Cooking delicious barbecue chicken on the grill can be a fun and rewarding experience. However, it’s important to know how long to cook bbq chicken properly so that it turns out moist, tender and full of flavor. This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about cooking times, techniques and tips for grilling the perfect bbq chicken.
An Introduction to Cooking Times for BBQ Chicken
When it comes to knowing how long to cook bbq chicken, cooking time can vary based on a few key factors:
- Type of chicken cuts – Whole chickens, bone-in pieces (breasts, thighs, drumsticks) and boneless skinless breasts/thighs all require different cooking times.
- Cooking method – Grilling over direct vs indirect heat makes a difference in doneness and total time.
- Temperature – Higher heat means faster cooking. A good target is medium heat of around 350-450°F.
- Thickness – Bone-in pieces and whole chickens take longer than thinner boneless cuts.
- Doneness preference – Cook times affect the final internal temperature and juiciness.
With those key factors in mind, here is a general guide to estimated cooking times for BBQ chicken:
- Whole Chicken: 1 to 1 1⁄2 hours
- Bone-in chicken breasts: 30 to 40 minutes
- Bone-in chicken thighs and drumsticks: 40 to 50 minutes
- Boneless chicken breasts: 8 to 12 minutes per side
- Boneless chicken thighs: 10 to 15 minutes per side
These BBQ chicken cooking times are based on grilling at medium heat and cooking to 165°F internal temperature. Continue reading for more details on techniques, safe internal temps and resting.
Choosing the Right BBQ Chicken Cuts
One of the first steps to perfect grilled chicken is choosing your preferred cuts of chicken:
Whole Chicken
Cooking a whole 3-4 lb chicken is a classic option. This allows you to flavor the entire bird and get a mix of white and dark meat.
Tips for whole BBQ chicken:
- Keep the backbone in for more even cooking.
- Grill over indirect heat, turning a few times as needed.
- Temp both breast and thigh to ensure even doneness.
Bone-in Chicken Pieces
Popular bone-in cuts are breasts, thighs and drumsticks. The bone helps keep these cuts juicy on the grill.
Tips for bone-in BBQ chicken:
- Choose similar sized pieces for even cooking.
- Grill bone-side down first, then flip.
- Thighs and drumsticks can handle higher heat. Keep breasts on indirect heat.
Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts/Thighs
The easiest cuts for fast grilling. But they can dry out without extra attention.
Tips for boneless BBQ chicken:
- Pound breasts to an even thickness before grilling.
- Avoid overcooking. Use a meat thermometer.
- Brine first to help keep boneless cuts juicy.
No matter the cut, proper seasoning and marinating helps ensure delicious and juicy BBQ chicken every time.
How to Grill Juicy BBQ Chicken
Achieving tender, juicy BBQ chicken directly relates to technique. Follow these simple tips for grilling success:
1. Pat Chicken Dry
Gently pat off excess moisture with paper towels before seasoning and grilling. This helps promote browning.
2. Use a Meat Thermometer
This takes the guesswork out! Thermometers ensure you grill chicken to a safe internal temperature without overcooking.
3. Prepare the Grill for Indirect Heat
Indirect heat prevents chicken from burning by warming it gently on each side. Arrange coals to create a hot zone for searing and indirect zone for finishing. If using gas, turn off one burner.
4. Sear Over Direct Heat First
Get nice grill marks and flavor by searing the chicken over direct heat for 2-4 minutes per side first. Keep lids open.
5. Finish Cooking Over Indirect Heat
Move chicken to indirect heat and close lids to allow it to cook through without burning. Rotate as needed.
6. Rest Chicken Before Serving
Let chicken rest 5-10 minutes after grilling. This allows juices to redistribute for a juicy first bite. Don’t skip this step!
Proper gripping technique also prevents overcooking and drying out chicken:
- Use tongs and spatulas instead of forks which pierce the meat and let juices escape.
- When flipping, grip bone-in chicken by the bones rather than piercing the meat.
What is the Ideal Internal Temperature for BBQ Chicken?
Using an instant read thermometer ensures chicken reaches a safe minimum internal temperature to kill any bacteria.
According to USDA guidelines, chicken is safe to eat at the following internal temps:
- 165°F for all chicken pieces, including whole chicken and bone-in or boneless breasts, thighs, legs.
- 165°F for ground chicken patties and nuggets.
- 175°F for dark meat thighs and drumsticks for extra safety margin.
The breast meat of whole chickens and bone-in cuts should reach at least 165°F. For juicier breast meat, some people prefer pulling chicken off grill a tad under 165°F closer to 155-160°F since the temperature will continue rising as it rests. Thighs and legs can better handle higher heat.
For food safety, always use a thermometer instead of relying on visual cues like chicken juices running clear. Cook chicken to proper internal temps regardless of grill marks or outside color.
BBQ Chicken Cooking Times by Heat Level
Another factor that impacts total grilling time is the level of heat used. Here are some guidelines for BBQ chicken cook times over various heat levels:
High Heat
450-550°F
- Ideal for searing bone-in chicken pieces quickly to develop flavor.
- Cook bone-in breasts no more than 5 minutes per side over high heat.
- Cook bone-in thighs/legs and whole chicken over high heat for only a few minutes per side to sear.
- Avoid high heat for delicate boneless chicken which will dry out.
Medium-High Heat
375-450°F
- Provides a good balance of searing while still cooking through slowly.
- Cook bone-in chicken pieces for 6-8 minutes per side.
- Cook boneless breasts and thighs over medium-high heat for shorter times, 5-7 minutes per side.
Medium Heat
325-375°F
- The best target temperature range for achieving juicy BBQ chicken.
- Cook bone-in and whole chicken for 8-15 minutes per side.
- Cook boneless pieces about 8-12 minutes per side over direct medium heat.
Low Heat
250-325°F
- While low heat works, it takes much longer to fully cook chicken without burning.
- Whole chickens and bone-in pieces will need around 30-60 minutes total over low heat, flipping occasionally.
- Cook boneless cuts up to 25 minutes per side over low heat.
In most cases, searing over high or medium-high heat first then finishing over medium indirect heat works well. Monitor temperature and doneness closely over lower heat.
How Long to Cook BBQ Chicken Whole and Pieces
Now that we’ve covered basics like heat, thermometers and technique, here is a more detailed BBQ chicken cooking time chart broken down by cut:
Whole Chicken
- 3-4 pounds
- Cook for 60-90 minutes
- Sear 5 minutes per side over direct medium-high heat first
- Finish cooking over indirect medium heat, rotating every 15 minutes until 165°F in breast and 175°F in thighs
Bone-in Chicken Breasts
- 1 breast, 8-12 oz with bone
- Cook for 35-45 minutes
- Sear 4 minutes per side over direct medium-high heat
- Move to indirect medium heat until 165°F
Bone-in Chicken Thighs
- 8-12 oz bone-in
- Cook for 40-50 minutes
- Sear 4 minutes per side over direct medium-high heat
- Move to indirect medium heat until 175°F
Chicken Drumsticks
- 4-8 oz each
- Cook for 40-50 minutes
- Sear 4 minutes per side over direct medium-high heat
- Move to indirect medium heat until 175°F
Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
- 6-8 oz each
- Cook for 8-12 minutes per side
- Grill over direct medium heat until 165°F
Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs
- 4-6 oz each
- Cook for 10-15 minutes per side
- Grill over direct medium heat until 165°F
Remember, use lower heat settings for larger bone-in pieces and whole chickens and higher heat for boneless cuts to prevent drying out. Insert thermometers into thickest part of each piece, avoiding bone. And let chicken rest before serving.
Tips for BBQ Chicken Perfection
Beyond proper cooking times, there are some additional tips that can take your grilled BBQ chicken to the next level:
- Brine chicken – Soaking in a saltwater brine ensures juicy and seasoned meat. Make a basic brine with 1 tbsp salt per cup of water. Submerge chicken for 30 mins – 1 hour before grilling.
- Apply rubs/marinades – Adding spices, herbs and marinades adds lots of flavor. Try combinations of paprika, garlic, pepper, oregano, lemon, chili powder, Worcestershire or BBQ sauce.
- Use flavorful wood chips – Toss pre-soaked wood chips directly on coals for extra smoke flavor. Good woods include hickory, pecan, apple, cherry, mesquite or oak.
- Keep a spray bottle handy – Mist chicken with apple juice, wine, vinegar or broth to prevent drying out, especially larger cuts and bone-in pieces.
- Rotate chicken – Flip periodically and rotate pieces between indirect and direct heat zones for even browning.
- Invest in a quality grill – Well-designed grills hold heat better and make it easier to set up direct/indirect zones. Charcoal and pellet grills work well for smoking chicken too.
- Use a meat thermometer – Don’t rely on appearance alone. Thermometers are the only way to guarantee safely cooked chicken.
- Allow carryover cooking – Remember that temperature continues rising 5-10 degrees after removing chicken from the grill as it rests. So pull it off slightly under 165-175°F.
- Let chicken rest – Juices redistribute and chicken finishes cooking during the rest time. Rest at least 5 minutes up to 10-15 for whole chickens.
How Long to Cook Frozen BBQ Chicken
Grilling frozen chicken is possible as long as some precautions are taken:
- Thaw first – For food safety and best results, thaw chicken in the refrigerator before grilling. Thawing takes 1-2 days.
- Or parcook – If short on time, parcook frozen chicken before grilling by boiling, steaming or baking until no longer frozen inside but not fully cooked.
- Use caution – If grilling frozen chicken, cook over very low heat. Pieces may blacken and burn on outside before fully cooking through.
- Add time – Extend cooking times by at least 50% longer than thawed chicken. A whole chicken can take 1 1⁄2 – 2 hours from frozen.
- Check temp – Frozen chicken requires getting to a 165°F minimum internal temperature too for food safety.
Always exercise caution when grilling chicken directly from frozen to avoid undercooked poultry. For best juicy BBQ results, properly thaw chicken in the refrigerator first.
How to Tell When BBQ Chicken is Done
Since chicken can harbor harmful bacteria if undercooked, visually confirming doneness is difficult. Follow these steps instead:
- Ignore color – Chicken can turn whitish before reaching a safe temp and dark meat looks done before it is. Don’t rely on color.
- Test temperature – Insert an instant read thermometer in thickest part without hitting bone. Whole chickens need checking in a few areas.
- Meet minimums – Chicken achieves safe doneness at 165°F for breasts and 175°F for thighs/legs and ground chicken.
- Check a few pieces – For whole chickens or mixed cuts, verify temperature in multiple pieces, not just one area.
- Juice should run clear – While not foolproof, properly cooked chicken releases clear juices vs. pink which can indicate undercooking.
- Allow carryover cooking – Remember chicken keeps cooking once removed from heat and will rise about 5-10°F after grilling before resting.
Using thermometers and following cooking guidelines for your cut of chicken will spare you from biting into raw poultry. Taking the temperature in multiple areas prevents undercooked chicken.
FAQs About BBQ Chicken Cook Times
Grilling juicy, flavorful barbecue chicken does come with some common questions around proper techniques, safety and doneness. Here are some frequently asked questions with simple answers:
How long should I cook chicken pieces on a grill?
Bone-in chicken pieces like breasts, thighs and drumsticks take 30-50 minutes grilling over medium heat, depending on size. Boneless pieces cook faster in 8-15 minutes per side. Always use a meat thermometer for doneness.
Can you overcook chicken on the grill?
Yes, it’s easy to overcook chicken on the grill if cooked over high heat for too long, leading to dry, rubbery meat. Keep heat in the medium range and use thermometers to prevent overcooking.
Is grilled chicken safe at 160°F?
No, 160°F is unsafe for chicken. USDA minimum safe temperatures are 165°F for breasts and 175°F for thighs and legs. Cook chicken to proper internal temperature regardless of color or grill marks.
How do I keep chicken moist on the grill?
Tips for juicy grilled chicken include brining first, cooking over indirect heat, spraying with broth/juices, and tenting with foil to help retain moisture. Don’t pierce the meat and always let chicken rest after grilling.
Should I flip chicken often while grilling?
It’s usually not necessary to flip chicken constantly. Flipping only every 5-8 minutes promotes an even sear. Rotate chicken on grill grates periodically for even exposure to direct and indirect heat zones.
Is grilled chicken done when juices run clear?
Clear juices signal that chicken is likely nearing done, but checking temperature confirms doneness. Juices can still run a touch pink when chicken is safely cooked but not overdone. Always validate with a meat thermometer.
How do I make grilled chicken flavorful?
For lots of flavor, brine or marinate chicken first. Try dry rubs, herbs, citrus, vinegar, Worcestershire, BBQ sauce – get creative! Wood smoking also adds flavor, as do sauces and glazes during the last 5-10 minutes of grilling before serving.
How can I speed up BBQ chicken cook time?
A few options to shorten cook times include flattening chicken breasts to an even thickness, cutting larger pieces in half, cooking at higher heat (but not so high that it burns) and cooking boneless vs. bone-in cuts. But don’t rush it too much or chicken will dry out.
Mastering the Art of Delicious BBQ Chicken
Cooking up the perfect barbecue chicken on the grill takes a little know-how, patience and technique. Now that you understand factors like cut, thickness, heat level, thermometer temps and proper rest times, you can master the art of finger-licking good BBQ chicken. Being armed with this guide to approximate grill times takes the guesswork out of how long to cook bbq chicken.
The next time your mouth waters for tender, smoky backyard chicken, apply these tips for selecting your preferred cut of chicken. Prep the grill for direct and indirect heating. Follow cooking time guidelines based on the size and type of chicken cuts you are grilling up. Resist the urge to rush it. Monitoring temperature and allowing carryover cooking ensures safely cooked and juicy chicken every time.
So fire up those grills, prep some delicious marinades and invite over your family or friends for a flawlessly grilled BBQ chicken feast!