Grilled BBQ Chicken Breasts

Created On: April 10, 2023 | Updated: May 21, 2023 | 49 Comments

16.28

4.07

The recipe prices will vary based on fluctuating grocery costs. Please use what is posted as a guide.

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 $16.28 to make. So that’s approximately $4.07 per serving!

We enjoy making our Panera Mac and Cheese, Instant Pot Baked Beans, and Seven Layer Salad to serve alongside these Grilled BBQ Chicken Breasts.

Finished Grilled BBQ Chicken Breasts recipe with text overlay for Pinterest.

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!

Grilled BBQ Chicken Breast on a blue plate with baked beans and fresh pineapple.

Ingredients & Estimated Cost:

Recipe Cost: $16.28

Per Serving: $4.07

6 cups water – $0.00
¼ cup salt – $0.12
¼ cup granulated sugar – $0.04
2 Tablespoons cornstarch – $0.06
6 (6-8 ounces) boneless skinless chicken breasts – $14.54
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 April 2023.

All of the ingredients needed to make this recipe.

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.

A picture collage showing how to make this recipe.

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: As with most recipes with dairy products, you shouldn’t leave this mac and cheese 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.

Close up picture of Grilled BBQ Chicken Breasts on a white plate.

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.

Why is my grilled chicken rubbery?

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.

How long does it take to grill BBQ chicken breasts?

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.

A grilled boneless skinless chicken breast on a blue plate.

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