5 from 9 votes
Grilled BBQ Chicken
Grab the napkins: This easy Grilled BBQ Chicken is finished with a dunk in sweet-spicy barbecue sauce. Learn how to turn any grill into a smoker, then prepare to savor a smoky, saucy chicken dinner that will have the entire block wishing they were invited to your yard for dinner.
Prep Time
1 hr
Cook Time
35 mins
Total Time
1 hr 35 mins
Servings:
4
servings
Calories:
377 kcal
Course:
Main Course
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
For the rub:
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon oregano dried
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon rosemary dried
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- black pepper to taste, see instructions, freshly ground
- salt to taste, see instructions, freshly ground
For the chicken:
- 1 (2 1/2-3 pound) whole chicken quartered (see note 1)
- barbecue sauce (see note 2)
- wood chips soaked for 30 minutes and drained
Instructions
- To make the herb rub, in a small bowl combine garlic powder, oregano, paprika, rosemary, and salt and pepper to taste (I like 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1 teaspoon pepper). Rub generously all over the chicken pieces, and let sit at room temperature for up to 1 hour.
- Preheat a charcoal or gas grill over medium-high heat (see note 3). Sprinkle the wood chips on the coals, or add in a perforated foil packet to a gas grill.
- Coat grill with 2 tablespoons oil. Grill the chicken directly over medium-high heat, turning once, until well browned, 3-5 minutes on each side.
- Transfer the pieces to the unheated portion of the grill, close the grill cover, and cook for 5 minutes. Brush both sides of the chicken pieces liberally with barbecue sauce and cook for 5 minutes longer.
- Continue cooking until the internal temperature reaches 165°F on a thermometer and bits of caramelized sauce have begun to cling to the outside of the chicken. As pieces finish cooking (the breasts will be done first), transfer them to a platter and cover loosely with aluminum foil until ready to serve.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Chicken: Start with a 2 1/2- to 3-pound chicken cut into quarters. Either ask your butcher or the staff behind the meat counter to assist with the task, or to quarter a chicken, check out my Recipe FAQ below.
- Barbecue sauce: Save time with your favorite store-bought condiment, or try my Sweet Baby Ray's copycat Barbecue Sauce recipe. It takes just 20 minutes to DIY a 4-cup batch!
- Yield: This recipe makes 4 servings of Barbecue Chicken: 2 servings are chicken breasts, and 2 servings are leg quarters. Depending on the size of your chicken, the servings should be about 1 cup cooked chicken per person.
- Storage: Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Nutrition Information
Serving
1 breast or leg quarter
Calories
377kcal
(19%)
Carbohydrates
6g
(2%)
Protein
31g
(62%)
Fat
25g
(38%)
Saturated Fat
7g
(35%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
5g
(29%)
Monounsaturated Fat
10g
(50%)
Trans Fat
0.2g
(10%)
Cholesterol
122mg
(41%)
Sodium
118mg
(5%)
Potassium
392mg
(8%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
3g
(6%)
Vitamin A
1113IU
(22%)
Vitamin C
3mg
(3%)
Calcium
46mg
(5%)
Iron
2mg
(11%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4 servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 377
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1 breast or leg quarter | |
| Calories | 377kcal | 19% |
| Carbohydrates | 6g | 2% |
| Protein | 31g | 62% |
| Fat | 25g | 38% |
| Saturated Fat | 7g | 35% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 5g | 29% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 10g | 50% |
| Trans Fat | 0.2g | 10% |
| Cholesterol | 122mg | 41% |
| Sodium | 118mg | 5% |
| Potassium | 392mg | 8% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 3g | 6% |
| Vitamin A | 1113IU | 22% |
| Vitamin C | 3mg | 3% |
| Calcium | 46mg | 5% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.