This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

Enjoy this tender, sweet, and tangy BBQ grilled chicken breast recipe with a simple marinade. Barbecue and boneless chicken breasts are cooked on a gas grill or grill pan until moist, juicy, and a little crispy.

top view of bbq chicken on grill pan with barbecue sauce
Want to save this recipe?
Just enter your email and get it sent to your inbox! Plus you’ll get new recipes from us every week!
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Cooking bbq and boneless chicken breasts on the grill is super easy with this quick and failproof recipe. Grilled chicken breasts are high in protein and perfectly juicy over your gas grill or pan. The BBQ marinade is made of a simple blend of oil, garlic, salt, and pepper– making the chicken extra tasty and delicious.

Easy grilled chicken breast recipes are the perfect match for whenever you want to enjoy bright barbecue flavors, BBQ cookouts, holidays, and so much more. Pair your chicken breasts with your favorite potato salad, leafy greens, veggies, etc.

top view of chicken breasts on grill pan with BBQ sauce

Why This BBQ Chicken With Marinade is the Best Recipe

  • Effortless and so easy: Once the chicken has marinated overnight and the grill has been fired up, the barbecue chicken is cooked in no time and ready in less than 30 minutes!
  • Delicious and packed with bright flavors: The garlic stands out in the marinade and makes the chicken filled with rich savory flavors. Your favorite store-bought or homemade BBQ sauce gives the chicken sweet robust elements.
  • Healthy and family-friendly: Naturally low-carb and high in protein, the entire family will want to devour this healthy chicken breast recipe. Who doesn’t like barbecue?!
chicken breasts, olive oil, garlic, bbq sauce, salt, pepper on flat surface

Ingredients for Grilled Barbecue Chicken

Chicken breasts: Thick and juicy, boneless skinless chicken breasts are ideal for this recipe because they become super tender and enjoyable. You will need four chicken breasts.
Olive oil: High-quality olive oil is used for the marinade and gives the chicken its juicy rich flavors.
Salt and pepper:
A simple blend of sea salt and pepper is all you need for this BBQ chicken breast recipe.
BBQ sauce: Use your favorite store-bought barbecue sauce or make it yourself. You can use any kind of flavorful BBQ sauce.

How to Make BBQ Chicken Breasts

First, place the boneless chicken breasts in a resealable or Ziploc bag. Next, add the olive oil, minced garlic, sea salt, and black pepper.

chicken breasts in bag with marinade

Allow the chicken to marinate in the refrigerator overnight. Once the chicken has marinated, remove the breasts from the fridge 30 minutes prior to cooking.

Next, preheat an outdoor gas or electric grill or grill pan to medium-high heat. Brush the chicken breasts with barbecue sauce, then grill the chicken for four minutes.

Flip the chicken, brush again with BBQ sauce, then continue to grill for four minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 164 degrees Fahrenheit.

top view of chicken breasts on grill pan with BBQ sauce

Finally, remove the chicken from the grill. Brush the chicken with barbecue sauce one last time and allow the flavors to mend and rest for five to ten minutes.

Slice the chicken and serve. Enjoy!

Recipe Notes and Tips

  • To prevent the chicken from sticking to the grill, brush it with oil first.
  • Store any leftovers in the refrigerator for up to four days. Place them in an air-tight container, or in a ziplock bag.
  • Use homemade BBQ sauce or store-bought. There are some healthy low-sugar BBQ options available that you can buy at most grocery stores.
  • Do not overcook the chicken to prevent it from getting too dry and rubbery.
  • You can use chicken thighs, drumsticks, steak, etc. You can also use different proteins like steak, fish, etc.
  • You may thin out the chicken breasts if you prefer.
  • To check if the chicken is ready, you may use a food thermometer and check when the internal temperature reached 165 F
three chicken breasts on grill pan with BBQ sauce

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do you grill chicken breasts on the BBQ?

You will want to grill the barbecue chicken breasts for four minutes per side until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

How do you keep chicken moist on the grill?

Marinating the chicken beforehand helps the chicken stay moist. It is not a must but can be very helpful to get moist and juicy grilled chicken breasts.

Do you grill chicken with the lid open or closed?

For this recipe, you will want to keep the lid on the grill open. It all depends on your preference in the end. Some do like to cover the grill.

Should I marinate the chicken in BBQ sauce before grilling?

The marinade for this grilled chicken recipe gives it plenty of flavors combined with the barbecue sauce. You can try to add a little bit of BBQ sauce to the marinade.

barbecue sauce on chicken breasts on grill pan

What to Serve With Grilled BBQ Chicken Breasts

Crispy Sweet Potato Fries

Oven-Baked Honey Garlic Chicken Wings

Crispy Oven-Baked Asparagus

Watermelon Feta Salad

Cucumber Avocado Salad

Street Corn Salad

brushing chicken breasts with bbq sauce

More Recipes You Will Love

four BBQ chicken breasts on grill pan with barbecue sauce

Also, if you try a recipe and you like it, leave us some feedback in the comment section below. Don’t forget to rate the recipe, too! We would love it if you shared it with friends and family.

Finally, please use our hashtag #healthyfitnessmealson INSTAGRAM for a chance to be featured, too! FOLLOW Healthy Fitness Meals on FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST | TWITTER for all of our latest blog posts and recipes.

5 from 2 votes

Grilled BBQ Chicken Breast Recipe With Marinade

By: Rena
Servings: 4 servings
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 8 minutes
Marinating Time: 8 hours
Total: 8 hours 13 minutes
top view BBQ grilled chicken breast on a grill pan
Enjoy this tender, sweet, and tangy BBQ grilled chicken breast recipe with a simple marinade. Barbecue and boneless chicken breasts are cooked on a gas grill or grill pan until moist, juicy, and a little crispy.

Ingredients

  • 4 chicken breasts, boneless and skinless
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • ½ cup barbecue sauce, low sugar
  • Kosher sea salt, to taste
  • Kosher black pepper, to taste

Instructions

  • Place the chicken breasts in a ziplock bag and add the oil, garlic, salt and pepper. Mix well through the bag to coat.
  • Marinate in the refrigerator overnight.
  • Remove the chicken from the fridge 30 minutes prior to cooking.
  • Preheat an outdoor grill or a grill pan to medium-high heat.
  • Brush the chicken with BBQ sauce and grill for 4 minutes, then flip, brush again and continue to grill for 4-6 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165F.
  • Remove from the grill, and brush one last time with BBQ sauce, allowing it to rest for 5-10 minutes.
  • Slice the chicken and serve.

Notes

  • To prevent the chicken from sticking to the grill, brush it with oil first.
  • Store any leftovers in the refrigerator for up to four days.
  • Use homemade BBQ sauce or store-bought.
  • You can use chicken thighs, drumsticks, steak, etc. You can also use different proteins like steak, fish, etc.

Nutrition

Calories: 330kcalCarbohydrates: 15gProtein: 48gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 145mgSodium: 631mgPotassium: 925mgFiber: 1gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 148IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 26mgIron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Tried this recipe?Mention @healthyfitnessmeals or tag #healthyfitnessmeals!

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating