BBQ CHICKEN WITH PINEAPPLE SALSA

Grilled BBQ Chicken with Pineapple Salsa is made by smothering grilled chicken with thick & flavorful bbq sauce then topping it with a delicious pineapple salsa.

Perfect for weeknight dinners or weekend get-togethers, the pineapple salsa pairs perfectly with the tangy grilled barbecue chicken.

Anyone ready for some BBQ chicken with pineapple salsa?! I know I am. Summer is quickly approaching and with that comes GRILLING SEASON! It seems like for the better part of the last several months my grill was buried under at least a foot of snow, so I’m thrilled to fire it up. This recipe is the perfect way to dress up ordinary barbecue chicken. It’s easy to make and has the best flavor!

How to make the BEST BARBECUE CHICKEN

Here are a few tips on how to make the best ever grilled BBQ chicken. First, start by sprinkling the chicken with salt and pepper. Yes, even though you’ll be slathering on sauce later, chicken is pretty bland so more flavor is always a good idea.

If you’re nervous about your chicken being dry or tough, try “marinating” it with a simple mixture of milk, olive oil and cornstarch first. Just combine 1 cup milk with 2 TBSP olive oil and 1 teaspoon of cornstarch. Whisk together and immerse chicken for about 15 minutes. Then transfer to a hot grill and sprinkle on some salt and pepper, then proceed with the recipe.

Don’t add the barbecue sauce right away. Sometimes, if I’m cooking kabobs or other types of small chicken, I’ll slather some sauce on early. However, for most chicken breasts, if you sauce early then the sugar in the sauce causes it to burn. Burnt chicken in any form doesn’t taste good! So cook most of the way, then slather on the sauce so you get the moist flavor, but not the burned taste.

Use a meat thermometer! Chicken can be inedible when overcooked, so be sure to use a meat thermometer when grilling. Small pieces of chicken can cook quickly, so this really helps you know when the meat is done. Just stick it in the thickest part of the piece of chicken and push the button to get a reading. Chicken is fully cooked at 165 degrees F but it’s okay to take it off the grill at 160-162 degrees. Place it in a glass dish and cover with foil. Let the cooked chicken rest for 5-10 minutes and serve.

My all-time favorite meat thermometer is the Thermapen. It’s super fast and incredibly durable. Another great meat thermometer is the ThermoPop which is a more basic version that works just as well! 

GRILLED BBQ CHICKEN WITH PINEAPPLE SALSA

Grilled BBQ Chicken with Pineapple Salsa is made by smothering grilled chicken with thick & flavorful bbq sauce then topping it with a delicious pineapple salsa made with lime and jalapeno. Perfect for weeknight dinners or weekend get-togethers, the pineapple salsa pairs perfectly with the tangy grilled barbecue chicken.

• Makes:             4 servings
• Prep time:        10 minutes
• Cook time:      12 minutes

 INGREDIENTS

• 6 pineapple rings
• 1/4 cup red onion, chopped
• 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
• 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
• 1 small jalapeño pepper, diced
• Salt and Pepper
• Extra virgin olive oil
• 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 1 cup BBQ sauce

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat your grill.
2. Place the pineapple rings on the grill and cook 1 minute on each side or until slightly charred. Remove the pineapple from the grill and dice. 
3. In a small bowl, combine the diced pineapple, onion, cilantro, lime juice, and jalapeño, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside. 
4. Lightly coat the chicken breasts with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Place the chicken on the grill over direct heat and cook until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees Fahrenheit, about 5 to 6 minutes per side. 
5. Coat the chicken breasts liberally with BBQ Sauce and allow the sauce to caramelize. Remove the chicken breasts from the grill after 1 minute to avoid burning, and let them rest for 5 minutes before serving. 
6. Top each chicken breast with a generous amount of pineapple salsa and serve.

Find even more BBQ recipes here:

• Easy Hamburger Recipe
• BBQ Chicken Pineapple Kabobs with Bacon
• Greek Chicken Souvlaki with Lemon Rice
• Ranch Chicken Bacon Kabobs
• Best Grilled Steak Recipe Ever
• Grilled Honey Mustard Chicken
• Easy Grilled Italian Chicken with Vegetables
• BBQ Sticky Chicken recipe
• Jack Cheese Pineapple Chicken
• Grilled Honey Chicken with Glazed Pineapple
• Grilled Chicken BLT Salad Recipe

GRILLED BBQ CHICKEN WITH PINEAPPLE SALSA

Grilled BBQ Chicken with Pineapple Salsa is made by smothering grilled chicken with thick & flavorful bbq sauce then topping it with a delicious pineapple salsa made with lime and jalapeno. Perfect for weeknight dinners or weekend get-togethers, the pineapple salsa pairs perfectly with the tangy grilled barbecue chicken.

5 from 2 votes

Print Pin Rate

Author: Jessica & Nellie

Ingredients

• 6 pineapple rings
• 1/4 cup red onion chopped
• 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro chopped
• 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
• 1 small jalapeño pepper diced
• Salt and Pepper
• Extra virgin olive oil
• 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 1 cup BBQ sauce

Instructions

• Preheat your grill.
• Place the pineapple rings on the grill and cook 1 minute on each side or until slightly charred. Remove the pineapple from the grill and dice.
• In a small bowl, combine the diced pineapple, onion, cilantro, lime juice, and jalapeño, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.
• Lightly coat the chicken breasts with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Place the chicken on the grill over direct heat and cook until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees Fahrenheit, about 5 to 6 minutes per side.
• Coat the chicken breasts liberally with BBQ Sauce and allow the sauce to caramelize. Remove the chicken breasts from the grill after 1 minute to avoid burning, and let them rest for 5 minutes before serving.
• Top each chicken breast with a generous amount of pineapple salsa and serve.

Video

Notes

Makes:             4 servings Prep time:        10 minutes Cook time:      12 minutes

📫 Save this recipe! Send it to your email! 📩

I consent to receiving emails from this site.

Tried this recipe?Mention @jessicalovesbutter or tag #jessicalovesbutter!

Love chicken? Check out our favorite chicken recipes here:

• Greek Chicken Souvlaki
• Easy Chicken Cacciatore
• Best Chicken Strips
• BBQ Chicken Pineapple Kabobs
• Easy Chicken Fried Rice
• Salsa Chicken
• Coconut Chicken Curry
• Cheesy Chicken Enchilada Dip
• BBQ Chicken with Pineapple Salsa

Hungry for more? Try some more grilled chicken recipes!

• Easy Teriyaki Chicken Recipe
• Easy Chicken Fried Rice Recipe
• Easy Smoked Chicken Legs Recipe
• Grilled Chicken Salad Recipe
• Greek Chicken Souvlaki Recipe
• BBQ Chicken Kabobs with Bacon and Pineapple Recipe
• Honey Glazed Chicken Wings Recipe
• Sweet and Spicy Grilled Sticky Chicken Recipe
• Ranch Chicken Kabobs Recipe
• Cheesy Grilled Pineapple Chicken Recipe