Grilled BBQ Chicken With Homemade Sauce

What You’ll Need

For the Chicken:

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (6–9 oz each, pasture-raised)

• Olive oil, for coating

• Kosher salt & freshly ground black pepper

Homemade BBQ Sauce:

• 1½ cups ketchup

• ½ cup apple cider vinegar

• ½ cup water

• ¼ cup brown sugar

• ¼ cup tamari (or soy sauce)

• 2 Tbsp yellow mustard

• 1 tsp garlic powder

• 1 tsp onion powder

• 1 tsp ground cumin

• 1 tsp smoked paprika
  Optional: Add a pinch of cayenne or hot sauce for heat

Let’s Cook

1. Make the BBQ Sauce
In a saucepan, combine all sauce ingredients. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, then reduce to low. Stir frequently and cook for about 20 minutes, or until the sauce thickens to your liking. Set aside to cool.

2. Prep & Season the Chicken
Preheat your grill to high heat (~400–450°F).
Brush the chicken breasts with olive oil and season generously with salt and pepper.

3. Grill the Chicken
Place chicken on the hot grill with the lid closed. Cook for 5–6 minutes. Flip and cook an additional 4–5 minutes.

4. Baste with BBQ Sauce
Baste the chicken with the homemade BBQ sauce. Flip and grill for 1–2 minutes on each side, allowing the sauce to caramelize slightly without burning. Cook until the internal temperature is 160°F (it will rise to 165°F while resting)

5. Rest & Serve
Transfer chicken to a plate and cover loosely with foil. Let rest for 5 minutes. Serve warm with extra BBQ sauce on the side and your favorite sides, slaw, roasted veggies, potato salad, corn, tater tots are all perfect choices.