Today I’m covering how to grill bone-in chicken breasts with juicy white meat and crispy skin in just 5 simple steps.
When it’s cooked right, bone-in chicken is loaded with the best flavor and goes with almost any side. It’s the ideal summertime meal.
I cook a lot of boneless skinless chicken breasts throughout the year, but when I get a taste for barbecue chicken, I prefer bone-in.
After a simple dry rub the split breasts are cooked on a gas grill then slathered with spicy-tangy-sweet bbq sauce. Friends, it’s summertime on a plate.
Table of Contents
WHAT DO I NEED TO MAKE JUICY GRILLED SPLIT CHICKEN BREASTS?
Chicken is an inexpensive and easy way to feed a crowd. Feel free to double (or triple!) the recipe:
- 2 bone in chicken breast halves
- 2 tablespoons vegetable or canola oil (not olive oil)
- 3 tablespoons your favorite brand of dry bbq seasoning
- 1/3 cup your favorite barbecue sauce (or more to taste)
NOTE: if you prefer, season the chicken simply with salt, pepper and garlic powder.
HOW TO MAKE GRILLED SPLIT CHICKEN BREASTS:
Bone-in skin on split chicken breasts take about 35 minutes to grill. Wait to brush the bbq sauce on until the very end so it doesn’t burn.
STEP 1:
Preheat your gas grill to 400° (medium-high heat) by turning all the burns on high and closing the lid. Once the grill is preheated if needed scrape the grates clean then turn off one of the end burners. This is your indirect heat section.
STEP 2:
Prep the chicken. Wash/rinse the chicken breasts (some people wash, others don’t – I’m a washer) then pat dry with paper towels.
Trim any excess fat from the chicken, then using a sharp knife or kitchen scissors, cut off the rib section. The rib section doens’t have any meat and will burn easily before the meatier part is cooked.
Next cut the breast in half so each piece is about the same size. Starting with approximately equal sizes is a key to juicy grilled chicken.
The chicken will also come to room temp during this time – another key to juicy, evenly cooked chicken.
STEP 3:
Lightly brush the chicken on all sides with vegetable oil (or canola) then sprinkle the dry bbq seasoning all over and give it a good rub.
STEP 4:
Lightly oil the grates with vegetable (or canola) oil then place the chicken pieces skin side DOWN on the INDIRECT heat section. Close the lid and cook 15 minutes.
Turn the chicken over and continue grilling skin side UP for 13-15 minutes more on INDIRECT HEAT (15 if chicken pieces are large).
Next transfer the chicken to DIRECT HEAT (hot area of the grill) skin side DOWN and cook 3-5 minutes or until the skin is crispy and golden.
Using a meat thermometer -> this is the instant read thermometer I use your chicken should be 160-165°.
It will continue to cook after you brush the bbq sauce on and while it’s resting after you remove it from the grill.
NOTE: grill time may vary depending upon the thickness of the chicken breasts and the grill used.
STEP 5:
Before removing the chicken from the grill, brush with barbecue sauce. Cook 2-3 minutes then remove the chicken from the grill and let it rest 5 minutes so the meat can absorb the juices.
WHAT GOES WITH GRILLED SPLIT CHICKEN BREASTS?
Old Fashioned Potato Salad – old fashioned Potato Salad Recipe with potatoes, hard boiled eggs, crispy bacon and real mayonnaise. Readers call it “amazing!”.
Grilled Foil Potatoes – diced potatoes and onions grilled in foil until tender and golden. Top with bacon, cheddar cheese and sour cream (grill OR oven method).
Air Fryer French Fries – hand cut french fries air fried to crispy outside, fluffy potatoes inside. Uses just one teaspoon of oil!
Macaroni and Cheese – easy homemade mac and cheese from scratch. Stovetop or baked with a buttery crisp breadcrumb topping.
Cheesy Garlic Breadsticks – soft breadsticks with crispy bottoms brushed with garlic-parmesan butter and finished with gooey melty mozzarella cheese.
4 Ingredient Coleslaw – crunchy slaw with a creamy homemade dressing in just 5 minutes. So good and so fast you can make it while the chicken rests!
MORE GRILLED CHICKEN RECIPES:
Grilled Honey Sriracha Chicken – bold, spicy-sweet marinade for grilled boneless chicken that is anything but boring.
Lemon Garlic Chicken Kabobs – chicken and vegetables marinated in lemon, garlic, olive oil and herbs, skewered and grilled for authentic Mediterranean flavor.
Grilled Chicken Wings – grilled bone-in chicken wings with a spicy Jack Daniels sauce.
Chili Lime Chicken – grilled or stove top cooked chicken breasts with a tropical flare thanks to an easy pineapple salsa.
Hawaiian Chicken Kabobs – juicy marinated chicken skewered with pineapple and vegetables, grilled for delicious tropical taste.
Enjoy!
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