Grilled BBQ Chicken Breast

Name: Grilled BBQ Chicken Breast Recipe
Prep time: 45 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 55 min
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon Worcestershire; 2 tablespoons ketchup; 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar; 1/2 teaspoon paprika; 1 teaspoon chili powder; 1 teaspoon sea salt; 2 tablespoons avocado oil; 1.5 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breast; ½ cup BBQ sauce

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By Lee Funke

Published 8/8/2023

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Our grilled bbq chicken breast is marinated in a simple blend of spices and sauces. Then, It’s grilled over direct heat for around 10 minutes and then it’s finished off with a slather of bbq sauce.

grilled chicken breasts on a white plate with sauce.

BBQ chicken is always a good idea. I’ve made this recipe countless times (and even with chicken thighs) and it truly never fails. The chicken comes out so tender on the inside and the grill marks are the cherry on top. Slather your chicken with your favorite bbq sauce and voila!

Eat this bbq chicken breast as a summer main or serve it as our bbq chicken salad or even a bowl.

What You Need for BBQ Chicken Breast

boneless skinless chicken breast: the goal with grilling chicken breasts is to find breasts that are all relatively the same size and thickness so that they cook evenly.
salt and pepper: we’re keeping it simple with salt and pepper, but as always, you can add whatever spices your heart desires or even do a yummy rub underneath such as fajita or a bbq rub.
olive oil: olive oil makes sure your chicken doesn’t stick on the grill! A little goes a long way.
BBQ sauce: the star of this recipe is the BBQ sauce. You can use a homemade BBQ sauce or use your favorite store-bought sauce.

PS: keep our bbq chicken marinade in your back pocket for any cut of chicken.

Variations

Use chicken thighs: you can swap the chicken breast for boneless skinless chicken thighs. Just make sure to use a meat thermometer and cook your chicken until 160ºF/165ºF.

Choose a different bbq sauce: smokey, sweet, or savory — you choose what kind of bbq sauce to flavor your chicken with!

Use a grill pan: no grill no problem. Simply use a grill pan. Cook your chicken breast over medium/high heat for 4-5 minutes per side or until the internal temperature reaches 165ºF.

FAQ

How long do you BBQ chicken breast on the grill?

Grill your chicken breast over medium/high heat over direct heat for around 4-5 minutes per side or until the internal temperature reaches 160ºF-165ºF.

How to cook chicken breast on the grill without drying it out?

The key is to cook your chicken at a higher heat over direct heat. If you cook it low and slow you risk drying it out.

Is it better to grill chicken breast fast or slow?

We recommend grilling chicken breast quickly over a higher heat because they are such a lean cut of meat.

What temperature do you BBQ chicken breast at?

For bbq chicken breast, preheat your grill to 450ºF.

How to Store BBQ Chicken Breast

If you have leftover chicken, we recommend storing it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

To reheat: microwave on high for 60 seconds.

Ideas for Leftovers

Make a bowl: combine a simple corn salad with bbq chicken breast and rice. Check out our bbq chicken bowls recipe.
Make a salad: make our grilled bbq chicken salad with this saucy chicken.
Make chicken salad: chicken salad is such a fun idea for this bbq chicken breast. Shred it up and toss it with Greek yogurt, dried cranberries, and celery.

bbq grilled chicken on a white plate with a brush.

What to Serve with Grilled BBQ Chicken Breast

Mexican Quinoa Salad- Make this light and refreshing Mexican quinoa salad made with cooked quinoa, plump cherry tomatoes, black beans, corn, and a limey vinaigrette.
Foil Pack Grilled Potatoes- These foil pack grilled potatoes are an easy side to add to any bbq. All you need to do to make these grilled potatoes in foil is toss them in olive oil, spices, and create a foil pack!
Margaritas- The ultimate margarita recipe is made with high-quality tequila, orange liquor, fresh lime juice, and a hint of agave.
Butter Lettuce Salad- This butter lettuce salad has a combination of vegetables, fruit, nuts, cheese, and is drizzled with a simple lemon vinaigrette. Everything on a bed of tender butter lettuce makes a perfect and delicious salad.
Grilled Carrots- These grilled carrots are sweet and savory, perfectly cooked, and full of amazing flavor! Throw these grilled carrots on the grill and serve them alongside any of your favorite BBQ dishes.

Grilled BBQ Chicken Breast Recipe

Make a double batch of grilled bbq chicken breast for dinner and save the rest for meal prep throughout the week.

By: Lee Funke

Prep: 45

Cook: 10

Total: 55

Servings:

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Ingredients

BBQ Chicken Marinade

Other

▢ 1.5 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breast
▢ ½ cup BBQ sauce

Instructions

First, prepare the marinade. Add all of the ingredients for the marinade to a mixing bowl and whisk the ingredients together until combined.
Transfer the chicken breast to a dish or a plastic bag and pour the marinade over the chicken. Be sure the chicken is completely submerged and covered in the marinade. Marinate the chicken in the fridge for at least 30 minutes or up to 2 hours.
Preheat the grill to 450ºF and be sure the grill is clean.
Remove the chicken from the refrigerator and let the chicken sit at room temperature for at least 10 minutes. If you place cold chicken on a hot grill, it will stick.
Let the marinade drip from the chicken and transfer the chicken onto to the grill. Grill the chicken for 4-5 minutes (depending on the size of the chicken breast) over direct heat and close the grill.
Flip the chicken and use a brush to brush BBQ sauce over the top of the chicken. Close the grill and grill for an additional 4-5 minutes.
After 8-10 minutes, if the chicken has an internal temperature of 160-165ºF, remove it from the grill. It will continue to cook for a few minutes once removed. If the chicken is still raw on the inside, move the chicken to indirect heat and close the grill for an additional 1-3 minutes.
Remove the chicken from the grill and let the chicken rest before slicing.

Tips & Notes

If you are running short on time, still marinate the chicken, even if it’s for 10 minutes. However, the longer the better.
How long the chicken needs to be grilled will depend on the size of the chicken breast what grill is used, etc. Just be sure to watch the internal temperature.
If you try to flip the chicken breast and it resists, give it a minute. The chicken may not be fully cooked. When the chicken is cooked, it will release from the grill and be easier to flip.
Oven Instructions: Preheat the oven to 425ºF. Heat 2 tablespoons of avocado oil in a large cast iron skillet over high heat. Add the chicken to the pan and sear the chicken for 2-3 minutes on each side. Carefully place the cast iron skillet into the oven and bake for 8-10 minutes, using a pastry brush to brush bbq sauce on the chicken every 2-3 minutes. Check the internal temperature of the chicken periodically. Remove the chicken when it reaches 160º-165ºF.