Who knew summer could be so sweet? Honey BBQ Chicken is everything you need for a perfect patio picnic!
Without a doubt, you or someone you know has a killer BBQ sauce that they make at home. It’s the perfect way to gain grilling kudos -flaunting your special flavors in a totally custom BBQ sauce that you can slather on anything you’re grilling. My grandfather was the grill master at our cookouts and, while he used to show me just about everything that went into making Deliciously Grilled Bean Burger Patties or Fabulously Juicy Fire-Grilled Chicken, he never revealed what went into his homemade honey BBQ sauce. It was the only card he kept close to his chest while he showed me the ins and outs of charcoal and gas grills so (even now as I cook at home with a grated skillet to get those same grill lines) I have struggled to make anything taste like that sweet BBQ sauce…
…until today.
This summer I’ve learned that the most important thing about my grandfather’s recipe was that it was my grandfather’s, not mine. As much as I coveted that sweet, smoky sauce, I learned that the best I could do was make my own in his honor! I’ve been serving up spectacular sizzlers fresh off my stovetop grill pan using a combination of sweet honey, smoky BBQ sauce, a little bit of apple cider vinegar, garlic and black pepper. I figured that if my grandfather’s recipe was likely to be anything, it would be simple; and, as it turns out, simple and sweet is the way to make masterfully marinated, gloriously grilled honey BBQ chicken. Juicy chicken breast succulently sizzled on a grill after a thorough glazing of honey BBQ brings you all the perks of sweet and heat to make delicious meat!
Sweet + Meat + Heat = Treat!
BBQ sauces all rely on a simple yet oh-so-sweet interaction between sugar and meat! After marinating your meat in BBQ sauce, all of the spices, herbs, and sugars get deposited into or onto the protein during cooking, sort of infusing the meat with all the delicious flavor of perfect seasoning.
The best kind of BBQ sauce draws different flavors into the meat, and sometimes that means switching up your recipe for the ultimate sauce. Since honey is one of the key ingredients to our honey BBQ sauce (obviously), it can sometimes be nice to switch up your nectar! Jalapeño and habanero honey are excellent additions to homemade honey BBQ sauces but don’t get discouraged by the threat of intense spice – most pepper honeys are cultivated from bees that gather nectar from flowering pepper plants! Orange blossom honey, similarly, draws its delicious flavor from flowering orange trees and adds that little bit of extra sweetness to your sauce! No matter which honey you select, I simply must suggest you look at local markets and vendors for locally harvested honey!
How to Make Ahead and Store
Marinating your chicken is always important if you’re going to do any kind of grilling but especially in the case of honey BBQ chicken. Always marinate your chicken for at least an hour before grilling and longer if possible (up to 24 hours in the fridge). Once fully cooked, tightly wrap your chicken in aluminum or keep your grilled breasts in airtight bags until ready to reheat! When you want to reheat and eat, pop the chicken breast in a hot oven and cook until warm throughout.
How Do I Enhance My Honey BBQ Chicken?
Try outdoor grilling! Using charcoal lets the juices and drippings from your cooking chicken breast evaporate on hot coals and infuse even more flavor into your meat while using a gas grill lets you get distinct grill marks with consistent and reliable heat.
Serving Suggestions
Honey BBQ chicken is a delicious addition to any BBQ-style dinner spread you’re looking to serve this summer! Try it as a main course meat with a side of Easy Slow Cooker Beans. I’d also recommend serving the juicy cooked chicken breast with Texas Tommy-Style Hotdogs and Cheeseburger Sliders if you’re serving a full cookout, or a starter of Greek Pasta Salad if you’re cooking for fewer. Phenomenal vegetables that you can grill along with your honey BBQ chicken like Grilled Garlic-Stuffed Artichokes and Grilled Corn Salad and Herbs make excellent appetizers, too, especially if there’s a cup of Cilantro Lime Dressing to try dipping everything into!
Grilled Honey BBQ Chicken
Ingredients
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/2 cup BBQ sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- In a bowl, whisk together honey, BBQ sauce, olive oil, apple cider vinegar, minced garlic, black pepper, and salt.
- Place chicken breasts in a large resealable plastic bag. Pour the marinade over the chicken, seal the bag, and ensure each breast is well coated. Marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, or up to 4 hours for deeper flavor.
- Preheat grill to medium-high heat.
- Remove chicken from the marinade, letting excess drip off. Discard the remaining marinade.
- Grill chicken breasts for 6-7 minutes per side, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F and the juices run clear.
- Let the chicken rest for a few minutes before slicing. Serve hot.
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