Juiciest Barbecued Chicken Breast
User Reviews
5
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Prep Time
10 hrs
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Cook Time
25 mins
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Total Time
10 hrs 25 mins
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Servings
6 -8
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Course
Main Course
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Cuisine
American
Juiciest Barbecued Chicken Breast
Description
This recipe for Juiciest Barbecued Chicken Breast starts by coating boneless, skinless chicken breasts in a mixture of mayonnaise, ranch dressing, and pressed garlic, which helps retain moisture during grilling. The chicken is then seasoned with a homemade blend of salt, paprika, black pepper, and garlic powder called Johnny's seasoning and marinated overnight in the refrigerator to enhance flavor.
Grilling is done over preheated, oiled grates at 400°F initially, then heat is reduced to medium-low with the grill covered to cook the chicken thoroughly without drying. The chicken is rotated halfway through cooking to create cross-hatch grill marks and brushed liberally with BBQ sauce on both sides to add a smoky tang while keeping the surface moist. Cooking time is approximately 25 minutes total for larger breasts.
Checking for an internal temperature of 165°F ensures the chicken is safely cooked yet remains tender and juicy. Juices should run clear when cut. This method provides flavorful chicken breasts suited for serving as an entree alongside classic summer sides or sliced for sandwiches and salads.
Ingredients
Ingredients for Juicy BBQ Chicken Breast:
- 3-4 lbs chicken breast boneless, skinless
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup ranch dressing
- 6-8 garlic pressed, medium cloves
- 1 1/2 Tbsp Johnny's seasoning store-bought or make your own with recipe below, added to taste*
- 1/2 cup BBQ sauce your favorite; plus more to serve
Homemade Johnny’s Seasoning:
- 1 ½ Tbsp salt sea salt
- 1 Tbsp paprika
- 1 tsp black pepper freshly ground
- 1 tsp garlic powder
Instructions
- Rinse chicken in cold water and pat dry with paper towels.
- In a casserole dish (no need to get extra dishes dirty), combine 1/2 cup mayo, 1/2 cup ranch and press in 6-8 garlic cloves.
- Add chicken and turn it several times to coat generously in the marinade.
- Season each individual side of the marinated chicken breasts with Johnny's seasoning, adding it to taste - I used about 1 1/2 Tbsp or half of the seasoning mix. Cover the casserole dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight to marinate. Marinate 10 hours or up to 24 hours.
- Preheat your grill to 400˚F. Brush the grates with oil. Place chicken on the grill then reduce heat to medium-low, cover and cook approximately 10 minutes per side (rotating the chicken 90˚ after 5 minutes to create criss-cross grill marks). When you turn your chicken over, generously brush the grilled side of the chicken with BBQ sauce. Repeat grilling your second side, rotating 90˚ after 5 minutes. Brush the second grilled side generously with BBQ sauce.
- Remove from grill, place on a platter and immediately cover with foil. Let chicken rest under foil for 15 minutes before cutting into it. Serve with more BBQ sauce, these mashed potatoes and this salad (or this salad), and you'll want this to drink.
Notes
- Cook chicken breasts until they reach an internal temperature of 165˚F and feel firm but still soft to the touch.
- The juices running clear when cutting indicate proper doneness.
- Larger chicken breasts may take about 25 minutes total on the grill.
- Avoid overcooking to prevent rubbery texture, noting that chicken continues cooking after being removed from the heat.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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