7 Best BBQ Chicken Recipes for Summer Cookouts

There is nothing quite like the smell of smoky, caramelized BBQ chicken wafting through the backyard on a warm summer evening. Whether you are hosting a crowd or just feeding the family, these seven recipes ditch the boring, dry chicken breast in favor of juicy drumsticks, sticky wings, and flavorful flatbreads that are guaranteed to be a hit. Fire up the grill and get ready to scroll through the ultimate lineup of summer cookout champions.

Jump to Recipes:

1. BBQ Chicken Drumsticks
2. BBQ Chicken Wings
3. BBQ Chicken Flatbread
4. BBQ Chicken Pizza
5. BBQ Chicken Sandwich
6. Chicken Kabobs
7. Grilled Chicken Thighs

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1. BBQ Chicken Drumsticks

These tender and juicy BBQ chicken drumsticks are the ultimate finger-licking comfort food. Basted in a thick, sticky sauce and roasted or grilled to perfection, they pair beautifully with a crunchy, tangy slaw to cut through the sweetness . Perfect for kids and adults alike, this recipe is an easy, no-fuss solution for a weeknight dinner or a large summer gathering.

⏱ Prep Time: 10 min | 🔥 Cook Time: 45 min | 🍽 Servings: 4

Ingredients:

• 8 chicken drumsticks
• 150ml barbecue sauce (plus extra for basting)
• 1 large carrot, grated
• ½ white cabbage, shredded
• 1 red onion, thinly sliced
• 6 tbsp salad cream or creamy coleslaw dressing
• Crusty bread, to serve

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 200°C (180°C fan) or prepare your grill for indirect heat.
2. Slash the chicken drumsticks with a sharp knife to allow the flavor to penetrate. Toss them with the barbecue sauce in a roasting tray or bowl until well coated. Season with black pepper .
3. Roast for 45 minutes (or grill over indirect heat for 25-30 mins), basting every 15 minutes with the sauce from the tray, until sticky and cooked through.
4. While the chicken cooks, mix the grated carrot, shredded cabbage, and red onion in a large bowl. Toss through the salad cream and a pinch of seasoning to make the slaw.
5. Serve the hot, sticky drumsticks with the creamy slaw and some crusty bread.

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2. BBQ Chicken Wings

These BBQ chicken wings are a game-day essential and a summer cookout staple. By using a two-zone grilling method, the wings become incredibly crispy without burning the sugary sauce. This recipe features a perfectly balanced homemade sauce that is tangy, sweet, and smoky, making them impossible to resist .

⏱ Prep Time: 15 min | 🔥 Cook Time: 25 min | 🍽 Servings: 6

Ingredients:

• 3 pounds chicken wings (drumettes and flats separated)
• 1 tbsp neutral oil (vegetable or canola)
• ½ cup ketchup
• 2 tbsp water
• 1 tbsp rice vinegar
• 1 tsp soy sauce
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 2 tbsp finely chopped onion
• 1 tsp minced garlic

Instructions:

1. Pat the chicken wings dry and toss them with the neutral oil to prevent sticking. Cut off and discard the wing tips if desired .
2. Preheat your grill for two-zone cooking: medium-high heat on one side, no heat on the other.
3. Place the wings on the cool side of the grill. Cover and cook for 15-20 minutes, turning once, until the fat has rendered and the wings are nearly cooked through.
4. While they cook, combine ketchup, water, vinegar, soy sauce, chili powder, cumin, onion, and garlic in a large bowl to create the sauce.
5. Transfer the cooked wings to the bowl and toss to coat completely.
6. Move the sauced wings to the hot side of the grill. Cook uncovered for 3-5 minutes, turning often, until the sauce caramelizes and the wings are charred in spots. Serve immediately.

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3. BBQ Chicken Flatbread

When you need dinner on the table in under 20 minutes, this BBQ Chicken Flatbread is your saving grace. It features a crispy naan or flatbread base slathered in tangy sauce, topped with juicy chicken, provolone cheese, and a kick from pickled jalapenos . It is the perfect solution for using up leftover grilled chicken on a busy weeknight.

⏱ Prep Time: 10 min | 🔥 Cook Time: 12 min | 🍽 Servings: 2

Ingredients:

• 2 large pre-made flatbreads or naan
• 1 cup cooked shredded chicken
• ½ cup BBQ sauce (divided)
• 4 slices provolone cheese (or mozzarella)
• ¼ red onion, thinly sliced
• ¼ cup jarred pickled jalapenos
• Ranch dressing, for drizzling
• Fresh cilantro, for garnish

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Place the flatbreads onto a baking sheet.
2. In a small bowl, toss the shredded chicken with half of the BBQ sauce to coat.
3. Spread the remaining BBQ sauce evenly over the two flatbreads, leaving a slight edge for the crust .
4. Top each flatbread with provolone cheese, the sauced chicken, red onion slices, and jalapenos.
5. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the flatbreads are golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
6. Transfer to a cutting board, drizzle generously with ranch dressing, and garnish with fresh cilantro before slicing.

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4. BBQ Chicken Pizza

Take your pizza night to the next level by swapping tomato sauce for smoky barbecue sauce. This BBQ Chicken Pizza is a delicious mash-up of sweet, savory, and tangy flavors, featuring smoked Gouda cheese that melts beautifully over tender chicken and red onions . It is an easy, crowd-pleasing recipe that feels a little bit gourmet.

⏱ Prep Time: 15 min | 🔥 Cook Time: 20 min | 🍽 Servings: 4-6

Ingredients:

• 1 lb pre-made pizza dough (room temperature)
• 1 cup cooked chicken tenders or breast, diced
• ½ cup barbecue sauce (divided)
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 cup shredded smoked Gouda cheese
• ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• ¼ cup red onion, thinly sliced
• 2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). If using a pizza stone, place it in the oven to heat.
2. In a small bowl, toss the diced chicken with 2 tablespoons of barbecue sauce until coated .
3. Roll out the pizza dough on a floured surface. Place it on a greased sheet pan or parchment paper.
4. Spread the remaining barbecue sauce evenly over the dough. Sprinkle with the Gouda and mozzarella cheeses.
5. Top with the sauced chicken and red onion slices.
6. Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is bubbling.
7. Sprinkle with fresh cilantro, slice, and serve hot.

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5. BBQ Chicken Sandwich

This is not your average boring chicken sandwich. Featuring juicy, shredded chicken thighs simmered in a rich BBQ sauce and topped with a tangy, quick-pickled slaw, this sandwich is a textural masterpiece . The sweetness of the sauce combined with the crunch of the cabbage slaw makes for the ultimate handheld meal for your summer cookout.

⏱ Prep Time: 10 min | 🔥 Cook Time: 25 min | 🍽 Servings: 4

Ingredients:

• 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs (4 thighs)
• 1.8 lbs yellow onions, sliced (about 3 large)
• 6 garlic cloves, halved
• 2 tsp olive oil
• ½ cup barbecue sauce
• 6 oz cabbage-and-carrot coleslaw mix
• 1.5 tbsp cider vinegar
• 1 tsp honey (or agave syrup)
• 4 ciabatta rolls or brioche buns, toasted

Instructions:

1. Preheat your broiler. Place sliced onions and garlic on a foil-lined baking sheet. Toss with olive oil.
2. Broil for 5 minutes, stirring once, until the onions are golden and slightly charred .
3. Transfer the onion mixture to a baking dish. Place the chicken thighs on top and pour the barbecue sauce over everything. Cover tightly with foil.
4. Bake in the middle of the oven at 425°F (220°C) for about 20 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through.
5. While the chicken bakes, mix the coleslaw mix with cider vinegar, honey, and a pinch of pepper.
6. Shred the cooked chicken with two forks directly in the baking dish, mixing it with the onions and sauce.
7. Pile the shredded BBQ chicken onto the toasted bun bottoms, top with the creamy slaw, and close the sandwiches.

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6. Chicken Kabobs

There is something undeniably fun about eating food on a stick. These BBQ Chicken Kabobs are colorful, healthy, and cook in a flash on a hot grill. The secret to this recipe is a simple, Asian-inspired marinade that keeps the chicken breast incredibly moist and adds a sweet glaze to the vegetables and pineapple .

⏱ Prep Time: 15 min (plus 1 hour marinating) | 🔥 Cook Time: 10 min | 🍽 Servings: 4

Ingredients:

• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 1 red bell pepper, cut into chunks
• 1 red onion, cut into chunks
• 1 cup pineapple chunks
• ¼ cup vegetable oil
• 2 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
• 2 tbsp vinegar
• ¼ cup apple juice concentrate (or 2 tbsp brown sugar)
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• Wooden or metal skewers

Instructions:

1. If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for 30 minutes to prevent burning.
2. In a bowl, whisk together the vegetable oil, soy sauce, vinegar, apple juice concentrate, and ginger to create the marinade .
3. Thread the skewers, alternating chicken, bell pepper, onion, and pineapple chunks.
4. Place the skewers in a shallow pan and pour the marinade over them. Marinate in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
5. Preheat the grill to medium-high heat. Drain the skewers, reserving the marinade for basting.
6. Grill the kabobs for 8-10 minutes, turning occasionally and basting with the reserved marinade, until the chicken is charred on the edges and cooked through.

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7. Grilled Chicken Thighs

Save the chicken breasts for another day; this summer, we are grilling thighs. Bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs are far more forgiving on the grill, staying juicy and flavorful even if you get distracted by your guests. This recipe features a sticky-sweet glaze of orange marmalade, grainy mustard, and fresh ginger that caramelizes beautifully on the skin .

⏱ Prep Time: 10 min (plus 1 hour marinating) | 🔥 Cook Time: 20 min | 🍽 Servings: 4

Ingredients:

• 8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
• ½ cup orange marmalade
• 6 tbsp grainy mustard
• 2 tbsp grated orange zest
• ⅓ cup fresh orange juice
• 1 tsp finely grated fresh ginger
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp black pepper

Instructions:

1. In a large bowl, whisk together the marmalade, mustard, orange zest, juice, ginger, salt, and pepper.
2. Add the chicken thighs and rub the mixture all over the meat. Slip some of the mixture under the skin of each thigh for maximum flavor. Marinate for at least 1 hour .
3. Preheat your grill for two-zone cooking (medium-high heat on one side, low/no heat on the other).
4. Place the chicken thighs, skin-side up, on the cool side of the grill. Cover and cook for 9 minutes.
5. Flip the chicken, cover, and cook for another 9 minutes, until almost cooked through.
6. Move the chicken skin-side down to the hot side of the grill. Cook uncovered for 1-2 minutes to crisp the skin and get those beautiful char marks. Serve hot.

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Final Thoughts

I don’t know about you, but I am suddenly starving and ready to fire up the charcoal! These seven recipes cover everything from quick weeknight flatbreads to show-stopping whole thighs, so you can keep your summer cookouts exciting all season long. Don’t forget the napkins—things are going to get sticky.

Which one of these BBQ chicken recipes will you be trying first? Let me know in the comments below!

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