just spicy enough. Hand over heart, this is the best BBQ chicken recipe ever. It’s my go-to, and I know it’ll soon become yours, too!
Why This Is the Only BBQ Chicken Recipe You’ll Ever Need
- Easy ingredients. All you need are a few pantry spices to make the rub (or you can use a store-bought blend), and the steps to prepare this BBQ chicken are super simple.
- Sweet, savory, smoky. Even my favorite BBQ chicken from local restaurants doesn’t compare to this homemade recipe! The flavors are layered and delicious, between the spices and the homemade BBQ sauce.
- Endless meals. Serve this chicken as an entrée on its own, add it to a grilled chicken salad, shred it to add to tacos, or tuck it into a fluffy bun for a grilled chicken sandwich. The serving possibilities are endless!
Key Ingredients
Three ingredients are all you need to make the best BBQ chicken. Scroll to the recipe card for the full recipe with exact measurements.
- Chicken – I make this recipe with boneless, skinless chicken breasts. You can use bone-in chicken breasts or thighs, too. While bone-in chicken can be more flavorful, I like to use boneless chicken since it’s easy to slice.
- Chipotle Spice Rub – I include my homemade recipe. To make it, you’ll need cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, chipotle powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. This rub is KEY to the flavor in this recipe.
- BBQ Sauce – I love using homemade BBQ sauce. However, if you don’t want to make your own sauce, just use your favorite store-bought brand.
How to Make the Best BBQ Chicken
- Fire up the grill. Preheat grill to medium-high heat (375-400°F).
- Make the spice rub. Meanwhile, mix the cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, chipotle chili powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper in a bowl.
- Season the chicken. Pat the chicken dry with a paper towel so the spices can adhere. Then, rub the chicken on all sides with the spice blend.
- Grill. Grease the grill grates with an olive oil-soaked rag, or spray them with cooking spray to prevent sticking. Grill the chicken for 5 minutes, flip, and grill for another 5-6 minutes. Baste the chicken with the BBQ sauce in the last 2 minutes of cooking, flipping to baste both sides.
- Rest the chicken and serve. Allow the BBQ chicken rest for 5 minutes to let the juices redistribute, and enjoy. Serve with more BBQ sauce if you like your chicken saucy!
How Long to Grill BBQ Chicken
I typically cook my BBQ chicken breasts for 10-15 minutes. It ends up being 5-7 minutes per side, and then an additional 1 minute per side after I add the BBQ sauce.
Timing will vary depending on the type of chicken and your individual grill, among other factors, so it’s best to test your chicken to know it’s done. Use an instant-read thermometer to check that the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to the FDA, chicken is done when the internal temperature reaches 165°F. In this recipe, I recommend adding the BBQ sauce to the chicken when it reaches 160°F and removing it from the grill when it hits 165°F. The chicken will be perfectly cooked through and still juicy and tender.
No. BBQ sauce often contains sugar, which doesn’t marinate well. Furthermore, the sugar causes flare-ups when grilling, leaving you with a charred piece of chicken. Season the chicken with the spices, and brush on the BBQ sauce at the end. If you’re looking for a great way to marinate chicken, try my best chicken marinade.
No, I don’t recommend grilling chicken from frozen. Your chicken will be very tough and fibrous. Take the extra 30 minutes to run it under cold water and thaw it out. It will be worth it in the end.
Oven Method
If you don’t have a grill, or if the weather isn’t cooperating for outdoor grilling, you can bake this BBQ chicken in the oven instead.
- Prepare the chicken. Preheat the oven to 450°F. Pat the chicken dry and season it with the spice rub as usual. Arrange the chicken in a 13’x9″ baking dish.
- Bake. Bake at 450ºF for 15 minutes. Brush the chicken with BBQ sauce, flip, and generously coat the other side. Return the chicken to the oven and roast for another 5-8 minutes until the sauce starts to char. Rest the chicken before serving.
What to Serve With BBQ Chicken
Add this grilled BBQ chicken to a salad, shred it to have on a slider bun, or serve it on its own with some easy sides:
- Salad: Try this Mexican street corn salad or a quick and refreshing creamy cucumber salad. I also love having this chicken at backyard BBQs with a Caprese pasta salad.
- Grilled veggies: Serve this chicken with a side of grilled asparagus
- Sweet potatoes: I’m a big fan of BBQ chicken paired with a grilled sweet potato salad or these chipotle sweet potato fries dipped in spicy mayo.
Storing and Reheating Leftover Chicken
- Refrigerate. Store any leftover BBQ chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. It’s great for meal prep!
- Reheat. Warm up the chicken gently in the microwave, or you can use the oven at 350ºF until the chicken is hot throughout.
- Freeze. You can freeze the cooked chicken after it’s cooled. Store it airtight and freeze it for up to 2 months. Thaw the chicken in the fridge before serving.
More Grilled Chicken Recipes
The Best BBQ Chicken Recipe
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Grill
- Cuisine: American
Description
The best BBQ chicken recipe you’ll ever make! Juicy chicken is rubbed with a smoky chipotle spice rub, grilled to perfection, and slathered in a homemade BBQ sauce.
Ingredients
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breast
- 3/4 cup Homemade BBQ Sauce
Smoky Chipotle Spice Blend:
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon chipotle chili powder
- 1 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat grill to medium high heat, 375-400°F.
- To a small bowl add, cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, chipotle chili powder, smoked paprika, salt and black pepper. Gently mix.
- Pat chicken breast dry with a paper towel.
- Season both sides of chicken with spice blend.
- Rub down grill grates with olive oil soaked rag or spray with cooking spray.
- Place chicken breasts on grill. Grill for 5 minutes and flip, cook an additional 5-6 minutes. Then baste chicken with bbq sauce, and cook for an 1 minute. Flip and repeat basting and grill for 1 minute. Remove chicken when they have reached 165°F.
- Place bbq chicken on a plate and let rest for 5 minutes to let juices redistribute. Serve with more BBQ if you like them “saucey.”
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast
- Calories: 284
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 603 mg
- Fat: 4 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 36 g
- Cholesterol: 97 mg
