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Grilled Chicken with Peach BBQ Sauce

This Juicy Grilled Chicken with Peach Barbecue Sauce is rich with flavor and makes the easiest outdoor dinner. The sweet, smoky, and lightly spicy Peach BBQ Sauce creates the perfect balance of flavors with minimal effort and simple ingredients. 

sliced chicken on a plate with an ear of corn

 

I love peach season, the time when I can stock up on ripe and juicy peaches at the farmer’s market. One of my favorite things to make with fresh peaches is this smoky barbecue sauce. Paired with another summer standby, grilled chicken breasts, it’s a satisfying and healthy meal that’s bound to surprise and impress your family as it did mine.

A simple chicken-based meal with a tasty sauce makes summertime cooking fun and easy. For a slightly sweet chicken recipe that rivals Chinese takeout, Orange Glazed Chicken packs in the flavor with none of the preservatives. Or, if you need a tender BBQ chicken recipe that’s perfect for sandwiches and wraps, don’t miss my Instant Pot BBQ Chicken recipe.

Why You’ll Love This Peach BBQ Sauce

  • Fresh peaches make this BBQ sauce fragrant with sunny summer flavors that you won’t find in a store-bought brand.
  • The homemade sauce recipe is super simple, with only 6 ingredients, so you can spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying yourself outdoors.
  • Chipotle adobo gives the sauce that smoky spice we all crave in a thick barbecue sauce.
  • This versatile sauce can be enjoyed by vegetarians and meat lovers alike. Try it with any protein such as pork, chicken, tofu, or tempeh.  
  • It’s a kid-friendly recipe. Thanks to its natural sweetness, the peach BBQ sauce is sure to win over even the pickiest eaters at the table.

What You’ll Need

Be sure to scroll to the bottom of the post for the FULL PRINTABLE recipe card.

  • Peaches Fresh peaches are the best for this recipe, but you can also substitute thawed frozen peaches if necessary. 
  • Ketchup – Makes an easy base for this quick barbecue sauce.
  • Lemon Juice – Adds acidity and a touch of bright flavor to the sauce.
  • Garlic – Because no BBQ sauce would be complete without fresh garlic!
  • Adobo Sauce – This sauce from canned chipotle peppers adds smoky spiciness to the peach BBQ sauce.
  • Chicken Breasts – Buy boneless, skinless chicken breasts to make this recipe a breeze to prepare.
  • Salt and Pepper
a piece of grilled chicken on a plate next to strawberries

How To Make Grilled Chicken With Peach BBQ Sauce

  • Cook the Peach BBQ Sauce mixture. Combine the first 5 ingredients in a saucepan and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Simmer until the peaches are very soft, about 10 minutes.
  • Cool and blend the sauce. Set the BBQ mixture aside to cool. Puree the cooled mixture in a blender until smooth, then adjust the seasoning.
  • Marinate the chicken. Place half the sauce in a medium bowl. Add the chicken and turn it to coat. Marinate it at room temperature for 20 minutes, or cover and chill for up to 8 hours. Cover and refrigerate the remaining sauce.
  • Grill and glaze the chicken. Grill the marinated chicken at medium-high heat, until it’s browned and nearly cooked through, about 4-5 minutes per side. Brush on all sides with the reserved sauce, then grill for 1-2 more minutes on each side. 
  • Slice and serve. Serve with extra sauce on the side.

Recipe Tips & Variations

  • Enjoy that BBQ flavor without a grill. Don’t have a grill? You can still enjoy a traditional BBQ flavor in this recipe. Instead of grilling, use a grill pan or bake the chicken in the oven.
  • Make sure your grill is nice and clean. Once your grill is heated up, be sure to clean up any old food buildup on the grates with a grill brush.
  • Don’t skip the marinating time. Giving the chicken ample time to marinate in the sauce allows the flavors to infuse into the meat. Marinating for 20 minutes at room temperature is a good start, but for optimal flavor, marinate the chicken in the refrigerator overnight. Also,  remember to turn the chicken once or twice for maximum sauce absorption.
  • Let the chicken rest before slicing. For the juiciest chicken possible, cover the chicken with foil just after taking it off the grill. Let it rest for a few minutes before slicing–it allows the juices to redistribute for perfectly tender chicken.
  • Switch up the fruit. Try making the BBQ sauce with fresh mango or nectarines instead of peaches for a flavorful twist!
sliced barbecue chicken on a plate next to corn on the cob
What’s the best way to grill vegetarian proteins with this Peach BBQ Sauce?

While each vegetarian or vegan protein source requires different preparation techniques, most of them will benefit from the marinating process. Once the protein is marinated and you’re ready to grill it, brush some vegetable oil on the grill before putting it on since low-fat vegetable proteins are more likely to stick.

How can I make the BBQ Sauce extra spicy?

To make the Peach BBQ sauce extra spicy, add a chopped jalapeño or a habanero to the sauce mixture before you cook it on the stove.

What Goes With Grilled Chicken with Peach BBQ Sauce

This is great sauce that is brushed on chicken, but you could also use it on pork or shrimp and it would be delicious! To complete your meal, here are a couple great side dishes that pair well with the flavors.

Storing Leftover Sauce

If you have leftover sauce you can store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. It is great to serve over leftover chicken, pork, on a sandwich, as a dip for Chick Fil A Grilled Nuggets or just about anything you normally use barbecue sauce for.

More Delicious Summer Grilling Recipes

Yield: 4

Grilled Chicken with Peach BBQ Sauce

Grilled Chicken with Peach Barbecue Sauce - juicy grilled chicken with a sweet, smoky, and slightly spicy peach barbecue sauce.

Grilled Chicken with Peach Barbecue Sauce - juicy grilled chicken with a sweet, smoky, and slightly spicy peach barbecue sauce.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Additional Time 20 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 cup chopped and peeled fresh peaches (can sub frozen)
  • 1/2 cup ketchup
  • 2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon adobo sauce from canned chipotle chiles in adobo
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts

Instructions

  1. Combine first 5 ingredients in a small saucepan. Season lightly with salt and pepper and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low; simmer until peaches are very soft and flavors meld, about 10 minutes.
  2. Remove pan from heat; let cool. Pour peach mixture into a blender and purée until smooth. Taste and adjust the salt and pepper to your liking.
  3. Place half the sauce in a medium bowl; add the chicken and turn to coat. Let marinate at room temperature for 20 minutes, or cover and chill for up to 8 hours, turning occasionally. Cover and refrigerate remaining sauce.
  4. Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Grill chicken until browned and almost cooked through, 4-5 minutes per side. Brush on all sides with reserved sauce; grill until glazed and cooked through, 1-2 minutes per side.
  5. Slice the chicken against the grain and serve with the remaining sauce alongside.

Notes

Recipe from Bon Appetit



Nutrition Information

Yield

4

Serving Size

1

Amount Per Serving Calories 279Total Fat 5gSaturated Fat 1gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 3gCholesterol 102mgSodium 446mgCarbohydrates 22gFiber 1gSugar 13gProtein 39g

Nutrition Disclaimer: All information presented on this site is intended for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information shared on dinnersdishesanddesserts.com should only be used as a general guideline.

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Catalina

Friday 1st of September 2023

This chicken dish sounds so fancy but easy to make! I am making it for this weekend party!

Amanda Batcher

Thursday 31st of August 2023

By far the best flavor combination in a sauce for chicken that I have ever had!!

Beth

Thursday 31st of August 2023

I'm getting so hungry just reading about this. I love the way the flavor of fruit and BBQ sauce compliment each other, and serving this peach BBQ sauce over some perfectly grilled chicken sounds just about perfect to me.

TidyMom

Wednesday 19th of July 2017

This sounds perfect!! Can't wait to try it next time we grill chicken or pork!!

Jennifer

Saturday 30th of July 2011

Sounds excellent - peaches in barbecue sauce.

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