TRAEGER BARBECUED CHICKEN with HONEY BARBECUE SAUCE

Traeger Barbecued Chicken with Honey Barbecue Sauce

With a burst of flavor and all the right spices, Traeger Barbecued Chicken is a simple dinner that becomes the best barbecue restaurant-quality meal when seasoned with the combination of Barbecue Sweet Rub and slathered with the BEST Honey Barbecue Sauce!  Smoking the chicken low and slow makes for wonderfully tender and juicy chicken that is so easy and absolutely perfect every time! 

​Honey Barbecue Sauce is a simple and perfect sauce – wonderfully sticky and very kid-friendly – the best basic barbecue sauce to have on hand and so easy to make at home!  Barbecued Chicken is a favorite at our house for dinner on a busy weeknight, a crowd favorite for backyard barbecues, and any leftovers are perfect for sandwiches, salads, charcuterie boards and fajitas.  It’s also the secret to my delectable Smoked Barbecue Chicken Salad and Barbecue Chicken Nachos!  

Traeger Barbecued Chicken with Honey Barbecue Sauce

HOMEMADE BARBECUE SAUCE MAKES EVERYTHING BETTER!

My family will tell you that barbecue sauce is one of my favorite condiments, and for good reason!  It really brings out some of the best qualities in grilled or smoked meats, and can make or break mediocre barbecue!   There are so many bottled commercial varieties out there, and its always hit or miss to find good ones.  I love this homemade Honey Barbecue Sauce because it's so versatile, and a favorite with family and friends!

THIS HONEY BARBECUE SAUCE IS PERFECT WITH:

• Traeger Barbecued Chicken
• Traeger Smoked Chicken Breasts
• Traeger Smoked Pulled Pork
• Traeger Smoked Brisket
• Traeger Smoked Barbecued Ribs
• Barbecue Ribs - Kansas City Style
• Grilled or Smoked Hamburgers
• Root Beer Pulled Pork Sandwiches
• Barbecue Steak Kabobs
• Traeger Smoked Au Gratin Potatoes
  
• Traeger Smoked Mac & Cheese!
• Barbecue Pulled Pork & Brown Sugar Bacon Sweet Potato Fries
• Cheesy Barbecue Corn & Bacon Dip
• Savory Barbecue Tator Tot Casserole

Traeger Barbecued Chicken with Honey Barbecue Sauce

WANT TO SWAP OUT INGREDIENTS?

Is there an ingredient that’s not your favorite? Swap it out for the spices and seasonings that you love - but don't be afraid to try new things!  It's always easiest to start out with a good, simple and basic recipe for barbecue sauce, and then customize it little by little - remembering that the flavor is enhanced and deepens the longer you simmer it on your stove.  

• Add a shot of bourbon or whiskey
• Add dark brown sugar for a sweeter sauce
• Add molasses to deepen the flavor profile
• Add honey or maple syrup for a different sweet note
• Add your favorite jams, jellies or preserves - a 50/50% blend is usually fabulous!
• Like your sauce HOT?  Amp up the spice by adding in your favorite hot sauce, chili powder or extra red pepper flakes 

Traeger Barbecued Chicken with Honey Barbecue Sauce

RECIPE VARIATIONS:

Replace Barbecue Sweet Rub with any of the following spice and seasoning rubs, and match the barbecue sauce you use to blend with the flavor profile of the seasoning rub:

• Woodfire Garlic
• Smokehouse Maple
• Brown Sugar Bourbon
• Fiesta Seasoning Rub
• Teriyaki Seasoning Rub
• Chipotle Lime
• Chipotle & Roasted Garlic
• Mesquite
• Blackened Spice Seasoning Rub
• Montreal Chicken
• Kinder’s Buttery Steakhouse

Traeger Barbecued Chicken with Honey Barbecue Sauce

LET'S GET HOT & SAUCY!

Replace Honey Barbecue Sauce with any of the following barbecue sauces and glazes, matching the barbecue sauce to the flavor profile of the spice and seasoning rub that you use:

• Sweet & Smoky Barbecue Sauce
• Honey Sriracha Barbecue Sauce
• Apple Butter Barbecue Sauce
• Awesome Sauce (Apricot Barbecue Sauce)
• Whiskey Peach Barbecue Sauce
• Merlot Barbecue Sauce
• Hawaiian Barbecue Sauce
• Cherry Chipotle Barbecue Sauce
• Maple Bourbon Barbecue Sauce
• Byerly’s Original Barbecue Sauce
• Teriyaki Barbecue Sauce
• Raspberry Chipotle Barbecue Sauce
• Asian Sweet Chili Sauce
• Sweet Chili Teriyaki Sauce

Traeger Barbecued Chicken with Honey Barbecue Sauce and Traeger Smoked Funeral Potatoes

TRAEGER BARBECUED CHICKEN with HONEY BARBECUE SAUCE

With a burst of flavor and all the right spices, Traeger Barbecued Chicken is a simple dinner that becomes the best barbecue restaurant-quality meal when seasoned with the combination of Barbecue Sweet Rub and slathered with the BEST Honey Barbecue Sauce!  Smoking the chicken low and slow makes for wonderfully tender and juicy chicken that is so easy and absolutely perfect every time!  Honey Barbecue Sauce is a simple and perfect sauce – wonderfully sticky and very kid-friendly – the best basic barbecue sauce to have on hand and so easy to make at home!  

Traeger Barbecued Chicken with Honey Barbecue Sauce

INGREDIENTS:
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, 4 thighs or 8 drummies (or any combination)
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 tablespoons Best Sweet Rub
 
HONEY BARBECUE SAUCE:
1 cup ketchup
½ cup brown sugar (light or dark)
¼ cup apple cider vinegar
¼ cup honey
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon molasses
1 teaspoon salt*
1 teaspoon smoked paprika*
1 teaspoon garlic powder*
1 teaspoon onion powder*
½ teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper*
*or substitute 1-1/2 tablespoons of Barbecue Sweet Rub for all of these spices
 
BARBECUE SWEET RUB:
¼ cup dark brown sugar
1 tablespoon coarse sea salt
2 teaspoons cracked black pepper
2 teaspoons smoked paprika
2 teaspoons garlic powder
2 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon ground mustard
½ teaspoon cayenne pepper (add more for an extra flavor kick)
 
HOW I MAKE THIS:

1. PREPARE BARBECUE SWEET RUB:  In a small bowl, whisk together all sweet rub ingredients until evenly blended.  You can use a fork or the back of a spoon to break up any large brown sugar chunks.  Store Barbecue Sweet rub in an airtight container for up to a month.
2. PREPARE HONEY BARBECUE SAUCE:  Combine all sauce ingredients in a medium heavy saucepan and bring to a light boil; reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.  Remove sauce from stove and allow to cool to room temperature.  Store in an airtight glass container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.  This sauce is NOT shelf-stable, so make sure it goes in the fridge when you’re finished!

1. PREPARE CHICKEN:  Drizzle the chicken pieces with olive oil and rub to evenly distribute.  Sprinkle with Barbecue Sweet Rub evenly on all sides.  Place on a plate or pan, cover and refrigerate for 10 minutes. 
2. PREPARE SMOKER:  Fire up your pellet grill and preheat smoker to 225 degrees using your favorite hardwood pellets.  A mixture of oak, along with a fruit wood (cherry or apple) are perfect for this chicken recipe. 
3. SMOKE CHICKEN:  Place seasoned chicken directly on smoker grill and smoke for approximately 1 hour, or until the internal temperature of the thickest part of the chicken reaches 150 degrees.
4. When chicken reaches 150 degrees, turn and brush with Honey Barbecue Sauce.  Shut lid and continue smoking until internal temp reaches 155 degrees.  Turn chicken and brush again with Honey Barbecue Sauce.  Continue smoking until chicken reaches 160 degrees.
5. Remove chicken from the smoker and place on a clean plate or pan; brush Honey Barbecue Sauce over chicken pieces and immediately cover loosely with foil.  Allow to rest for 5-10 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches a food-safe 165 degrees.
6. Serve immediately – and get ready to enjoy the best barbecued chicken of your life!!
7. Refrigerate leftovers in a covered container or ziplock back; best served within 2 days. 

YIELD:   4 servings

RECIPE NOTES: 

• Cook times will vary based on the size of chicken breasts, thighs or drummies that you use. 
• You can use this same recipe and method for chicken thighs, drumsticks, quarters, bone-in or boneless, skin on or skinless.  For bone in or large chicken pieces, allow additional smoking time until 160 degrees internal temperature is reached. 
• This Barbecue Sweet Rub is perfect for chicken, beef and pork – including ribs, chops, pulled pork, caramelized bacon, and brisket – and take smoked hamburgers to a whole new level of deliciousness!
• This Honey Barbecue Sauce is perfect for chicken, beef and pork – including ribs, chops, pulled pork, caramelized bacon, and brisket – and take smoked hamburgers to a whole new level of deliciousness!
• If you like a little kick to your barbecued meats, add cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes to the Honey Barbecue Sauce for your favorite level of HOT and spicy!
• Serve with additional warm Honey Barbecue Sauce on the side – you may find you don’t even need more, as this is the juiciest and most tender chicken ever! 
• Honey Barbecue Sauce is also great served with roasted potatoes, French fries, hash browns, or anything that needs a little something special to spice it up!

​RECIPE VARIATIONS:

Replace Barbecue Sweet Rub with any of the following spice and seasoning rubs, and match the barbecue sauce you use to blend with the flavor profile of the seasoning rub:

• Woodfire Garlic
• Smokehouse Maple
• Brown Sugar Bourbon
• Fiesta Seasoning Rub
• Teriyaki Seasoning Rub
• Chipotle Lime
• Chipotle & Roasted Garlic
• Mesquite
• Blackened Spice Seasoning Rub
• Montreal Chicken
• Kinder’s Buttery Steakhouse

 
Replace Honey Barbecue Sauce with any of the following barbecue sauces and glazes, matching the barbecue sauce to the flavor profile of the spice and seasoning rub that you use:

• Sweet & Smoky Barbecue Sauce
• Honey Sriracha Barbecue Sauce
• Apple Butter Barbecue Sauce
• Awesome Sauce (Apricot Barbecue Sauce)
• Whiskey Peach Barbecue Sauce
• Merlot Barbecue Sauce
• Hawaiian Barbecue Sauce
• Cherry Chipotle Barbecue Sauce
• Maple Bourbon Barbecue Sauce
• Byerly’s Original Barbecue Sauce
• Teriyaki Barbecue Sauce
• Raspberry Chipotle Barbecue Sauce
• Asian Sweet Chili Sauce
• Sweet Chili Teriyaki Sauce

​Original recipe published June 2019; revised & reposted June 2022.
 
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