Best BBQ Chicken
Best BBQ Chicken features drumsticks rubbed with a brown sugar–garlic paste for a sweet-savory crust, then grilled and brushed with a tangy ketchup-vinegar-Worcestershire sauce until smoky and juicy. The charred edges and glossy glaze make it perfect for summer cookouts or casual weeknight dinners. Expect balanced sweetness, gentle heat, and a satisfying, sticky finish.
- Prep15 mins
- Cook45 mins
- Serves5
- DifficultyMedium
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Best BBQ Chicken, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactPoor
- 35 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 0 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityFair
- 55 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
- 2 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 11
- Heart Health
- 12
- Metabolic
- 14
- Digestive
- 21
- Inflammatory
- 48
- Performance
- 27
- General Wellness
- 1
Mash brown sugar, garlic, salt, and pepper together with a mortar and pestle to make a paste. Spoon the paste into a resealable plastic bag. Add the chicken, coat it with the paste, press out excess air, and seal the bag. For best results, marinate in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour or up to overnight.
- 2
When ready to cook, heat oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the ketchup, vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce. Bring to a simmer and cook until the flavors blend, about 10 minutes.
- 3
Meanwhile, preheat an outdoor grill to medium heat and lightly oil the grate. Remove the chicken from the bag.
- 4
Grill the chicken on the preheated grill until browned, 3 to 5 minutes, turning once halfway through. Turn off one of the burners and move the chicken to indirect heat. Keep the temperature at 300 to 350 degrees F (150 to 175 degrees C).
- 5
Cook the chicken for 20 minutes, turning halfway through. Baste with the sauce, then continue cooking, basting every 10 minutes, until the chicken is no longer pink at the bone and the juices run clear, 20 to 25 minutes more. An instant-read thermometer inserted near the bone should register at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).
- Calories 462.52 kcal High 23%
- Protein 36.78 g Good Source 74%
- Carbohydrate 27.67 g 10%
- Total Fat 22.03 g High 28%
- Saturated Fat 4.9 g High 25%
- Trans Fat 0.1 g High --
- Cholesterol 212.13 mg High 71%
- Sodium 983.81 mg High 43%
- Dietary Fiber 0.79 g Low Source 3%
- Total Sugars 14.6 g --
- Added Sugars 7.79 g Moderate 16%
- Calcium 96.64 mg Low Source 7%
- Iron 1.95 mg Moderate 11%
- Potassium 517.1 mg Moderate 11%
- Vitamin A 67.78 mcg Low Source 8%
- Vitamin C 10.43 mg Moderate 12%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Fish 🐟
- Sulfites
- Tomatoes 🍅
- Garlic 🧄
- Onions 🧅
About This Recipe
Best BBQ Chicken is made with 10 ingredients and serves 5. It takes about 1 hr and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Black Pepper, Brown Sugar, Chicken Drumsticks, and Garlic. Each serving provides about 462.52 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Best BBQ Chicken made of?
- The main ingredients are Black Pepper, Brown Sugar, Chicken Drumsticks, Garlic, Ketchup. The full list of 10 is above.
- How long does it take to make Best BBQ Chicken?
- About 1 hr in total: 15 mins to prepare and 45 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 462.52 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Best BBQ Chicken easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 10 ingredients and 5 steps.
- Is Best BBQ Chicken healthy?
- Best BBQ Chicken has an easyChef Pro health score of 31/100. Per serving, it provides 462.52 calories and 36.78 g of protein, or 74% of the Daily Value. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 983.81 mg (43% of the Daily Value), saturated fat at 4.9 g (25% of the Daily Value) and added sugars at 7.79 g (16% of the Daily Value). It contains Fish, Sulfites, Tomatoes, Garlic and Onions, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
How easyChef Pro scores recipes and products
easyChef Pro analyzes up to 41 nutrients using data sourced from USDA and other verified food databases. Its scoring method uses the nutrients relevant to nutrition quality, calorie density, processing level, and your selected health goal. Recipes and food products get a health score from 0 to 100, calculated using consistent rules instead of being estimated by AI. The same nutrition data, serving size and health goal will produce the same result.
The calculation evaluates nutrients, calorie density, processing level, and how well the food supports your selected health goal. Protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients can strengthen the score. High amounts of sodium, saturated fat, added sugar and other nutrients may lower it.
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