BBQ Chicken

For the month of July I primarily use my grill to cook. I love the simplicity of this BBQ chicken recipe, made with only five ingredients I am sure you already have in hand. I used drumsticks, but you can also use a whole cut-up chicken, adjusting the time as needed. Also, I left the skin on the drumsticks, but you can omit it. Serve this dish with corn on the cob and coleslaw for an easy meal. For more of my favorite grilled chicken recipes, try these Barbeque Chicken Foil Packets, BBQ Chicken Salad, and Barbeque Chicken Quesadilla.

Do you put BBQ sauce on chicken before cooking?

The best time to put the BBQ sauce on is when the chicken is almost ready. If you do it when the chicken is raw, the sugar in the sauce will cause it to brown faster than the meat, and the outside of the chicken can burn. I brush the sauce on the chicken during the last few minutes of cooking.

BBQ Chicken Ingredients

BBQ Chicken Rub: For the spices start with seasoning salt, like Lawry’s or adobo, and garlic powder Sauce: Your favorite BBQ sauce, yellow mustard, and a little water to thin out Chicken: Eight skin-on chicken drumsticks, or skin removed if desired

How to Make BBQ Chicken

What to Serve with BBQ Chicken

There are so many ways to eat this easy barbecue chicken. Below are some ideas.

Classic Sides: Make some traditional barbecue side dishes, like corn on the cob, coleslaw, baked beans, macaroni and cheese or potato salad. Baked Potatoes: Top a baked potato or baked sweet potato with sour cream or Greek yogurt, cheese, and chives. As a Main: Pair the drumsticks with some summer sides, like this Creamy Cucumber Salad, Corn Tomato Avocado Salad, or Veggie Kabobs.

Variations

BBQ Sauce: When purchasing a barbeque sauce, look for one that’s lower in sugar. If you don’t have a store-bought one you love, you can make homemade BBQ sauce. Chicken: Use chicken breasts or chicken thighs (buy bone-in chicken pieces) or cut up a whole chicken and use all the parts. The cooking time will vary, but check that it’s ready with a thermometer. No outdoor grill? Bake the chicken in the oven at 400°F for 35 to 45 minutes and brush it with the BBQ sauce during the last two minutes of cooking.

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