When cooked properly, BBQ chicken has a caramelized and lightly charred outside that seals in the juices and makes for a crispy outside and tender inside. Our method gives you a taste of smoky BBQ flavor with the juiciest, most tender chicken in every bite.
The best tender and juicy BBQ chicken breasts
BBQ Chicken is one of our favorite dishes when grilling season kicks off. There’s just something so delicious about the char on the meat, coated in sweet and gooey barbecue sauce. We keep going back to it. Not only does it make a delicious dinner when served with a hearty side dish and corn on the cob, but the leftovers taste divine when served over a salad or tossed on a crust for a quick and easy BBQ chicken pizza.
But here’s the thing. As much as I love chicken breasts, they can get dry and chewy pretty damn fast on the grill. Believe me, all it takes is “Mom, check out this cool trick I can do on the trampoline!!” to go from tender and juicy chicken breasts to “You better order a pizza.” But not anymore!! We’ve revealed the secret to tender, flavorful and juicy grilled chicken breasts. every time And the best part? No fancy ingredients or gadgets are required. It doesn’t need to be marinated overnight. In fact, it only takes 30 minutes and a few ingredients we all have… salt and water.
A quick soak in brine is all it takes to cook great rotisserie chicken. Toss the chicken breasts in the brine, prep the next half hour for the rest of your meal, heat up the grill, then toss the chicken on top. Spend the next 10 minutes grilling and basting with your favorite barbecue sauce, and you’re good to go. The tastiest, juiciest, and tenderest grilled BBQ chicken breasts you’ll ever taste. So fire up the grill and start cooking.
Ingredients you will need to prepare BBQ chicken breasts:
- Chicken breast– We used boneless, skinless chicken breasts. You can also use bone-in chicken breasts, but adjust the cooking time accordingly.
- barbecue sauce– This will be the predominant flavor of your chicken, so be sure to use a brand you like. You can also use homemade BBQ sauce.
- paprika– Paprika gives the chicken an extra smoky note.
- oil– We used olive oil, but any neutral flavored oil will work.
- Cold water & Sea-salt– You create a brine from salt and water. The chicken breasts are soaked in the brine for half an hour before grilling. It adds incredible flavor to the chicken, tenderizes it and locks in moisture. Brine = No dry, tasteless grilled chicken breasts!
How to prepare tender and juicy BBQ chicken breasts:
- Salt the chicken. Place the water and salt in a large mixing bowl and stir until the salt has dissolved. Add the chicken breasts and place in the fridge. Leave to rest for 30 minutes.
- Season chicken. Remove the chicken from the brine and pat dry with paper towels. Brush the chicken with olive oil and season with paprika.
- Heat up the grill. Heat your grill to medium-high. Once your grill is good and hot, brush the cooking grates with oil to prevent the chicken from sticking.
- Grill and baste the chicken. Place the chicken on the preheated grill and drizzle with BBQ sauce. Allow to cook undisturbed for 5-6 minutes before turning. Baste again with the BBQ sauce and cook for another 5-6 minutes or until the chicken breasts have reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
- Relax. Remove the chicken from the grill and brush it with the BBQ sauce one last time. Leave to rest for 5-10 minutes before serving to allow the juice to distribute. Enjoy!
Tips and Suggestions:
How Long Should I Grill Chicken Breasts?
The ideal cooking time for grilled chicken is 9 to 12 minutes, depending on the thickness of your chicken breasts. You should aim for a grilling temperature of around 200 degrees Celsius. Your chicken breast is ready when it has reached an internal temperature of 65 degrees. Be sure to check the temperature at the thickest part of the chicken breast.
What goes well with BBQ chicken breasts?
So many things go well with the sweet and smoky flavor of grilled BBQ chicken breasts! Here are some of our favorite dishes to go with it:
More delicious grilled chicken recipes:
Tender and juicy BBQ chicken breast
When prepared properly, BBQ chicken breasts have a caramelized and lightly charred outside that seals in the juices, making for a crispy outside and tender inside. Our method gives you a taste of smoky BBQ flavor with the juiciest, most tender chicken in every bite.
Servings: 6 portions
Calories: 336kcal
- 2 Pound Boneless skinless chicken breast
- 1/4 Cup olive oil
- 2 teaspoon paprika
- 1 Cup barbecue sauce
brine
- 4 cups Water Cool
- 1 1/2 tablespoon fine sea salt
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Soak chicken breast in brine. This allows the chicken to absorb moisture so it doesn’t dry out on the grill. The chicken won’t be salty since the brine doesn’t last very long, but the flavor and moisture levels will be amazing!
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In a large mixing bowl, stir together 4 cups of cold water and sea salt until salt is dissolved. Add your chicken breasts to the water, cover and place in the fridge for 30 minutes.
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While the chicken is marinating, heat your grill to medium-high. Brush the grates with a little olive oil before placing the chicken on them.
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Remove the chicken from the brine and pat dry with a paper towel. Brush the chicken with olive oil and season with paprika on both sides.
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Place the chicken on the hot grill and brush the top with BBQ sauce. Let it cook undisturbed for 5-6 minutes. Turn the chicken over and place it on a cooler side of the grill. Spread the other side with BBQ sauce. Cover the grill and let it finish cooking until the internal temperature reaches 165℉. Remove from the grill and brush with a final layer of BBQ sauce. Cover and let rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. Enjoy!
Calories: 336kcal | Carbohydrates: 20G | Protein: 33G | Fat: 13G | Saturated Fatty Acids: 2G | Polyunsaturated fat: 2G | Monounsaturated fatty acids: 8thG | trans fats: 0.02G | Cholesterol: 97mg | Sodium: 2419mg | Potassium: 686mg | Fiber: 1G | Sugar: 16G | Vitamin A: 480IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 31mg | Iron: 1mg
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Natalie Monson
I’m a registered nutritionist, mother of four, avid food lover and strong advocate of healthy habits. Here you will find many delicious fruit and vegetable recipes, tips on how to get your kids to eat better and become intuitive eaters, and many resources for feeding your family.
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