Honey BBQ Chicken

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This Honey BBQ Chicken is an easy dinner made with tender boneless skinless chicken thighs and my homemade Honey BBQ sauce. It’s perfect for weeknight dinners, summer cookouts, or family gatherings, and you can make it on the grill, in the oven, in a cast iron skillet, or even in the air fryer. The sweet and smoky sauce makes every bite juicy and flavorful without requiring much prep.

 

Table of Contents

Do you love BBQ Chicken? Try my Crockpot BBQ Chicken Sliders!

Why You’ll Love this Recipe

I think we can all agree that quick and easy dinners are always a good idea! Especially ones that don’t heat up the kitchen during the warmer months of the year. With summer in full swing, you’ll find me grilling outdoors as much as possible. I was stumped the other evening on what to make for dinner, so I asked the family for suggestions.

Someone yelled out Honey Barbecue Chicken! While I’m pretty sure he meant fried chicken, this is the recipe that popped up in my head. This BBQ chicken is tangy, sweet, and juicy-tender! Full of flavor, chicken thighs slathered in a homemade honey BBQ sauce are absolute yum!

What other Cuts of Chicken Can I Use?

While I used boneless, skinless chicken thighs because they are juicy and hard to overcook, you can definitely use whatever cut of chicken you have on hand. Keep in mind that the thicker the cut of chicken (like chicken breast), the longer it’ll need to cook and reach 165° F. You could also use a bone-in chicken thigh or legs, but those will take much longer to cook through, so keep that in mind.

Do I Have to Use Dark Brown Sugar in the Honey BBQ Sauce?

It depends. If you want that deep savory BBQ sauce flavor, then yes, I would say you do need to use dark brown sugar. You can make your own if you have light brown sugar and molasses. For this recipe, you would use 1/4 cup light brown sugar and 3/4 tsp of molasses, and stir together with a fork.

Ingredient Notes

Here’s a quick look at the ingredients that make this BBQ chicken so flavorful, from the sweet and tangy homemade honey BBQ sauce to the juicy, seasoned chicken thighs.

For the Honey BBQ Sauce

• Garlic: Fresh garlic adds a savory flavor that gives the BBQ sauce a little more depth.
• Oil or Butter: Either one works here to sauté the garlic and get the sauce started.
• Ketchup: Ketchup gives the sauce its classic BBQ flavor and helps create a smooth, rich base.
• Honey: Honey adds natural sweetness and gives the sauce that sticky, glossy finish.
• Worcestershire Sauce: Just a splash adds a savory, slightly tangy flavor that rounds out the sauce.
• Hot Sauce: Add as much or as little as you like for a little kick.
• Dark Brown Sugar: Dark brown sugar brings extra sweetness and a deeper molasses flavor to the BBQ sauce.
• Lemon Juice: A little lemon juice brightens up the sauce and balances the sweetness.
• Black Pepper: Black pepper adds a subtle bite that ties all the flavors together.

For the Chicken

• Boneless, Skinless Chicken Thighs: Chicken thighs stay juicy and tender on the grill while soaking up plenty of that delicious BBQ sauce.
• Avocado Oil: Avocado oil helps coat the chicken and keeps it from sticking to the grill.
• Garlic Powder: Garlic powder adds an easy layer of savory flavor to the chicken before it hits the grill.
• Salt & Black Pepper: A simple seasoning of salt and black pepper brings out the chicken’s flavor without overpowering the BBQ sauce.

How to Make Honey BBQ Chicken

For full recipe details, including the ingredients and measurements, see the printable recipe card below. I’ve also included cooking variations if you want to make this chicken in the oven, on the stovetop, or in the air fryer. Here’s what you can expect when making Honey BBQ Chicken:

Step 1: Make the Honey BBQ Sauce

Heat the oil or butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and sauté until it just starts to brown, being careful not to let it burn.

Add the ketchup, honey, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, black pepper, dark brown sugar, and lemon juice. Stir everything together and bring the sauce to a gentle simmer over medium-low heat. Cook for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is hot and bubbly. Keep the sauce warm until you’re ready to use it.

Step 2: Season the Chicken

Rub the chicken with oil, making sure each piece is evenly coated. Season both sides with salt, black pepper, and garlic powder.

Step 3: Sear the Chicken

Place the chicken on a hot grill or Blackstone griddle. Cook until the first side is golden brown, then flip and cook the other side until browned.

Step 4: Brush with BBQ Sauce and Finish Cooking

Once the chicken reaches an internal temperature of about 155°F, generously brush both sides with the Honey BBQ Sauce. Flip the chicken and let the sauce caramelize on the grill.

Brush the other side with more sauce, flip again, and continue cooking until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. The total cooking time should be less than 20 minutes, depending on the size of your chicken pieces and the heat of your grill.

Step 5: Serve and Enjoy!

Transfer the cooked chicken to a serving plate and let it rest for a few minutes. Serve warm with extra Honey BBQ Sauce drizzled over the top or served on the side for dipping.

Cooking Variations

While I enjoy cooking outside on the grill as much as possible while the weather is nice, there are several ways to cook BBQ Chicken!

Stovetop: I recommend using a heavy cast iron skillet. Place on medium-high heat to get a good sear on the meat and follow the rest of the above instructions (just like it were a grill). 

Oven: You will not get a good sear on the meat, but you can definitely make these in the oven at 400° F, baking for about 20-25 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 165°F. Instead of waiting until the end to add BBQ Sauce, go ahead and do it right from the beginning so the sauce caramelizes as it bakes.

Air Fryer: Preheat Air Fryer to 380° F. Oil and season chicken and place in a single layer in air fryer basket or shelf. Set the cook time for 12 minutes. Flip chicken and air fry for another 6 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 165°F. Remove, toss in BBQ Sauce, and serve.

Tools You’ll Need

These simple tools make prepping the sauce and cooking the chicken easy.

• Saucepan – A small saucepan makes it easy to combine and simmer the honey BBQ sauce until the flavors come together.
• Grill or Blackstone – Either option works well for cooking the chicken and giving it those lightly charred, smoky edges.
• Prep bowls – Handy for keeping the sauce ingredients and chicken organized while you prep.
• Measuring cups and spoons – These help you get the right balance of sweet, tangy, and smoky flavors in the homemade BBQ sauce.

Tasty Side Dishes for Honey BBQ Chicken

• Macaroni Salad – you can’t go wrong with this classic pasta salad!
• Coleslaw – a classic tangy coleslaw.
• Broccoli Salad with Bacon – a summer salad favorite and great side to BBQ Chicken.
• Corn on the cob – have you ever grilled your corn? I have a great tutorial on how to grill the perfect corn on the cob.
• Ambrosia Salad – a sweet fruit salad!
• Famous Butter Rice – the best way to make rice!
• Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries or Air Fryer French Fries – easy and perfect paired with chicken.

Storing and Reheating Leftovers

Store leftover chicken in an airtight container or resealable bag in the fridge for 3-4 days. Extra BBQ sauce can be stored separately in a container and in the fridge for up to a week! Add it to some other grilled meat or seafood too!

To Reheat: heat in the microwave at 30-second intervals until desired temperature is reached. You can also reheat this bbq chicken in an air fryer to bring back some of that crispy texture.

To Freeze: store leftovers in an airtight, freezer-safe container and in the freezer for up to 3 months! Allow to thaw overnight in the fridge.

FAQs

Variations

Want to switch things up? Here are a few easy ways to change this Honey BBQ Chicken recipe:

• Make it spicy: Add cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes, or your favorite hot sauce to the BBQ sauce.
• Use chicken breasts: Swap the chicken thighs for boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Just watch the cooking time so they don’t dry out.
• Try drumsticks: Use bone-in chicken drumsticks for a different cut of chicken that’s great for grilling.
• Add extra honey: For a sweeter sauce, stir in a little more honey to taste.
• Use a smoky BBQ sauce: Swap in a smoky-flavored BBQ sauce for even more grilled flavor.

More Grilled Chicken Recipes to Try!

• Grilled Chicken Wrap
• Grilled Asian Sweet and Spicy Chicken Skewers
• Italian Grilled Chicken with Cucumber Bruschetta
• Grilled Cilantro Lime Chicken Skewers
• Balsamic Grilled Chicken

There you have it, friends- another easy dinner that everyone will be coming back for seconds! I would love to hear what you think in the comments. Have a great day!

If you make this recipe, I would really appreciate it if you would give it a star rating and leave your review in the comments! If you have a picture of your finished dish, post it on Instagram using the hashtag #laurenslatest and tagging me @laurens_latest.