15 Easy BBQ Chicken Recipes, Grill Optional

Channel a summer barbecue vibe outdoors or right in your kitchen.

By
Devan Grimsrud
Devan Grimsrud
Devan Grimsrud

Devan Grimsrud is a Berlin-based writer, editor, and recipe developer originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota. After working in television production with James Beard Award-winning chef Andrew Zimmern, she relocated to Berlin and became the managing editor at Kitchen Stories, an international digital cooking platform with millions of active users. 

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Published May 16, 2025
Devan Grimsrud
Chicken satay skewers grilled with charred marks, arranged on a white background
Sally Vargas

It's not easy being a grill master when you live in the city. Not only do you have to have a place to store a grill (which I don't), you also have to find a place to actually light it up (which are few and far between, at least in Berlin, Germany). So whenever I crave the flavors and feel of a summer barbecue, I have to get creative, and these are the recipes I turn to. That said, most of these easy recipes work outdoors very nicely, just in case the perfect grilling opportunity does come along.

From grilled chicken sandwiches and skewers that also work on a grill pan, to oven roasted barbecue chicken drumsticks, these recipes will offer you the taste of the great outdoors—or indoors!

  • Grilled Chicken Caprese Sandwich

    Grilled Chicken Caprese Sandwiches on a Parchment Lined Tray, and on the Counter Next to the Tray, Plates With Individual Ingredients

    Simply Recipes / Hannah Zimmerman

    Take this one outside or cook it on a grill pan. "The longer you marinate your chicken, the better! I recommend prepping and marinating your chicken the day before you grill it and letting it sit overnight." —Hannah Zimmerman, Recipe Developer

  • Stovetop Barbecue Pulled Chicken

    Bowl of Pulled Chicken With a Spoon Next to a Plate With a Toasted Bun and Spinach and a Light Green Table Napkin

    Simply Recipes / Tara Omidvar

    "While we opted to cook this chicken on the stovetop, there are many other ways to make barbecue pulled chicken. If you have more time and prefer a method that’s even more hands-off you can make this in the oven or slow cooker, too." —Devan Grimsrud, Recipe Developer

  • Jamaican Jerk Chicken

    Overhead view of jerk chicken on a platter with dipping sauce.

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    This handy recipe gives options for grilling the chicken outside or baking it in the oven. "If you're looking for a recipe that doesn't require a lot of work the day you're cooking it, this jerk chicken is perfect. It marinates overnight, so the work of creating the marinade happens a day before you cook it. You can even make the marinade up to a week in advance and refrigerate it." —Elise Bauer, Founder

  • Easy Grilled Gochujang Chicken Thighs

    Easy Grilled Gochujang Chicken Thighs

    Cynthia Christensen / Simply Recipes

    This recipe is only for an outdoor grill, but it's loaded with grilling tips for beginners. "When grilling something like poultry where it needs to be fully cooked, but you also want to maintain a juicy bite, I use the direct/indirect method of grilling. Using both direct and indirect heat helps you get a beautiful char on the outside, and a perfect cook on the inside." —Cynthia Christensen, Recipe Developer

    Continue to 5 of 15 below

  • Grilled Chicken Satay With Peanut Sauce

    A top shot of grilled chicken skewers on a white background

    Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas

    "A broiler, which I contend is the most underused piece of equipment in your kitchen, is a fine option if you don’t have an outdoor grill and a stovetop cast iron grill pan will also work—set it over high heat, oil the “grates” and cook until browned and cooked through." —Sally Vargas, Recipe Developer

  • Easy BBQ Chicken Drumsticks in the Oven

    baked bbq chicken in the oven

    Simply Recipes / Elizabeth Stark

    Follow this oven-friendly recipe for indoors, or take the recipe outside if you have a grill. "I like to cook the chicken on a metal rack over a baking sheet to allow even heat and continuous airflow on all sides. This helps prevent soggy skin." —Elizabeth Stark, Recipe Developer

  • Microwave BBQ Chicken Wings

    Platter of Microwave BBQ Chicken Wings

    Simply Recipes / Mike Lang

    "We do not recommend using chicken drumsticks (aka drumettes) for this recipe because the excess skin won’t get a chance to render its fat and won’t be pleasant to eat when microwaved." —Liz Mervosh, Recipe Tester and Developer

  • Greek Chicken Skewers with Yogurt Sauce (Chicken Souvlaki)

    Greek Chicken Skewers with Flatbread and Yogurt Sauce (Chicken Souvlaki)

    Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas

    This helpful recipe gives directions for both indoor and outdoor grilling. "Leftover yogurt sauce can be used as a dip for raw vegetables, thinned with oil to make a salad dressing, or as a spread for burgers and sandwiches." —Sally Vargas, Recipe Developer

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  • Char Siu Chicken

    Stove Top Char Siu Chicken

    Simply Recipes / Alison Conklin

    Go with a stovetop grill pan or a medium fire outside. "Classic char siu is made with fatty pork shoulder, which requires an overnight marinade for good flavor. My healthy weeknight alternative is to use chicken thighs." —Andrea Nguyen, Recipe Developer

  • Chipotle Grilled Chicken with Avocado Sandwich

    A chipotle chicken and avocado sandwich on a plate, ready to serve

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

    "You can also use a cast-iron grill pan on your stove if you do not have a grill." —Elise Bauer, Founder

  • Chicken and Pineapple Kabobs

    Chicken Pineapple Kabobs Recipe

    Simply Recipes / Nick Evans

    An indoor grill pan works nicely here as an option for the barbecue. "If you are using bamboo skewers and a real grill, be sure to soak them in water before assembling the ingredients on the skewers. Alternatively, you can also buy metal skewers." —Nick Evans, Recipe Developer

  • Oven Roasted Piri Piri Chicken

    Oven roasted piri piri chicken

    Sharee Hill / Simply Recipes

    Stepping outside instead of cooking the chicken in the oven? Use a medium grill. "If you don’t have African bird’s eye chili on hand that’s ok. Try using other hot peppers like Thai chili, serrano peppers, habaneros, or scotch bonnet peppers." —Sharee Hill, Recipe Developer

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  • Greek Lemon Chicken Skewers with Tzatziki Sauce

    Greek Lemon Chicken Skewers

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

    An indoor grill pan would work nicely as an option for these skewers. "As long as you grill them quickly on high direct heat, the inside will be done when the outside has lovely grill marks." —Elise Bauer, Founder

  • Juicy Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts on the Grill

    Brining chicken breasts for grilling

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

    Here's a very simple recipe for grilling outside when you've got the opportunity. "I take chicken off the grill at a little bit lower temp (155°F) than is usually recommended for poultry, but that's because the chicken will continue to cook for several minutes once it's off the heat and resting. Taking the chicken off the heat at this temperature helps insure that the meat doesn't overcook and get dried out." —Elise Bauer, Founder

  • Grilled Cilantro Lime Chicken

    A plate of grilled chicken with cilantro and lime and avocado next to it

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

    Pounded, evenly thick chicken breasts cook beautifully on an indoor grill pan if you want to go that route. "We pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness and then chill them before grilling. Chilled, even-thickness chicken breasts will be less likely to overcook in the time it takes to get grill marks." —Elise Bauer, Founder

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