Description
This Grilled Orange BBQ Chicken recipe combines a tangy and sweet orange-infused marinade with classic barbecue flavors. The chicken is marinated for a few hours to absorb the zesty orange juice, brown sugar sweetness, and rich BBQ sauce, then grilled to juicy perfection with a finishing glaze of extra BBQ sauce. Perfect for summer cookouts, this easy recipe delivers a flavorful and tender meal that serves six.
Ingredients
Marinade
- 1 cup orange juice
- 6 Tbsp brown sugar
- 6 Tbsp BBQ sauce
Chicken
- 4 to 6 boneless skinless chicken breasts
Instructions
- Prepare the Marinade: In a medium bowl, whisk together the orange juice, brown sugar, and BBQ sauce until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is well combined.
- Marinate the Chicken: Place the boneless skinless chicken breasts into a gallon-size ziplock bag. Pour the prepared marinade over the chicken, ensuring all pieces are coated evenly. Seal the bag tightly and refrigerate for 2 to 4 hours to allow the flavors to penetrate the meat.
- Grill the Chicken: Preheat the grill to medium-high heat. Remove the chicken from the marinade and discard the marinade. Place the chicken breasts on the grill grates and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (75°C) and the chicken is cooked through.
- Apply Additional BBQ Sauce: In the last few minutes of grilling, brush both sides of the chicken breasts with additional BBQ sauce if desired. This adds a flavorful glaze and enhances the barbecue taste before removing the chicken from the grill.
Notes
- For best results, marinate the chicken for at least 2 hours, but no more than 4 hours to prevent the acid from breaking down the meat too much.
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure the chicken is cooked safely to 165°F (75°C).
- If you don’t have a grill, you can cook the chicken on a stovetop grill pan over medium-high heat for similar timing.
- Feel free to adjust the amount of brown sugar or BBQ sauce to your preferred sweetness and tanginess levels.
- Serve with grilled vegetables or a fresh salad for a complete meal.
