Description
This recipe shows you how to grill juicy and flavorful chicken breasts coated with your favorite barbecue sauce. Perfect for a quick and delicious meal, the chicken breasts are grilled over medium-high heat to achieve a tender interior and slightly charred exterior, infused with a smoky barbecue flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 2 pounds chicken breast (2 large breasts or 4 cutlets)
Sauce
- Your favorite barbecue sauce, as needed to coat the chicken
Instructions
- Preheat the grill: Preheat your grill to medium-high heat to ensure it is hot enough to cook the chicken breasts properly, helping to sear the outside and lock in juices.
- Prepare the chicken: Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture. This helps the barbecue sauce adhere better and creates a nice grilled texture.
- Apply barbecue sauce: Generously brush both sides of the chicken breasts with your preferred barbecue sauce for flavor and caramelization during grilling.
- Grill the chicken: Place the chicken breasts on the preheated grill. Cook for about 5 minutes on one side without moving to develop grill marks and prevent sticking.
- Flip and baste: Flip the chicken breasts over and brush with an additional layer of barbecue sauce. Continue to grill for another 5 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) and the chicken is cooked through.
- Rest the chicken: Remove the chicken from the grill and let it rest for 5 minutes to allow the juices to redistribute, resulting in a moist and tender bite.
- Serve: Serve the grilled chicken breasts hot with extra barbecue sauce on the side if desired.
Notes
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F for safe consumption.
- If using thick barbecue sauce, apply it near the end of cooking to prevent burning due to sugar content.
- For even cooking, pound chicken breasts to an even thickness before grilling if needed.
- Keep the grill lid closed as much as possible to maintain temperature and cook evenly.
- Resting the chicken after grilling helps keep it juicy.
