Servings
Font
Back
Grilled BBQ Chicken
5 from 15 votes

Grilled BBQ Chicken

Grilled BBQ Chicken features skin-on thighs and drumsticks marinated in a homemade BBQ sauce with honey, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, and spices. The chicken is grilled initially over medium heat then moved to indirect heat to cook through, with basting to build a flavorful glazed crust. This method produces tender, juicy chicken with a smoky, tangy, and sweet grilled flavor.

Prep Time
4 hrs 20 mins
Cook Time
35 mins
Total Time
4 hrs 55 mins
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, International

Ingredients

  • 3 pounds chicken thighs skin-on
  • 3 pounds chicken drumsticks skin-on
  • salt to taste, Kosher salt and freshly ground
  • black pepper to taste, Kosher salt and freshly ground
  • 1 ½ tablespoons canola oil
For the BBQ sauce mixture
  • 1 ½ cups BBQ sauce such as Stubb’s Original BBQ Sauce
  • 3 tablespoons honey
  • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Season chicken thighs and drumsticks with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1 teaspoon pepper.
  2. In a gallon size Ziploc bag or large bowl, combine chicken and BBQ sauce mixture; marinate for at least 4 hours to overnight, turning the bag occasionally. Drain the chicken from the marinade.
  3. Using paper towels, pat chicken dry. Brush with canola oil; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
  4. Preheat grill to medium heat.
  5. Add chicken to grill, and cook, turning occasionally, until lightly charred all over, about 3-4 minutes per side.
  6. Increase heat to medium high heat; move chicken to cooler side of the grill. Cover and cook, turning occasionally, until the chicken is completely cooked through, reaching an internal temperature of 165 degrees F, about 15-20 minutes.
  7. Brush with reserved BBQ sauce mixture, cooking for an additional 3-5 minutes.
  8. Serve immediately.
For the BBQ sauce mixture
  1. In a medium bowl, combine BBQ sauce, honey, Dijon, vinegar, paprika, onion powder and garlic powder. Reserve 1 cup and set aside.