BBQ Chicken Recipe 2025 ( Best & Easy Amazing BBQ Chicken) bbq chicken

You’ve come to the right place to learn How to Make BBQ Chicken and how to prepare a delicious, juicy, smoky chicken, from marinating, grilling, and finishing it.

Step-by-Step Recipe for Making BBQ Chicken

America’s most famous food, BBQ chicken is a universal favorite. Whether you’re planning a summer cookout, a party, family dinner, or a game day feast, it’s sure to be a hit and favorite. It’s sweet, spicy, smoky, and full of flavor. This BBQ chicken is prepared with a delicious secret that lies in the proper grilling and seasoning methods. Below is the complete recipe, from start to finish, and here’s how to prepare it. Let’s get started.

Ingredients (for the chicken)

• 5 to 6 pounds bone-in chicken pieces (breast, drumstick or thigh)

• 1 teaspoon black pepper

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• 1½ teaspoon salt or to taste

Optional You can use paprika, garlic powder, onion powder for extra flavor.

Bbq Sauce Ingredients (Homemade)

• Honey or Jaggery 2 tbsp

• Ketchup 1 cup

• Brown Sugar ¼

• Yellow Mustard 1 tbsp

• Garlic Powder ½
• Smoked Paprika ½
• Apple Cider Vinegar ¼

• Worcestershire Sauce 1 tbsp

• Onion Powder ½
• Pinch of Cayenne Pepper

• Pepper and Salt to taste

If you don’t have time, you can use store bought Bbq Sauce of your choice or Sweet Baby Ray’s, Stubb’s, or KC Masterpiece are great.

1. To prepare the chicken

Dry the chicken pieces well using paper towels to remove moisture so the skin gets crispy and doesn’t steam on the grill.

Also, trim off any bone or skin first, but be sure to leave enough skin to maintain juiciness.

Get a large bowl or zip top bag. Add olive oil and add the chicken.

For extra flavor, use black pepper, salt, garlic powder or paprika, and optional seasonings as needed.

Tip: If you want the marinade or rub to penetrate deep into the chicken, cut the chicken thinly with a knife, being sure not to press all the way in.

2. How to Make Great BBQ Sauce at Home

Once the chicken is seasoned, let it rest for a while while you prepare the sauce.

After adding it to the pan, stir it well and then let the mixture heat on low to medium flame. Let it boil for 12 to 15 minutes but keep stirring in between so that it does not burn on the bottom. Let it boil for 12 to 15 minutes but keep stirring in between so that the bottom does not burn. When it thickens a little and the flavors are combined, let it boil, then reduce it.

Taste and use spices:
For sweetness, use vinegar, and cayenne pepper for spiciness.

Now your sauce is ready, separate half of it for serving and keep the rest of it aside for basting.

3. To marinate (optional but recommended)

When marinating chicken, marinate the marinated chicken in the refrigerator for 1 to 3 hours or overnight if you have one.

Place the chicken and a few tablespoons of BBQ sauce in a bowl or zip top bag. Place it in the refrigerator so it can absorb the flavor.

Key Note: Sometimes the sugar is too much, so don’t marinate with too much sauce or for too long, as this will cause the chicken to burn when grilling.

4. Using the Grill: Preheat It

Whether you’re using a gas or charcoal grill, preheating is a must.

Gas grill: Preheat the grill to 400°F to 450°F on one side only on medium-high.

Turn the other side down or off to create indirect heat.

Charcoal Grill: Light the coals and set the grill on one side if you are doing a two-zone cooking.

Let the coals burn and maintain medium heat and the grill on the cool and direct zone side.

👉🏻 First make sure the grate is clean or else the chicken will stick. To prevent sticking, clean and oil the grate so that the chicken doesn’t stick to the grate.

5. Grill the Chicken on Indirect Heat First

Place the chicken skin side up on the indirect cool side to grill.

Now close the lid and cook for 30 to 35 minutes but make sure to turn it in between so that it doesn’t burn.

Keep the lid closed so that the temperature is consistent throughout.

Use a thermometer to check if the temperature is 150°F. If it is, then it’s time to turn it to heat.

Use a meat thermometer to measure the temperature accurately.  Chicken is safe to eat at 165° Fahrenheit, but it will increase a few degrees after you grill it.

6. Now go to temperature and bake

If you caramelize and crisp the chicken, then place the grill on the hot part.
Now start baking with BBQ sauce, for this you can use a brush only.

Continue grilling for 8 to 10 minutes but keep turning it every two to three minutes and bake.

What to do in case of fire: – Pay attention, when the sauce drips and the flames rise, first of all put the chicken back in the cool part, so that the risk of fire will be averted.

👉🏻 The sugar present in the BBQ sauce burns quickly, so to avoid this, keep turning it and keep cooking evenly.

7. Checking doneness: Use a thermometer to check

The thickest part of the meat (breasts or thighs) should be 165°F.

The juice should never be pink, it should always be clear.

The skin should be slightly burnt from the sauce and sticky.

👉🏻 Sometimes some chicken pieces will cook faster than others so move them to a cooler part of the grill to rest.

Optional: Adding Smoky Flavor

Extra smoke on a gas grill:

Use wood chips like applewood, hickory or mesquite to soak for 30 to 35 minutes.

Wrap in perforated foil and place over heat.

Continue to grill and smoke the chicken. Whether you smoke or not, it adds a rich smoky BBQ flavor that is harmless and creates a delicious meal.

8. Let the chicken rest

When the chicken is cooked, place it on a baking sheet or a plate.

Let it rest for 8 to 10 minutes until the juices are distributed.

Cover with foil if you need to or you don’t need to.  (This is only used if you are cooking outdoors like camping.)

👉🏻 When you let it rest the meat becomes tender and juicy, not dry.

9. Extra Sauces and How to Serve:

Brush BBQ sauce on top before serving. (Apply it on the part you set aside earlier, not the one you used for basting.)

Can be served with:

Cornbread

Coleslaw

Baked Beans

Grilled Corn on the Cob

Fries or Potato Salad

Pickles and onions for a southern twist

You can also serve cold beer for the adults and for those who don’t use beer, sweet tea or lemonade is perfect. Don’t forget this.

BONUS: CLEAN THE GRILL

After grilling, use a grill brush to clean or scrape off any leftovers.

And lightly oil it before reusing it.

Any leftover chicken you have can be refrigerated for 3 to 4 days and can be reheated in the oven or sliced ​​for sandwiches.

Final Tips for Classic Perfect BBQ Chicken

Two-zone grilling keeps it from burning and controls the heat.

Baste at the end to prevent sugar from burning.

Sometimes you may not know if it’s done or not, so use a thermometer to be sure.

Homemade sauces control the heat better, but store-bought sauces are also great to save time. But homemade sauces are better.

Bone-in chicken is juicier and more filling than boneless chicken.

BBQ Chicken Feast

This classic BBQ chicken recipe never disappoints. Whether you’re hosting a backyard BBQ dinner or a weekend family dinner, it always delivers.

With the right preparation and patience, you can become a backyard grill master in no time.

So let’s make it in our homes this Sunday and make everyone happy.

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