Grilled BBQ orange chicken – sweet and citrusy and loaded with flavour for a simple dinner recipe on the grill! These are the perfect flavours for your summer barbeques served with a side salad or layered on a bed of savoury rice.
Best of all, this orange BBQ chicken recipe uses simple ingredients that you may already have in your house to make the sticky sweet sauce!
So good that even the kids will love it. But in case you want something spicy, check out these smoked buffalo wings too!
BBQ Orange Chicken Recipe
If you’re looking for a quick weeknight grill recipe or a relaxed weekend dinner, this barbequed chicken with orange marinade is one you don’t need to prep ahead of time.
This dish is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, combining the zesty punch of citrus with the sweet flavours of honey and brown sugar to create a deliciously sticky orange BBQ sauce.
TIP: You can make this recipe with chicken thighs, breast, wings or even try it with a whole split chicken and simply adjust the cooking time to suit.
Not sure what to serve with orange chicken? Check out these orange chicken side dishes to pair with your dish.
Honey Orange Sauce
You can easily make the orange sauce ahead of time, but it’s not essential since you only need to baste the chicken, rather than marinate it.
Here’s what you need to make the sauce:
- 1/4 cup squeezed orange juice
- 1/4 cup tomato paste
- Zest of 1 orange, finely grated
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- A pinch of salt
- teaspoon of garlic powder
You will also need around 1.5kg of chicken – I used chicken breasts on this occasion, however, chicken thighs are also a great option!
The printable recipe card with FULL ingredients list and instructions can be found at the bottom of this post.
You can use orange juice for this recipe or if you have fresh oranges, you can use freshly squeezed juice. Just note that if you are using pre-made orange juice, it will have a higher sugar content and make your recipe sweeter.
If you’re using chicken breast, you might like to slice them in half so they aren’t as thick. This will make them tastier and they will cook faster if you’re in a hurry for a feed.
How To Grill Orange Barbeque Chicken
You can use any type of BBQ grill to make this recipe – gas, charcoal or even indoor grill.
STEP ONE: PREHEAT
Preheat the smoker or gas BBQ to 130 – 140 degrees Celcius (around 275 F).
STEP TWO: GRILL
Place the chicken on the grill away from direct heat (skin side down). Cook for 10 mins then turn and cook for a further 10 minutes.
STEP THREE: BASTE
Turn the chicken again and baste with orange BBQ marinade. Continue cooking for 10 mins. Repeat the process of turning and basting the chicken with marinade every couple of turns.
STEP FOUR: SEAR
Move the chicken to direct heat to high sear and create some nice golden brown sear marks allowing the sugars in the marinate to brown and crust. Continue to baste with marinate. Flip and sear the reverse side.
STEP FIVE: REST
Remove from heat and rest for 10 mins once the chicken is done.
Tips For Making Orange Chicken On The Grill
Here are some simple tips to make sure your honey orange chicken is cooked to perfection:
- The two-zone cooking method is important – the slow cooking away from direct heat means you won’t burn the outside, while the high temps are necessary for any marinades or sauces with a sugar content.
- You will know when it is done because it will have a golden dark brown crust and firm to touch with a pair of tongs in the most meatiest section of the chicken.
- The internal meat temperature should be around 70 degrees Celsius (approx 158 Fahrenheit) when it’s done.
How to Serve Grilled Orange Chicken
This BBQ orange chicken recipe is one of those simple chicken recipes that can pair with so many different sides.
During the summer months, you can’t go wrong with a side salad. Use extra orange slices for a pop of colour and sweetness. Or cut your chicken into slices and serve as part of your salad.
You can also serve this chicken with steamed rice or roasted vegetables.
How To Store Leftover Orange BBQ Chicken
Leftover chicken should be stored in the refrigerator and eaten within 3 days.
You can also freeze the cooked chicken for up to three months.
To reheat, defrost in the fridge overnight before reheating it.
More chicken recipes to try:
Need side dish ideas? Check out these kid-friendly BBQ sides and make-ahead BBQ sides.
BBQ Orange Chicken
Ingredients
- 1.5 kg chicken thigh or breast
- 1/4 cup orange juice
- 1/4 cup tomato paste
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 orange zest
- pinch of salt
Instructions
- Preheat the smoker or gas BBQ to 130 – 140 degrees Celcius (around 275 F).
- In medium bowl, mix together all sauce ingredients until smooth.
- Place the chicken on the grill away from direct heat (skin side down). Cook for 10 mins then turn and cook for a further 10 minutes.
- Turn the chicken again and baste with orange BBQ marinade. Continue cooking for 10 mins. Repeat the process of turning and basting the chicken with marinade every couple of turns.
- Move the chicken to direct heat to high sear and create some nice golden brown sear marks allowing the sugars in the marinate to brown and crust. Continue to baste with marinate. Flip and sear the reverse side.
- Remove from heat and rest for 10 mins once the chicken is done.
Video
Notes
- The two-zone cooking method is important – the slow cooking away from direct heat means you won’t burn the outside, while the high temps are necessary for any marinades or sauces with a sugar content.
-
The internal meat temperature should be around 70 degrees Celsius (approx 158 Fahrenheit) when it’s done.You will know when it is done because it will have a golden dark brown crust and firm to touch with a pair of tongs in the most meatiest section of the chicken.
If you try this recipe, let me know what you think! Leave a comment below or a rating and tag me on Instagram if you share.
