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    Home » Kitchen Laughter Recipes Blog » Poultry » Chicken

    Grilled Chicken with Pico de Gallo

    Published: Apr 3, 2021 · Modified: Feb 2, 2023 by Jason C · This post may contain affiliate links ·

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    Grilled Chicken with Pico de Gallo will quickly become your favorite way to BBQ chicken quarters. This recipe is so yummy to make for friends and family for a cookout. 

    fork holding a bit of chicken and pico over the sheet pan with BBQ chicken quarters.
    Grilled Chicken Quarters with Pico de Gallo
    Contents hide
    1 🍽️ Why This Recipe Works
    2 🐔 Ingredients
    3 📝 Instructions
    4 🍴Substitutions
    5 💡 Recipe Tips
    6 👨‍🍳 Recipe FAQs
    7 Grilled Chicken with Pico De Gallo

    This is a super easy chicken to grill and takes no special skills or effort, and the end result is impressive! We all need a recipe or two like that in our back pocket. 

    So, now picture it: You and your friends with a big bowl of chips and Pico de Gallo. The sun is hot on your shoulders, you can smell grass just being cut and the “click, click, click” sound of the neighbor’s sprinklers screams summer BBQ! The grill is heating up, the music is playing in the background and all is well this weekend. Sit back and enjoy some great grilled chicken and enjoy your friends and the sun!

    🍽️ Why This Recipe Works

    • A satisfying meal for any occasion.
    • Five minutes of prep time.
    • Only three ingredients are needed.
    • Frugal dinner option.
    • Easy!
    • Impressive for feeding guests.

    🐔 Ingredients

    ingredient photo showing the grilled chicken quarters, the jar of BBQ dry rub and the fresh pico de gallo with labels.
    Just Three Ingredients!

    Chicken Quarters | Any old part of the chicken will do, but something about grilling the chicken quarter at a BBQ just screams FUN! It gives enough surface area to hold a generous scoop of the pico.

    BBQ Rub | I used BBQ Bros. Carolina Rub, but use any variety you have at home. I think this had a great balance of heat that complemented the pico.

    📝 Instructions 

    First and foremost, you need to make the Pico de Gallo from Cookie and Kate! It is hands down the best Pico de Gallo out there. We taste tested a few, but our family loves this one so much that we swore to stop trying other ones out and just stick with this. It is a 5 star, A+++ recipe.

    Make sure to make the Pico but be prepared that you’ll want to eat it before it will go on the chicken.  Just make sure that you save about two cups for the chicken! Because it is not our recipe, I don’t list the ingredient amounts, but you’ll need Roma tomatoes, jalapeño, onion, lime juice, cilantro and sea salt. 

    The BBQ Bros Carolina Rub on the chicken provides a little bit of heat that you will complement it with the mild sweetness of the Pico de Gallo. Eating the chicken with just the rub alone is always going to be a great experience, but adding the Pico at the end is like putting whipped icing and sprinkles on a cupcake! (And we ALL need a little of that!)

    process photos showing rubbing the chicken with a dry rub, grilling and then topping with fresh pico.
    Super Simple Instructions

    Step One: Prepare the pico the night before, if you can. The flavors really come together after about 12-24 hours in the refrigerator. We have made and served it immediately, but it definitely adds flavor when we wait. 

    Step Two: Heat up the grill to 350 degrees on direct heat. Read this article on how to make the perfect grilled chicken leg quarters with all the tips and tricks that will make this a masterpiece! 

    Step Three: Toss the chicken with the rub and place it on the grill. 

    Tip: Use a Ziploc bag to toss the chicken and the rub.  It provides the best coverage by far!  I used a glass bowl and tongs for this recipe, but a lot of rub was left on the bottom of the bowl.  My wife reminded me to use a Ziploc next time.

    Step Four: Turn the chicken over after 10-12 minutes and cook until the temperature reaches 165 degrees. 

    Step Five: Once the chicken comes off the grill, pour two cups of Pico and serve. 

    The cool, refreshing Pico is an awesome complement to the mildly spicy BBQ rub.  It pairs extremely well!

    🍴Substitutions

    There is always room to add or change up a recipe to make it your own and add variety to a couple of simple recipes that you love. 

    Avocado Dressing – This is so yummy that I want to lick the spoon every time I make it! Check out the dressing to add to the chicken after it comes off the grill. 

    BBQ Rub – Use our all time favorite BBQ Rub from our Beer Can Chicken in place of the BBQ Bros for a sweeter option. 

    Fresh Mango Salsa – This one is a sweet and spicy mix that will compliment your spicy chicken! 

    Salsa Verde – Using these four options, you can change up the chicken even more times! Salsa Verde is not just green salsa, according to Bon Appetit. Whether you choose the Chimichuri, Avocado Salsa, Sauce Verde or Pesto, you are going to be greeted with new recipes simply by changing the topping. 

    💡 Recipe Tips

    The biggest meal prep idea for this recipe needs to be the Pico! Since the flavor is so much more robust the second day, you are cutting the taste short by not preparing this ahead of time. 

    This chicken is great in the freezer and for lunch meal prep! I made lunches for Jason’s work using this recipe and it worked out great. I did separate the pico from the chicken and he added that after he warmed up the chicken. 

    If you are going to freeze this one:  Use quart or gallon size freezer Ziploc bags. Making sure that they are sealed up tight, the chicken can be frozen for about two months. Simply thaw the night before in the refrigerator. 

    BBQ chicken quarters on a sheet pan with fresh pico on top and the BBQ rub in a jar.
    Simple and Tasty BBQ Dinner!

    👨‍🍳 Recipe FAQs

    Do I have to add pico de gallo to the chicken?

    No, it’s not required to add the pico de gallo, but it’s incredible when you do! It’s completely up to you, but the pico adds some extra flavor that goes so well with the chicken.

    What temperature does chicken need cooked to?

    The chicken needs to be cooked to 165 degrees F. When checking the temperature, remove the chicken from the grill and use an instant-read thermometer.

    Related Recipes 

    • Honey Mustard Glazed Bacon Wrapped Chicken Bites
    • Grilled Beer Can Chicken
    • Grilled Huli Huli Chicken
    • Grilled Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs

    Tried this recipe? Please leave a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page. You can also stay in touch with me through social media by following me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook!

    grilled chicken quarters on the big green egg over a photo of pico covered chicken

    Grilled Chicken with Pico De Gallo

    Make delicious grilled chicken leg quarters with a refreshing Pico De Gallo topping. The perfect dinner for your BBQ today!
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    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 45 minutes
    Total Time: 50 minutes
    Servings: 4 people
    Calories: 316kcal
    Author: Jason

    Ingredients

    • 4 Chicken Quarters
    • ½ cup BBQ Bros Rubs
    • 2 cups Pico de Gallo

    Instructions

    Prepare the Pico De Gallo

    • Follow the directions from Cookie and Kate (https://cookieandkate.com/classic-pico-de-gallo-recipe/) to make the Pico.
    • If possible, let the pico sit overnight in the refrigerator. It really adds more flavor to it

    Prepare the Grill

    • Heat the grill to 350 degrees using direct heat.
    • Get the grill set to a nice, steady temperature before adding the chicken.

    Prepare the Chicken and Rub

    • While the grill is coming up to temperature, combine the chicken and rub in a bowl or gallon Ziploc bag (preferred) and toss to fully cover.

    Grill the Chicken and Serve

    • Add the chicken quarters to the grill
    • After 10-12 minutes, turn them over
    • When the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees, remove them from the grill.
    • Once the chicken comes off the grill, add on the Pico de Gallo on top of the chicken before serving.

    Notes

    Pico Recipe: The pico that we always make is the one from Cookie and Kate! We think this is the best one out there and don’t plan to create a version of our own. This Pico is best made the day before but can be done the same day, in a pinch. Once you try it, you will see how we decided to stick with this winner. It is just incredible!
    Meal Prep: The biggest meal prep idea for this recipe needs to be the Pico! Since the flavor is so much more robust the second day, you are cutting the taste short by not preparing this ahead of time.
    Rub Coverage: Use a Ziploc bag to toss the chicken and the rub.  It provides the best coverage by far!  I used a glass bowl and tongs for this recipe, but a lot of rub was left on the bottom of the bowl.  My wife reminded me to use a Ziploc next time.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1Leg Quarter | Calories: 316kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 142mg | Sodium: 111mg | Potassium: 296mg | Vitamin A: 113IU | Calcium: 12mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @kitchenlaughter or tag #kitchenlaughter!
    Grilled Chicken with Pico de Gallo
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