This is hands down the the easiest and best BBQ Chicken!! Always juicy and tender and stupid-simple to make with no brining or marinating.
This is the absolute best staple for your summer grilling. Whether you are just grilling for your family, a crowd, or for a special occasion like Father’s Day or the Fourth of July, this will hands-down be the dish that everyone is talking about.
The Secret to the Best BBQ Chicken:
There is only one secret to making the best BBQ Chicken ever – patience. Nobody wants dry, over cooked chicken, or even worse, under done chicken! Slow and low is the way to go for the perfectly cooked chicken. Moderate heat is the key here.
Whether you are using a charcoal or gas grill, set yourself up for indirect grilling, keep the heat to one side and cook the chicken on the “cool” side.
What are the Best Pieces to use for BBQ Chicken?
Personally, I prefer skin-on, bone-in thighs. Using bone-in takes a little while longer to cook, but that flavor is soooo much better than using boneless. Thighs are also more uniformly shaped allowing them to cook at a more even rate then say chicken breasts.
Chicken legs also work beautifully, but feel free to use your favorite cut. Just make sure you cook it to the proper temperature – 160 degrees for breasts and 170 degrees for thighs.
Why use skin-on? Even if you aren’t planning on eating the skin, leaving it on helps keeps the juices in and protects the chicken from drying out.
Why is this BBQ Chicken Recipe so Simple?
There are no complicated brining techniques, marinades or dry rubs to worry about. I said it before and I will say it again patience is the only secret here. Well that and your favorite BBQ Sauce to slather on. Everyone loooovvvveeees this Bourbon Peach BBQ Sauce. It is stupid simple to make and whips up in only 30 minutes.
This BBQ Sauce is rich and smoky. The peaches add just the right amount of sweetness and tartness to pair perfectly with the flavors of vanilla, oak, and caramel found in the bourbon.
The serving options for this Bourbon Peach BBQ Sauce are endless! Besides chicken, it is wonderful on fish, ribs, pork tenderloin, or pork chops.
Use it as a BBQ marinade, a condiment, dipping sauce, or even as a pizza sauce!!
What is the Difference Between Barbequing and Grilling?
The difference between barbequing and grilling is simply the cooking technique.
Barbequing is done with a lower, indirect heat, where the lid is also closed creating more of a oven allowing the meat to cook from all sides.
Grilling is done over a higher direct heat with the lid up. Which is were that wonderful sear comes from that you get on steaks and hamburgers.
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The Ultimate BBQ Chicken
Ingredients
- 4-5 pounds skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs
- 4 tbsp Cajun seasoning
- 2 cups BBQ Sauce
Instructions
- Season chicken liberally with Cajun seasoning and allow to come to room temperature.
- Set the grill up for indirect cooking (create a zone off to one side of direct heat and a zone off to the other with indirect heat) and preheat the grill. If you are using a charcoal grill, light the charcoal at least 30 minutes prior to cooking and 15 minutes if using a gas grill.
- Place the chicken, skin side up, on the indirect side of your grill. Close the lid and cook the chicken for 10-15 minutes and flip, cooking for an additional 10-15 minutes.
- Baste the chicken with the BBQ Sauce, flip and baste the other side. Close the lid and cook for an additional 5-10 minutes. Repeat once or until the chicken reaches 170 degrees. Rest 5-10 minutes and serve.
Nutrition
