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The best BBQ Chicken Recipe has arrived! Get ready for this juicy, easy to make barbecue chicken. It’s sugar free, dairy free, and delicious!
Looking for more Whole30 recipes? Check out these BBQ Shrimp Spaghetti Squash Boats and these BBQ Chicken Baked Sweet Potatoes!
BBQ Chicken Recipe
BBQ chicken, whether grilled or baked in the oven, is one of those “always a hit” dinners nobody at the table will complain about….unless it’s dry and overcooked, then that is all anyone is going to talk about!
But, NOT this recipe! This Whole30 dinner recipe is easy, delicious, juicy…and easy for all to master.
This recipe is super simple and really quick. Throw out any ideas you may have about fancy or expensive marinades or rubs!
All you are going to need to be the master of your kitchen tonight is some quality cuts of chicken, a hot grill (or oven), and a few ingredients to make the best Whole30 BBQ Sauce.
BBQ Chicken Ingredients
What I love most about this recipe is that is it not overly complicated. This chicken recipe calls for a handful of ingredients and is ready in less than 30 minutes!
Whole30 Homemade BBQ Sauce
Tomato paste: the tomato paste is going to be the base of your BBQ Sauce.
Balsamic vinegar: this is going to help tenderize the meat with amazing flavor; you don’t want to skip this ingredient!
Coconut aminos: this will give your BBQ Sauce that perfect savory flavor.
Orange juice: fresh squeezed is best!
Pitted dates: these may be hard to find; but I find mine in the produce section of my local grocery store.
Spices: you will need a couple pantry staple spices for this recipe like paprika, pepper, all spice, and cayenne pepper.
Grilled Chicken Marinade
Chicken: for this recipe, I used boneless, skinless chicken breasts, but any cut of chicken will do! You just might need to adjust the cook times.
Avocado oil: I really like using avocado oil, it’s a great substitute for olive oil, has a high smoke point (great for the grill!), and has some fun health benefits like helping to lower blood pressure!
Coconut milk: I recommend using full fat coconut milk for the marinade. The milk has a subtle flavor, but the perfect creaminess.
How to Make BBQ Chicken
Whole30 BBQ Sauce
1. Heat the ingredients. Add all ingredients to a medium sized sauce pan and heat over medium heat, whisking to combine. Heat just until dates are softened, approximately 10 minutes.
2. Blend the sauce. Transfer sauce to a blender, or use an immersion blender to blend until smooth. Store the sauce in an airtight container, like a mason jar and allow to cool. Refrigerate for up to two weeks.
Grilled Chicken
1. Brine the chicken. Combine the avocado oil and coconut milk in a ziplock bag. Season both sides of the chicken with salt and pepper and place in the bag with the marinade. Store in the fridge for 30 minutes or up to 6 hours.
2. Preheat the grill. Prepare one side of your grill for high, direct heat.
3. Cook the chicken. Make drainage holes in a sheet of aluminum foil with a grilling fork. Place foil sheet on grill grate.
Place chicken on foil, brush BBQ sauce over both sides of the chicken and cook, flipping once and basting with remaining sauce until cooked through, about 10-12 minutes on each side. Serve immediately, garnish with parsley or chives if desired.
Pro-Tip: If you don’t want to make your own Whole30 BBQ Sauce, you can use a store bought Whole30 BBQ sauce. I recommend this one.
What is Whole30?
The Whole30 diet emphasizes whole foods and the elimination of sugar, alcohol, grains, legumes, soy, and dairy.
Although this may sound similar to the Paleo Diet, it is a little more restrictive because you cannot consume natural sweeteners like honey or maple syrup.
WHOLE30 RESOURCES YOU MIGHT FIND HELPFUL
- Whole30 Survival Guide
- New Year New Me: Whole30 Recap
- Get Back To Healthy With Whole30
- 5 Tips For Successfully Surviving The Whole30 Diet
- 30 Easy Whole30 Recipes
Questions You May Have
How long does chicken take to BBQ?
Grilling chicken takes about 20 minutes depending on the cut and thickness of the chicken. I typically grill my chicken for about 9-10 minutes and then flip and continue cooking.
When should you put BBQ sauce on chicken?
The key to moist and juicy chicken is to cook it slow. I like to add sauce when the chicken first starts cooking, then again during the final 10-15 minutes of cooking.
Pro-Tip: In doing this, you are going to get a tasty coating to your chicken (or meat in general) rather then a dry or burnt skin/layer.
Is barbecue chicken healthy?
In short, yes. However, it can quickly become unhealthy.
Chicken is a lean and healthy protein and grilling it is a healthy way to prepare it. However, your calories are really going to come from your sauces, marinades, and/or rubs.
This recipe does not have any added sugar and is only made from wholesome ingredients.
Should I precook chicken before I bbq?
You don’t have to, however, this is how you are going to get the juiciest chicken!
If you’d like to pre-cook your chicken before grilling, cook the chicken in the oven first. Once it’s done, finish it off on the grill for just a couple of minutes to get that smokey flavor.
What is the healthiest bbq food?
White meat chicken cuts and turkey are the healthiest BBQ food options.
More Whole30 Dinner Recipes To Try
- Whole30 Weeknight Skillet Chicken
- Creamy Garlic Tuscan Salmon
- Jalapeño Lime Pan Seared Chicken
- Avocado Mango Salsa
Want More Chicken Recipes?
Download my Rotisserie Chicken Dinners Ebook!
Rotisserie Chicken Dinners Ebook
25 easy recipes that all start with a rotisserie chicken from your local grocery store.
They’ll make your life easier and dinner time even yummier.
PIN IT to your chicken recipes, dinner recipes, or pesto recipes board to save it for later!
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WANT TO TRY THIS GRILLED BBQ CHICKEN RECIPE?
PIN IT to your chicken recipes, Whole30 dinner recipes, or dinner recipes board to save it for later!
Find me on Pinterest for more great recipes. I’m always pinning!
Did you make this recipe? Post a photo on Instagram and tag me @JZEATS or #JZEATS so I can see! Leave a comment below and let me know what you think, too!
Whole30 Grilled BBQ Chicken
Equipment
Ingredients
Whole30 BBQ Sauce
- 6 oz tomato paste
- 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
- 1/3 cup coconut aminos
- 1/4 cup fresh squeezed orange juice
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/3 cup pitted dates, about 6 small
- 1 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon all spice
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional
Grilled Chicken Marinade
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
- 1/2 cup coconut milk, full fat
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
Whole30 BBQ Sauce
- Add all ingredients to a medium sized sauce pan and heat over medium heat, whisking to combine. Heat just until dates are softened, approximately 10 minutes.
- Transfer sauce to a blender, or use an immersion blender to blend until smooth. Transfer sauce to an airtight container such as a mason jar and allow to cool. Refrigerate for up to two weeks.
Grilled Chicken
- Combine the avocado oil and coconut milk in a ziplock bag. Season both sides of the chicken with salt and pepper and place in the bag with the marinade. Store in the fridge for 30 minutes or up to 6 hours.
- Prepare one side of your grill for high, direct heat.
- Make drainage holes in a sheet of aluminum foil with a grilling fork. Place foil sheet on grill grate. Place chicken on foil, baste both sides with BBQ sauce and cook, flipping once and basting with remaining sauce until cooked through, about 10-12 minutes on each side. Serve immediately, garnish with parsley or chives if desired.
Notes
- For a thinner sauce, add 1 -2 tbsp of water after blending.
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