Looking to jazz up your usual chicken dinner? Our BBQ chicken breast with grilled apples brings a delicious twist to your grill game.
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This recipe pairs juicy, smoky BBQ chicken with the unexpected sweetness of grilled apples. We’ll guide you through perfectly grilling the chicken breasts for that ideal char, while showing you how to transform apples into a mouthwatering, caramelized side dish. It’s quick, easy, and a harmonious blend of savory and sweet that’ll have everyone asking for seconds.
Ingredients for bbq chicken breasts
- For the Chicken:
- Boneless skinless chicken breasts
- olive oil
- Paprika
- Cumin
- Salt and Pepper
- For the Grilled Apples:
- Olive oil
- Granny Smith apples
How to grill chicken breasts
- Marinate the Chicken:
- In a bowl, whisk together ½ cup olive oil, paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper.
- Place the chicken breasts in a sealable plastic bag and pour in the marinade.
- Seal the bag and massage the marinade into the chicken until evenly coated.
- Let marinate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 8 hours in the refrigerator for deeper flavor.
- Prep the Grill:
- Preheat your grill for two-zone grilling, with one side hotter than the other.
- Grill the Chicken:
- Remove the chicken from the marinade and pat dry.
- Place the chicken on the hotter side of the grill and cook for about 10 minutes, then flip.
- Continue grilling on the cooler side of the grill for another 10 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Remove from grill and let rest for 5 minutes.
- Grill the Apples:
- While the chicken rests, toss the apple slices in 2 tablespoons of olive oil.
- Place apple slices on the cooler part of the grill.
- Grill for about 3-5 minutes on each side, or until they develop light grill marks and soften slightly.
- Serve:
- Slice the rested chicken breasts and arrange them on a platter.
- Add the grilled apple slices alongside the chicken.
- Drizzle any accumulated juices from the chicken over the slices before serving.
Tips for A Perfect BBQ chicken breast recipe
- Monitoring Doneness: Use an instant-read thermometer to ensure your chicken is cooked perfectly without being overdone. Insert the probe into the thickest part of the chicken. Chicken is safe at 165 degrees F. We pulled ours at 160°F, knowing it would continue to rise internally 5 degrees while it rested.
- Marinating Time: For the best flavor, marinate the chicken as long as your time allows. Overnight marinating will intensify the flavors.
- Resting the Chicken: Always let your chicken rest after grilling to allow the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, ensuring juicy and flavorful chicken.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This BBQ chicken with grilled apples recipe is easy to prepare and offers a comforting mix of flavors everyone loves. The smokiness of the BBQ, combined with the earthy sweetness of paprika and cumin, complements the freshness of the tart apples, making this dish a perfect choice for any meal where you want something a little different yet thoroughly enjoyable.
What to serve with this BBQ chicken recipe
This BBQ chicken and apples is a perfect meal with nothing more than a wedge of cornbread and Roasted Sweet Potatoes. But to round it out, try smoked potato salad, grilled corn elotes, or creamy Dutch oven mac and cheese.
To add a little more flavor to the chicken, brush it with our homemade bbq sauce 5 minutes before it’s done cooking to take things to the next level.
Leftovers and Reheating
Store leftovers separately wrapped in foil or in an airtight container for up to 4 days. The apples get soggy and are best fresh but the chicken can be used up for several more days.
To reheat, preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Wrap the chicken breasts in foil and place them in the oven to gently reheat. Alternately, dice up chicken leftovers for easy chicken salad, sandwiches, skillet dinners, easy enchiladas, or anywhere that calls for poultry.
This BBQ Chicken Breasts with Grilled Granny Smith Apples recipe is a great way to enjoy a healthy and flavorful meal any day of the week. Whether it’s a family dinner or a special occasion, this dish is sure to be a hit!
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BBQ Chicken Breasts with Grilled Apples
Ingredients
For the Chicken
- 4 chicken breasts boneless and skinless
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 2 tbsp paprika
- 1 tsp cumin
- salt
- pepper
For the Apples
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 Granny Smith Apples
Instructions
Prep the chicken:
- Pat the chicken dry.
- Whisk the ½ cup olive oil, paprika, cumin, salt and pepper in a bowl.
- Place in a sealable bag and add the chicken.
- Seal bag and massage chicken to evenly coat. You can grill the chicken immediately or marinate the chicken for 6 to 8 huours.
Grill the chicken:
- Preheat your grill for two-zone grilling.
- Remoev the chicken from the liquid and place on the hot side of the grill.
- Cook for 10 minutes or so, depending on the thickness of the chicken.
- Flip the chicken and let it cook for another 10 or so minutes until the internal temp reaches 165 degrees F with a digital meat thermomter.
- Use the dual zone heat to mitigate any flare ups, rotating the the chicken or moving to the cooler side of the grill, as needed for even cooking.
- Remove chicken and let rest for 5 minutes.
Grill the Apples
- While chicken rests, slice apples into thin wedges.
- Toss in 2 tablespoons of olive oil.
- Place apples over indirect heat side of the grill, the cooler side of the grill.
- Grill apple slices, 3 to 5 minutes until just beginning to see grill marks on both sides.
- Remove the apples from grill.
Serve:
- Slice the BBQ chicken breasts into thin strips and arrange it on a platter with the grilled apples.
- Drizzle accumulated juices over the chicken and serve immediately.
Nutrition
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