Sweet BBQ Chicken Breast

Sweet BBQ Chicken Breast is one of the best ways to sauce up any plain-old-chicken breast. This meal requires only one skillet, a single stove top burner, and the homemade BBQ sauce uses simple pantry ingredients. Sweet BBQ Chicken Breast is quick and easy to cook- making it the perfect meal to add to your summer dinner menu!

There is something beautiful about summer, isn’t there?

The days are long, the weather is warm, the plants are blooming, and the animals are alive & active. Summer is, in a sense, life at it’s fullest.

And, it’s this fullness of life that many people thrive off of. In fact, I’m hard pressed to think of many people, if any at all, that don’t earnestly look forward to the bountiful fruits that summer brings about.

Sometimes these summer fruits are figurative. (Like the increased joy that many people feel in the warmer months.)

But, these fruits can also be literal. I know that I, for one, thoroughly enjoy the fresh produce that pops up every where in the summer!

And, if you ask me, nothing compliments ripe & juicy fruit paired with fresh garden veggies better than a good piece of meat.

As far as meat goes, this Sweet BBQ Chicken Breast recipe is one of my go-to summer meats (although I do frequently enjoy it in the winter too).

This recipe is so quick, easy, and simple to cook. Which makes it one of the best meals to quickly throw together at the end of a busy day.

So, give your grill a break for the night and enjoy a nice slice of Sweet BBQ Chicken with me!

What Makes Sweet BBQ Chicken So Good?

It’s really hard to go wrong with any type of meat smothered in a good BBQ sauce. But, what makes this recipe stand out above the rest is the sweet and tangy homemade sauce.

This sauce uses 6 simple ingredients (that you most likely already have on hand). And, the longer the sauce cooks, the better it gets!

So, if you typically enjoy a thick and dark BBQ sauce then let the sauce cook a little extra longer than recommended. Trust me; you won’t be disappointed. : )

Can I Use Alternative Ingredients?

There is definitely a little bit of wiggle room in this recipe to mix up the ingredients, which makes it fun!

For example, you can swap out the brown sugar and the honey with each other. (i.e. 1/4 c + 2 tbsp brown sugar & no honey, as opposed to 1/4 c brown sugar & 2 tbsp honey).

Another option is to replace the white distilled vinegar with Apple Cider Vinegar. However, I did find that using ACV made the sauce tangier (and more apple-ier?) tasting than I personally liked. But, it may be the move to make if you typically enjoy the taste of ACV!

Also, you can substitute the onion powder and garlic powder with fresh onion and garlic. To do this, simply mince half of an onion and 3 cloves of garlic. Add the onion and garlic to the skillet after you have flipped the chicken once, but before you add the sauce.

Finally, there is a little bit of wiggle room (albeit, not much) when it comes to switching out the chicken. Most other cuts of chicken (minus chicken thighs) don’t cook well on the stove top.

However, cooking alternative cuts of chicken in the oven, then covering the chicken with the sauce during the last 10 minutes of baking, would be a great option. If you choose to take this route, I would recommend letting the sauce simmer in a small pot on the stove for 5-10 minutes before pouring it over the chicken.

How is Sweet BBQ Chicken Breast Made?

Prep

Begin by heating a large (10″ or more) cast iron skillet over medium high-heat.

While the skillet warms up, prepare the chicken breast by cutting each breast in half. This will allow the chicken to cook faster, as well as provide a better chicken-to-sauce ratio. (Alternatively, use thin sliced chicken breasts).

Then, season each piece of chicken with freshly ground salt and pepper to taste.

Cook

Next, evenly coat the hot skillet with a thin layer of olive oil. Place the chicken in the skillet and allow it to cook for 3-4 minutes, or until it begins to brown.

Flip the chicken over. Cover the pan and turn the heat down to medium. Allow the chicken to cook just until a little bit of pink remains on the inside (~5 minutes).

Note: the chicken will finish cooking with the sauce. Cooking the chicken before placing the sauce in the skillet may result in dry chicken.

Combine the ketchup, vinegar, honey, brown sugar, onion powder, and garlic powder in a small bowl. Evenly pour the sauce over the chicken. Coat the chicken with the sauce by flipping each breast around a few times.

Finishing Touches

Turn the heat down to medium-low. Allow the chicken and the sauce to cook, uncovered, for approximately 10 minutes or more. Flip the chicken and stir the sauce every few minutes to ensure that it doesn’t burn.

Remove the pan from the heat once the chicken is cooked to an internal temperature of 160 *F and the sauce is thickened & darkened to your liking.

Allow the chicken to cool in the pan for 5 minutes. The chicken will finish cooking and the sauce will thicken further during this time.

I hope you enjoy!