We all know that two is better than one, and that’s the philosophy behind my BBQ ranch chicken. When you combine multiple delicious ingredients, you’re bound to have an amazing meal. This chicken fits the bill!
It also comes together quickly, so you’ve got dinner tonight covered. Marinated in barbecue sauce and ranch dressing (two of my favorite things), these barbecue chicken breasts are smoky and sweet with a little bit of spice. Just make sure to cook them over some Cowboy Charcoal and hickory wood chunks for extra smoky flavor.
I love Cowboy Charcoal because it burns super hot and clean. Thanks to those qualities, I always feel confident when cooking over it, or even with it (like in my smoked butter and smoked chimichurri recipes!). It’s definitely my go-to for any open fire cooking recipe.
Post sponsored by Cowboy Charcoal
Why You’ll Love BBQ Ranch Chicken
I know, I know, you’ve had grilled chicken breasts that came out too dry. To combat that grilling travesty, we marinate our chicken parts in BBQ sauce and ranch for about four hours. That way, the chicken absorbs the flavor from the sauces and becomes juicier and easier to cook. Plus, the protein absorbs the flavors of your two favorite sauces.
Searing the tender chicken breasts on hot grill grates gives us those perfect grill marks for a picture-perfect meal. It’s one of those simple recipes that’s great for impressing friends at a cookout and can serve as a winner winner chicken dinner for the whole family.
Want more ranch and chicken flavor? Check out my recipes for Chicken Bacon Ranch Skewers, Chicken Bacon Ranch Tacos, Chicken Bacon Ranch Sliders, Chicken Bacon Ranch Taquitos and Chicken Bacon Ranch Quesadilla.
BBQ Ranch Chicken Ingredients
- Chicken: We’ll use chicken breasts in this recipe, either bone-in or boneless, skinless chicken breasts. If you’re going with the boneless version, just remember they’ll need less time than bone-in chicken breasts.
- Sauces: Like I said, BBQ sauce and ranch dressing are two of my favorite things. I love using Cowboy Charcoal’s Cowboy Smokehouse BBQ Sauce in this recipe. You could also use your favorite store-bought BBQ sauce and this recipe will still come out great! For the ranch, either grab a bottle of your favorite stuff from the grocery store or use my homemade recipe below. It’ll come together quicker than you think!
- Seasoning: Super simple with red chili flakes and kosher salt and pepper to taste. They’re basic ingredients, but we’re not messing with a good thing.
Homemade Ranch Dressing
Our BBQ ranch chicken is a pretty easy meal to put together, so you may have extra time to make your own ranch dressing. It’s really quick and simple! If you go for it, all you need to do is mix 2.5 tablespoons sour cream, 2 tablespoons mayonnaise, 1.5 tablespoons chopped parsley, 1 tablespoon dill, 1.5 teaspoons garlic powder and 1 teaspoon black pepper in a bowl. Slowly add buttermilk until you get that perfect ranch consistency — whether thick or a bit runny, it’s up to you. Once it’s seasoned to your liking with a pinch of salt, set it aside in the fridge until you’re ready to use it.
You may need to double or triple the dressing so you have enough for the BBQ ranch chicken. Great news though: it keeps well in a mason jar in the fridge. Then, you have ready-to-go ranch seasoning for recipes like chicken bacon ranch tacos, chicken bacon ranch skewers, chicken bacon ranch sliders and more.
Add flavor to everything you’re cooking
shop over the fire spice lines
How to Make BBQ Ranch Chicken
Place 2-3 chicken breasts, 1 cup barbecue sauce, and 1 cup of ranch dressing in a marinating bag or large mixing bowl with a cover. Then, place the bag or bowl in the fridge and let the chicken marinate for 4 hours.
Use some Cowboy Hardwood Lump Charcoal to light your grill fire and let it burn for 15-20 minutes. At this point, I also take the chicken out of the fridge to bring it to room temperature (about 20 minutes before I start cooking). Once the charcoal is white hot, disperse it evenly for direct grilling. For a more intense flavor, add some hickory or apple wood chunks to the top of the charcoal.
Season your chicken with 1 tablespoon red pepper flakes and kosher salt and pepper to taste. Then, place your chicken on the grill for 8-10 minutes per side, or until the internal temperature is 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Serve and enjoy your delicious dinner!
What to Serve with BBQ Ranch Chicken
There are so many side dishes that go well with this BBQ ranch chicken. You could go with sweet potato fries, onion rings, a simple green salad with cucumbers, red onions and cherry tomatoes (topped with a drizzle of ranch dressing, of course!), fresh corn or even a grilled vegetable like zucchini or asparagus.
For More Chicken
Leftovers and Reheating
If you’ve got leftover chicken, store it in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days. When you’re ready for an easy dinner, wrap in foil to keep the moisture in, then reheat in the oven or on the grill at medium heat until warm.
FAQs
Sure! This recipe would work well with chicken thighs, chicken drumsticks, chicken tenders or even chicken wings. Just make sure to pay attention to cooking times, because they’ll be different for every cut. The cooking time will also change if you’re using bone-in or boneless chicken parts. If you’re looking for more tips on how to cook the different chicken parts, check out my roundups for Best Chicken Lollipop Recipes, Best Chicken Wing Recipes and The Best Chicken Leg Recipes!
I’m going to sound like a broken record, but an instant read meat thermometer is the best way to make sure you’re cooking meats to the right temperature. This way, you’ll also avoid dry chicken! Thermoworks makes great products, and the company’s Thermopop model is a terrific budget option.
Since Cowboy Charcoal is the best stuff around, it’s easy to find across the country. Check out the company’s store locator to find a seller near you.
Get The Cookbooks!
Flavor X Fire & FOOD X Fire
All the major tastes—salty, sour, sweet, bitter, and umami—are explored in depth, along with an investigation of other components you should consider when it comes to flavor, such as aroma, heat, and texture.
BBQ Ranch Chicken
Ingredients
- 2-3 bone-in or boneless chicken breasts
- 1 cup of Cowboy Smokehouse BBQ Sauce
- 1 cup of Ranch Dressing
- 1 tbsp of Red Chili Flakes
- Salt & Pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a disposable bag, place the chicken, BBQ sauce, and Ranch Dressing. Place in fridge and let marinate for 4 hours.
- Use some Cowboy Hardwood Lump Charcoal to light fire and let burn for 15-20 minutes. Once charcoal is white hot, disperse evenly for direct grilling. Optional: For a more intense flavor, add some hickory or apple wood chunks to the top of the charcoal.
- Pull chicken out 20 min before cooking in order to bring to room temperature. Season chicken with red chili flakes, salt & pepper.
- Place chicken on grill for 8-10 min. per side or until internal temperature is 165F.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Great recipe. Made it tonight and my 5 year old and my 3 year old couldn’t get enough. Thanks for posting!