An easy dry rub recipe is the secret to our favorite grilled BBQ chicken.

Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Low-and-slow grilled BBQ chicken is perfect for your next outdoor party.

Leaving the skin on the chicken while cooking helps yield juicy meat.

Southern Living BBQ Chicken on a platter ready to serve with coleslaw

Credit:Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Leftover BBQ chicken is also great chopped and served over a salad.

The Secret to the Best BBQ Chicken

We have to be honest here.

There are faster ways to cook chicken.

ingredients for bbq chicken including chicken pieces, spices, and bbq sauce

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

If you’re pressed for time,grilled chickenis a great option.

Or swap thighs and legs for quick-cooking cuts of chicken like chicken tenders or chicken cutlets.

But proper barbecued chicken isn’t going to be done quickly.

Southern Living BBQ Chicken on a platter to serve with additional barbecue sauce

Credit:Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox

So the secret to the best BBQ chicken?

How To Make BBQ Chicken

The process of making BBQ chicken is quite easy.

The hardest part is the patience you’ll need to get the chicken cooked to temperature.

Southern Living BBQ Chicken Rub

Credit:Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox

(Get the full recipe below.)

The full list of ingredients is further down the page.

Rub all over chicken pieces.

Southern Living BBQ Chicken rub on chicken

Credit:Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Place chicken in a zip-top plastic bag and chill 8-12 hours or until ready to cook.

Meanwhile, preheat grill to medium (350F to 400F).

Flip chicken:

Reduce heat to medium-low (300F to 350F).

Southern Living BBQ Chicken in the bag ready to chill

Credit:Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Flip chicken; brush with barbecue sauce and close grill.

Discard any remaining barbecue sauce used for basting.

Let rest and serve:

Remove chicken from grill and let rest 10 minutes.

Southern Living BBQ Chicken coming up to room temperature before grilling

Credit:Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Serve with additional barbecue sauce.

We recommend using your favorite sauce!

According to theUSDA, chicken should be cooked to 165F before serving.

Southern Living BBQ Chicken on the grill

Credit:Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox

We recommend using aninstant-read thermometerto tell when the chicken pieces are cooked through.

That’s because chicken skin imparts a lot of flavor into the meat while it cooks.

It also helps hold in moisture so the chicken doesn’t become dry while on the grill.

Southern Living BBQ Chicken brushing with sauce

Credit:Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox

you’re able to remove it if you want before eating the chicken.

Southern Living BBQ Chicken on the grill

Credit:Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Southern Living BBQ Chicken basting again with sauce

Credit:Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Southern Living BBQ Chicken letting rest before serving

Credit:Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox