QUICK BBQ CHICKEN

Many readers send us feedback about their experiences cooking for different families, including those with vegetarians and meat-eaters. I decided to create a list of a-la-carte proteins that could be prepared quickly, separated from a meal, and then added for those who desire it. Quick BBQ Chicken is a delicious main dish that can be prepared in less than 30 minutes. It’s great to serve as a side dish or topping for many other dishes.

WHAT TO SERVE WITH QUICK BBQ CHICKEN

BBQ Chicken can be prepared in many ways. It can be served with mac and cheese, jerk-seasoned collard greens, and creamy coleslaw. It can be sliced and used to make BBQ chicken pie, barbecue chicken quesadilla or to top a loaded potato bowl or a salad.

What kind of chicken can I use?

This recipe can be used with boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs. Both will work well, but I prefer thighs. They are tender and crispy on the edges due to their extra fat. This recipe is not suitable for bone-in chicken because it uses a quick skillet cooking method. Bone-in chicken is slower to cook, so it’s best for baking, braising and slow cooking.

WHAT CAN THIS RECIPE BUY?

This recipe makes approximately 1 lb. You can use as many chicken pieces as you like, but it will make about 1 lb. To make the chicken brown evenly, cook it in batches.

What kind of BBQ sauce should I use?

Any BBQ sauce can be used. I don’t care much about the type of BBQ sauce I use, so I used a Kroger brand Hickory Smoke BBQ sauce on hand. Sweet Baby Ray’s has a wide range of good BBQ sauces, which are also very affordable.

QUICK BBQ CHICKEN

Quick BBQ Chicken is a delicious main dish that can be prepared in less than 30 minutes. It can also be paired well with any side. Perfect for weeknights!

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cooking Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

INGREDIENTS

• 1 tsp smoked paprika ($0.10)
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder ($0.05).
• 1/4 tsp salt ($0.02)
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper ($0.03)
• 1 lb. 1 lb.
• 1 Tbsp of cooking oil ($0.04)
• 1/4 cup BBQ sauce ($0.11)

INSTRUCTIONS

• To ensure even and quick cooking, you should pound the breasts of the chicken to a uniform thickness. Place the breasts on a cutting board, and wrap them with plastic wrap. To pound thicker areas, use a rolling pin or mallet to get a thickness of 1/2 to 3/4 inches. You don’t need to pound the chicken thighs.
• In a small bowl, combine the garlic powder, salt and pepper. Mix the spice mixture on both sides of the chicken.
• Over medium heat, heat a large skillet. Once the skillet is hot, drizzle the oil on the skillet and swirl it to coat. Cook the chicken on both sides until golden brown and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes per side.
• Turn off the heat and coat the chicken with BBQ sauce. Allow the chicken to rest for five minutes before cutting and serving.

NOTES

This recipe can be made with either breast chicken or thighs. You can see both types of chicken in the steps below.