Perfectly seasoned and juicy, these Grilled BBQ Chicken Breasts are grilled to perfection and smothered in a sweet and tangy BBQ sauce. They’re great for any occasion, whether hosting a summer BBQ or simply looking for a quick and tasty weeknight dinner.
It serves six and costs about $10.72 to make. So that’s approximately $1.79 per serving!
If you tend to shy away from grilling chicken for fear of over or under-cooking it, fear no more. With our recipe, we give you step-by-step directions to guide you to delicious, flavorful, juicy BBQ Chicken Breasts made fresh on your grill.
This recipe for Grilled BBQ Chicken Breast is so simple. One of our 14-year-olds made this all independently from start to finish! While eating it, he said it was the BEST grilled chicken he had ever tasted (I think he was proud of making the recipe himself)!
No one wants to eat dry chicken (even slathered in BBQ sauce). The secret to juicy chicken is in the chicken brine. It helps create tender grilled chicken breasts.
Throw on your flip-flops and heat the grill. Once you taste this BBQ chicken, you’ll grill it all season long!
Table of Contents
Ingredients & Estimated Cost:
- 6 cups water – $0.00
- ¼ cup salt – $0.12
- ¼ cup granulated sugar – $0.08
- 2 Tablespoons cornstarch – $0.06
- 6 (6-8 ounces) boneless skinless chicken breasts – $8.94
- ½ teaspoon salt – $0.01
- ½ teaspoon pepper – $0.02
- 1 ¼ cup barbecue sauce – $1.49
The recipe cost is calculated by the amounts needed for the recipe. Check out Budget Recipes Explained to learn more about how we price our recipes. The pricing for this recipe was updated in July 2024.
How to Make Grilled BBQ Chicken Breasts
***For complete recipe instructions and a recipe video, see the recipe card below.
- First, mix the brine.
- Brine the chicken for up to one hour and preheat the grill for 15 minutes.
- Then, prep the chicken by rubbing salt and pepper over all sides of the chicken.
- Next, turn off all the burners except the main burner and place the chicken on the hottest part of the grill to cook for a few minutes.
- Turn chicken over and brush with BBQ sauce. Cook until browned on the second side.
- Then, turn the chicken over, move to the grill’s cooler side, and brush it with BBQ sauce to cook for another few minutes.
- Repeat the turning and brushing two more times and cook for 2 minutes on each side.
- Finally, flip one final time, brush with BBQ sauce, and cook for 1-2 minutes. Remove from the grill and let it rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Recipe Variations and Substitutions
Feel free to cover the chicken in any sauce. For example, you can use honey mustard, a thick teriyaki, any variety of BBQ sauces, etc.
Storage Tips
SERVE: This is best served warm off the grill. You shouldn’t leave this chicken out for longer than 2 hours.
STORE: Leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4-5 days.
FREEZE: Cool the chicken to room temperature after grilling and place it in freezer-safe zipper bags. Freeze for up to 4 months this way.
Recipe FAQs
How do you keep chicken breast moist on the grill?
The secret is in the brine. Place the chicken in brine for at least 30 minutes before grilling. Brining gives the chicken enough time to soak up enough moisture so that while you are cooking, the chicken does not dry out due to exposure to the high heat on the grill.
We all know that chewy chicken is not delicious. It is a classic sign of overcooked chicken. It may also be too dry and become tough. Make sure you do not skip brining the chicken before you grill it. Also, keep an eye on how long you cook the chicken on each side.
It is imperative not to eat undercooked or raw chicken. Properly cooked chicken has an internal temperature of 160 degrees. If you do not have an instant-read thermometer, then cut into the chicken to ensure it is not pink in the middle. Our recipe takes approximately fifteen minutes to grill. However, each grill differs, so the total cook time may vary slightly.
Get Kids Involved
Ages 2-3: Let your kiddo help make the brine for the chicken. They can also help you measure the BBQ sauce in a bowl.
Ages 4-5: Let them pat dry the chicken with paper towels. Also, they can rub salt and pepper over all sides of the chicken.
Ages 6-8: Teach them about grilling safety as they help brush the chicken with BBQ sauce.
Ages 9-11: Supervise them while they prepare the entire recipe. Remember to have them read it twice before beginning the recipe.
Ages 12+: Let them prepare the entire recipe unsupervised while you do the happy dance in the corner!
Budget Tips
We prefer to buy our chicken breasts in bulk from Costco. This is because we find it more cost-effective to buy in bulk and then use the amount of chicken we need as we need it.
More Grill Recipes
- Grilled Peaches
- The Best Grilled Pork Chops
- Grilled Pork Kabobs on a Gas Grill
- Best Grilled Hamburgers
- Grilled Potatoes in Foil
- Foolproof Grilled Ribs
- How To Grill Strip Steak On A Gas Grill
Grilled BBQ Chicken Breasts
Recipe Cost 10.72 Serving Cost 1.79Equipment
- large mixing bowl
- grill toolset
- Liquid measuring cup
- measuring cups
- Measuring spoons
- baking sheet
Ingredients
BRINE:
- 6 cups water
- ¼ cup salt
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 2 Tablespoons cornstarch
CHICKEN:
- 6 (6-8 ounces) boneless skinless chicken breasts thawed if previously frozen
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
BBQ SAUCE:
- 1 ¼ cup barbecue sauce
Instructions
BRINE CHICKEN:
- In a large bowl combine water, salt, sugar, and corn starch. Add chicken, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate 30 minutes, but no longer than an hour.
PREHEAT GRILL:
- While the chicken brines, preheat the grill. Turn the gas grill on HIGH and close the lid. Preheat the grill for 15 minutes before putting the chicken on.
PREP THE CHICKEN:
- Remove chicken from the brine and pat dry with paper towels (discard the brine).
- In a small bowl combine the salt and pepper. Rub the salt and pepper over all sides of the chicken.
GRILL CHICKEN:
- Scrape and oil the grill grates. Turn off all of the burners except for the main burner, keep that one on medium-high.
- Place chicken on the hotter part of the grill and cook for 2-2 ½ minutes.
- Turn chicken over and brush with BBQ sauce. Cook until browned on the second side, about 2-2 ½ minutes.
- Turn the chicken over and move to the cooler side of the grill. Brush with BBQ sauce and cook for 2 more minutes.
- Repeat the turning and brushing 2 more times and cook for 2 minutes on each side.
- Flip 1 final time and brush with BBQ sauce. Cook for 1-3 minutes, or until the chicken registers 160 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer.
- Move chicken to a serving plate and let rest for 5 minutes. Serve.
Amanda says
This is my go-to Grilled BBQ Chicken Breast recipe now. Always a hit!
Sandy Gotter says
Hi, am I use that brine in boneless pork chops ? I have trouble with making them tender. Thanks sandy
emeril lagasse says
Thanks For Sharing this amazing recipe. My family loved it. I will be sharing this recipe with my friends. Hope they will like it.
Jess Jankowski says
Thanks for stopping by. Enjoy!
tanveer says
I made your recipe at home very tasty. Please add more recipes.
Jess Jankowski says
You got it! Thanks for stopping by to let us know you enjoyed the recipe.
Tara says
Such gorgeous grilled chicken! I love all the tips you included to help it come out perfect. Can definitely use some more easy meals. Yum!
Jess Jankowski says
Yay for easy delicious meals! We’re glad you found ours!
Sisley White says
Easy to make and simple recipe to follow. I loved how much everyone enjoyed them.
Jess Jankowski says
So glad it was easy for you!