This grilled BBQ chicken is my new summer bestie! It’s tender, packed with barbecue flavor, and it’s ridiculously simple to cook these whole chicken pieces on the grill. I like to prep a big batch of the BBQ chicken rub to use again and again, and it never disappoints. I can’t believe I was able to grill up a whole chicken for a crowd in just over 30 minutes!
Top Reader Reviews
Love the spice rub it’s amazing next time I’ll rub some under the skin for more flavor throughout the chicken
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Love, love, love this recipe! SO delicious!
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Grilled Whole Chicken Pieces Recipe
It’s not often that I cook up a whole chicken, but when I add my favorite BBQ spice rub and a grill to the equation, you know it’s going to be good! I seasoned these chicken pieces with a bouquet of tangy and savory seasonings, then basted them with BBQ sauce as they cooked on the grill. Yum! It turns out so juicy and delicious every time.
I love making this whole barbecue chicken on the grill because everyone gets to have their favorite piece! I prefer the rich BBQ-slathered thighs, and my kids love eating the drumsticks. I find it easiest to cut the chicken into pieces before grilling for more perfect and even cooking all around.
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Grill Temp and Time
To grill chicken pieces, set your grill to a medium-high heat, between 425-450°F. At this temperature, a whole chicken will take between 15-25 minutes to cook–each piece may cook at a slightly different rate.
Always check the internal temperature to make sure chicken is fully cooked through. I recommend taking bone-in, dark meat pieces (thighs, legs, drumsticks) off the grill around 165°F, tenting them in foil for 5-10 minutes, and letting the temperature come up closer to 170-180°F. This is when the meat really gets tender!
Grilled BBQ Whole Chicken Recipe
Equipment
- Grill (or Grill Pan)
Ingredients
- 3-4 pounds whole chicken (cut in pieces*)
- ½ cup barbecue sauce (**)
BBQ Spice Rub:
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 3 teaspoons chili powder
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon ground allspice (***)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Preheat grill to medium-high heat (425-450°F).
- In a small bowl, combine garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, pepper, allspice, and salt. Season all sides of the chicken pieces with the spice rub.3-4 pounds whole chicken, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon onion powder, 3 teaspoons chili powder, ½ teaspoon ground black pepper, 1 teaspoon ground allspice, 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- Grill 8 minutes, flip, and cook 6-8 minutes more until lightly charred (but not yet cooked through).
- Using a basting brush, coat each piece of chicken in barbecue sauce. Continue grilling, turning, and basting with barbecue sauce often, until chicken is cooked through; about 10 more minutes.½ cup barbecue sauce
- When cooked through, the thickest part of all pieces should register at least 165°F (up to 175°F for dark meat pieces).
Notes
- For best results, fully preheat the grill before using, and coat with oil to prevent sticking.
- Bring chicken pieces to room temperature before grilling for more even cooking.
- If you can, create direct and indirect heat zones on your grill. This will help you monitor and perfect the temp on each piece of chicken.
- I like to give the chicken a good char (Step 3) before I start basting with BBQ sauce. This helps hold the sauce so it doesn’t run while grilling.
- Let the chicken rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. This allows the juices to redistribute and lets the chicken come to temp. Tent with foil while resting for best results!
- If using a stovetop grill pan, set it to medium-high heat.
- If you like, brine or marinate the chicken ahead of cooking.
Note: Water, salt, pepper, oil, and broth are not counted as ingredients on this site.
BBQ Chicken Rub
As with any good BBQ chicken recipe, I like to start with a flavorful spice rub. I make mine with garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, salt, pepper, and allspice. It’s savory, earthy, and just a little bit spicy. This spice rub not only adds flavor, but it also helps to seal in moisture as the chicken cooks by forming a delicious crust.
The allspice is really the hero of this BBQ rub, so I don’t recommend skipping it. However, if you don’t have any on hand, you can mix equal parts (about ⅓ teaspoon each) of ground cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg.
How to Make BBQ Chicken on the Grill Step by Step
Prep: Gather the spice rub ingredients, a whole chicken, and your favorite barbecue sauce. Cut a whole chicken into parts. Preheat your grill to medium-high heat (425-450°F).
Season the Chicken: In a small bowl, combine 1 teaspoon of garlic powder, ½ teaspoon of onion powder, 3 teaspoons of chili powder, ½ teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper, 1 teaspoon of ground allspice, and 1 teaspoon of kosher salt. Season all sides of a cut 3-4 pound whole chicken with the spice rub.
Grill the Chicken: Grill the chicken pieces for 8 minutes, flip, and cook for 6-8 minutes more–until lightly charred but not yet cooked through. Using a basting brush, coat the chicken pieces with ½ cup of barbecue sauce. Continue grilling, turning, and basting with barbecue sauce often, until chicken is cooked through, about 10 more minutes.
Serve: When cooked through, the thickest part of the grilled chicken breast should register 165°F, while grilled chicken thighs will be best at 170-180°F. Let chicken rest for 5-10 minutes before serving–with extra barbecue sauce!
How to Store, Freeze, and Reheat
Once the whole BBQ chicken cools to room temperature, you can store pieces in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating. I recommend reheating your leftovers in the oven or Air Fryer to maintain the original grilled consistency.
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