The Best Grilled Barbecue Chicken
Grilled barbecue chicken can be difficult to cook perfectly. If left on too long, it can become dry, or the sauce can become burned. Here are my tips and recipe for making delicious, super moist grilled barbecue chicken!
The secret to this moist grilled barbecue chicken is brining the meat prior to cooking.
You can use this brine for bone-in or boneless chicken prior to adding your rub, marinade or seasoning. Brining works beautifully to tenderize the meat. Brine the meat no less than 2 hours (for boneless) or overnight (for bone-in meat), rinse thoroughly and pat dry. Then you can add your favorite marinade, like the Best Ever Grilled Chicken Marinade, a dry rub, barbecue sauce or seasonings. I’m sharing my mom’s homemade barbecue sauce recipe because it’s delicious and my personal favorite!
The Best Grilled Barbecue Chicken
Simple Brine for Chicken:
3 garlic cloves, peeled and slightly smashed
8 cups of water
3 tbsp sea salt
1 bay leaf
Combine all ingredients in a large Ziploc bag in a deep bowl. Add chicken and seal bag, letting out as much air as possible. Brine for at least 2 hours or overnight. Rinse chicken thoroughly and pat dry.
Mom’s Homemade Barbecue Sauce:
1/3 cup chopped onion
1 small clove garlic, minced
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 can (10 3/4 oz) tomato soup (go for an organic brand, if available)
2 tbsp natural brown sugar (I go with coconut sugar-tastes the same and a healthier alternative)
1 tbsp vinegar
1 1/2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp mustard
dash hot sauce
In a saucepan, cook onion and garlic in oil until tender over medium heat. Add remaining ingredients. Cook over low heat for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Makes 1 1/2 cups of sauce.
Grilling directions for bone-in chicken: Pre-heat grill on high heat, then lower to medium temp and grill for about 20 minutes to sear and crisp the skin, turning occasionally. Baste chicken with sauce and cook an additional 15 minutes, continuing to turn to evenly coat all sides.
What To Serve With Grilled Barbecue Chicken
I love a good homemade potato salad to go with barbecue chicken in the summertime. You also can never go wrong with grilled asparagus or a simple strawberry spinach salad.
Super Moist Grilled Barbecue Chicken
Ingredients
- Simple Brine for Chicken
- 3 lbs bone-in, skin-on chicken I like a combination of breasts and drumsticks
- 3 garlic cloves peeled and slightly smashed
- 8 cups water
- 3 tbsp sea salt
- 1 bay leaf
- Mom's Homemade Barbecue Sauce
- 1/3 cup chopped onion
- 1 small clove garlic minced
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 10 oz can tomato soup
- 2 tbsp natural brown sugar or coconut sugar
- 1 tbsp vinegar
- 1 1/2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp mustard
- 1 dash hot sauce
Instructions
- Brine the Chicken:Combine all ingredients in a large ziploc bag placed into a deep bowl.
- Add chicken and seal bag, letting out as much air as possible. Brine for at least 2 hours (for boneless chicken) or overnight (for bone-in).
- Rinse chicken thoroughly and pat dry.
- For Barbecue Sauce:In a saucepan, cook onion and garlic in oil until tender over medium heat, about 5 minutes. Add remaining ingredients and stir to combine.
- Cook over low heat for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Makes 1.5 cups of sauce.
- Grilling Directions for Bone-In Chicken:Preheat grill on high heat, then lower to medium temp.
- Place chicken on grill and cook for about 20 minutes to sear and crisp the skin, turning occasionally.
- Baste chicken with sauce and cook an additional 15 minutes, continuing to turn to evenly coat all sides.
Nutrition
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Very nice recipe of barbecue chicken. Thanks for this blog.