Chili Lime BBQ Grilled Chicken

Chili Lime BBQ Grilled Chicken – only 5 ingredients in the marinade – olive oil, BBQ sauce, chili powder, lime juice, and seasoned salt. The result is a juicy and tender chicken that’s bursting with bold and zesty flavors. Serve it up with some grilled corn on the cob, a crisp green salad, or some creamy coleslaw for the perfect summer meal. Whether you’re hosting a backyard bash or just looking for a quick and easy weeknight dinner, this bbq grilled chicken is sure to be a hit.

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Easy BBQ Grilled Chicken Marinade

The weather is warmer and our grill is on overdrive! We grill year-round, but we grill three or four times a week during the summer. This recipe for Chili Lime BBQ Grilled Chicken is a new favorite. It is so simple and tastes fantastic!

There are only 5 ingredients in the marinade – you probably have them in your house right now! Olive oil, barbecue sauce, chili powder, lime juice, and salt. The chicken is perfectly juicy and tender, with a mouth-watering smokiness that will make your taste buds sing. Whether you’re hosting a backyard barbecue or just grilling up a quick dinner for the family, this BBQ Grilled Chicken is sure to be a hit. 

How to Make Chili Lime BBQ Grilled Chicken

This marinade is effortless to make with only 5 basic ingredients. Place chicken in a resealable plastic bag. In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, BBQ sauce, chili powder, and lime juice. Season with seasoned salt and pepper. Pour the marinade over the chicken. Seal tightly and store in the refrigerator for 4 to 24 hours.

Remove the chicken from the marinade and discard the marinade. Prepare the grill. Grill over direct heat until the chicken is done. Use an instant-read thermometer to check for an internal temperature of 165ºF. Brush the chicken with extra BBQ sauce before removing it from the grill, if desired.

Helpful Tips & Frequently Asked Questions

• You can use this marinade on any cut of chicken – chicken breasts, chicken tenders, chicken thighs, chicken wings, or chicken drumsticks/legs.
  • You can use boneless or bone-in chicken. Adjust the cooking time to ensure an internal temperature of 165ºF.
  • You can use skinless or skin-on chicken.
• I suggest pounding the chicken breast to an even thickness. We put the chicken in a ziplock bag and use a flat meat mallet to carefully pound out the hump. This ensures that the chicken cooks evenly and you don’t have juicy chicken and half-dry chicken.
• Our favorite store-bought BBQ sauces are Sweet Baby Rays, Stubbs, G.Hughes, and Williamson Brothers. I buy them all at Walmart.
  • Here is our recipe for Homemade BBQ Sauce: https://www.plainchicken.com/homemade-bbq-sauce/
• We cook the chicken on a charcoal grill. Here are our tips for cooking on charcoal: https://www.plainchicken.com/grilling-101-how-to-use-charcoal-starter/
• I don’t have a grill. Can I cook the chicken in the oven or skillet? Yes! To cook the chicken breasts inside, heat oil in a skillet or grill pan over medium-high heat. Add chicken to the pan and cook for 3 to 4 minutes per side over medium-high heat. Place on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake at 400ºF for 10 minutes.
• Feel free to mix up the spice blend in this marinade. Our favorite variations/additions are:
  • onion powder
  • garlic powder
  • paprika
  • cayenne pepper
• Can I freeze Grilled Chicken? Yes! You can freeze the chicken uncooked or cooked.
  • Prepare the marinade. Place the chicken in a freezer bag and pour the marinade over the chicken. Seal the bag and freeze. When ready to cook, thaw in the refrigerator overnight and cook.
  • To freeze cooked chicken, cool completely and place in a freezer bag and freeze. Thaw and reheat in the microwave.
• Store leftover chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

What to Serve with Grilled BBQ Chicken

This barbecue chicken has been on repeat at our house. It is so simple to make and is bursting with great flavor! We like to pair this bbq chicken recipe with some classic barbecue sides like baked beans, potato salad, and coleslaw. You can also add some grilled veggies like corn on the cob, zucchini, or peppers for a healthy addition to your plate. Whether you’re hosting a big backyard bash or just grilling up a quick weeknight dinner, this Chili Lime BBQ Grilled Chicken is sure to be a hit.

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