BBQ Chicken – Skinny Taste

This 5-ingredient BBQ chicken is juicy, beautifully charred and easy to prepare with your favorite BBQ sauce. Perfect for your summer barbecue!

BBQ chicken

I love the simplicity of this BBQ chicken recipe made with just five ingredients that I’m sure you already have on hand. I used chicken drumsticks, but you can use a whole chicken cut up and adjust the time as needed. Also, I left the skin on the drumsticks, but you can leave them out. Serve this dish with corn on the cob and coleslaw for an easy meal. For more of my favorite grilled chicken recipes, try these Grilled Chicken Foil Packets, Grilled Chicken Salad, and Grilled Chicken Quesadilla.

Do you put BBQ sauce on chicken before cooking?

The best time to apply the BBQ sauce is when the chicken is almost done. If you cook the chicken raw, the sugar in the sauce will brown it faster than the meat and may burn the outside of the chicken. I spread the sauce over the chicken in the last few minutes of cooking.

Ingredients for BBQ chicken

• BBQ Chicken Rub: Seasoning salt, such as Lawry’s or Adobo, and garlic powder
• Sauce: Your favorite BBQ sauce, yellow mustard and some water to dilute
• Chicken: Eight drumsticks with or without skins

How to make BBQ chicken

1. Season the drumsticks: Sprinkle the chicken with seasoned salt and garlic powder. If you leave the skin on the drumsticks, rub some spice under the skin. Cover and refrigerate for at least an hour or even overnight for maximum flavor.
2. Make the Barbecue Sauce: Combine BBQ sauce, mustard, and two tablespoons of water to thin it out.
3. Prepare the grill: Start with a clean grill and preheat to medium-high. Once hot, oil the grates and reduce the heat to low.
4. Grill chicken: Place the drumsticks on the grill, cover and turn frequently to avoid burning. It will take about 18 to 20 minutes for the chicken to be golden brown and cooked through. Check to see if it’s done with a thermometer – it should read 165°F.
5. BBQ sauce: Spread the sauce mixture evenly over the chicken and cook, turning a few times, about 2 minutes more.

What to serve with BBQ Chicken

There are so many ways to eat this easy grilled chicken. Below are some ideas.

variations

• BBQ sauce: When shopping for a barbecue sauce, look for one that contains less sugar. If you don’t have a store-bought one that you like, you can make homemade BBQ sauce.
• Chicken: Use chicken breasts or thighs (buy bone-in pieces) or cut up a whole chicken and use all parts. Cooking time will vary, but use a thermometer to check if it’s done.
• No outdoor grill? Bake the chicken in the oven at 400°F for 35 to 45 minutes, brushing with the BBQ sauce for the last 2 minutes of cooking.

More grilled chicken recipes you’ll love