Smoky char, tangy sauce, and juicy chicken come together to capture the spirit of outdoor cooking. These recipes work just as well for family dinners as they do for parties and cookouts. Each version focuses on bold seasoning and finger-licking glaze that keeps everyone reaching for more. The flavors feel casual, fun, and perfect for sharing.

Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Wings

Chicken wings glistening with a rich, sticky barbecue sauce arranged on a white plate accompanied with a small bowl of creamy dipping sauce.
Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Wings. Photo credit: Trop Rockin.

Crispy wings come out of the air fryer with a saucy barbecue coating that clings to every bite. Tangy sweetness pairs with juicy meat for a crowd-pleasing appetizer or easy dinner. Perfect for game day platters or busy weeknights. Ready fast without the mess of deep frying.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Wings

Carolina BBQ Chicken Salad

A wooden bowl filled with spinach salad, diced tomatoes, cucumbers, avocado, and bacon pieces offers a smoky flavor, placed on a light wooden surface with wooden salad utensils nearby.
Carolina BBQ Chicken Salad. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Mustard-style barbecue chicken tops a bed of fresh greens for a salad that truly eats like a meal. Bacon, feta, and crisp vegetables add texture and bold flavor in every bite. Perfect for warm-weather days when lighter food sounds satisfying. Great option for lunches, picnics, or simple dinners.
Get the Recipe: Carolina BBQ Chicken Salad

Oven BBQ Chicken

BBQ Chicken in a paper tray with a salad.
Oven BBQ Chicken. Photo credit: Little House Big Alaska.

Tender chicken bakes in the oven until juicy, then gets coated in smoky barbecue sauce. Edges caramelize beautifully, giving a balance of sweet, savory, and lightly charred flavor. Works well for family dinners or weekend cookouts without firing up the grill. Leftovers taste great in sandwiches or wraps.
Get the Recipe: Oven BBQ Chicken

Shredded BBQ Chicken

Image shows a BBQ shredded chicken sandwich on a wooden board.
Shredded BBQ Chicken. Photo credit: Honest and Truly.

Chicken cooks until tender enough to pull apart easily, then gets mixed with a rich barbecue sauce. Perfect for piling onto buns, topping baked potatoes, or adding to salads. Great choice when feeding a crowd or prepping meals ahead. Flavor is classic, comforting, and always a hit.
Get the Recipe: Shredded BBQ Chicken

Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Drumsticks

A chicken drumsticks in a pan.
Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Drumsticks. Photo credit: Downsizing Dinner.

Drumsticks cook quickly in the air fryer while staying juicy inside and crisp outside. Barbecue sauce adds smoky-sweet flavor with minimal effort. Ideal for busy evenings when dinner needs to be simple. Cleanup stays light thanks to one appliance doing all the work.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Drumsticks

Best BBQ Chicken Pizza

Four slices of pizza on a table.
Best BBQ Chicken Pizza. Photo credit: Call Me PMc.

Barbecue sauce takes the place of traditional tomato sauce for a fun twist on pizza night. Melted cheese, tender chicken, and onions create a sweet-savory combination everyone loves. Great option for using leftover chicken. Easy enough for weeknights yet satisfying enough for weekends.
Get the Recipe: Best BBQ Chicken Pizza

BBQ Chicken Flatbread Pizza

Grilled chicken flatbread pizzas on a marble countertop.
BBQ Chicken Flatbread Pizza. Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

Flatbread becomes the perfect base for a quick, hearty meal topped with barbecue sauce, chicken, cheese, and onions. Bakes up fast with a crisp edge and soft center. Great choice when pizza cravings hit but time is short. Works well with leftover chicken or rotisserie meat.
Get the Recipe: BBQ Chicken Flatbread Pizza

Instant Pot Shredded BBQ Chicken

A pulled shredded chicken  sandwich in barbecue sauce on a golden bun, shown close-up.
Instant Pot Shredded BBQ Chicken. Photo credit: Trop Rockin.

Pressure cooking turns chicken breasts tender in minutes while infusing deep barbecue flavor. Apple cider vinegar and spices add tangy and smoky notes. Perfect for sandwiches, sliders, or topping rice bowls. One-pot cooking keeps prep and cleanup simple.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Shredded BBQ Chicken

Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Legs

Slow cooker bbq chicken legs in the crock pot after cooking.
Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Legs. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Drumsticks slowly cook until fall-off-the-bone tender in a rich barbecue sauce. Flavor develops over hours, making the meal deeply savory and satisfying. Ideal for hands-off cooking on busy days. Pairs easily with cornbread, slaw, or mashed potatoes.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Legs

3 Ingredient Crockpot BBQ Chicken Wings

BBQ Chicken Wings cooked with a 3-ingredient crockpot recipe.
3 Ingredient Crockpot BBQ Chicken Wings. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

Only three ingredients come together to create wings full of barbecue flavor with almost no effort. Slow cooking keeps the meat juicy and tender. Great idea for parties, potlucks, or easy family dinners. Minimal prep means more time to relax while the meal cooks on its own.
Get the Recipe: 3 Ingredient Crockpot BBQ Chicken Wings

A woman with shoulder-length blonde hair, wearing a white T-shirt and dark jeans, stands in a kitchen with a brick backsplash and stainless steel appliances. She is smiling and resting her hands on the counter.

About the author

Hi, Iโ€™m Lucy! Iโ€™m a home cook, writer, food and wine fanatic, and recipe developer. Iโ€™ve created and tested hundreds of recipes so that I can bring you the best tried and true favorites.

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