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Cherry Dr Pepper BBQ Chicken

Cherry Dr Pepper BBQ chicken with a sticky, deep mahogany glaze and visible cherry pieces. Simmered soda-cherry sauce is reserved, then layered during grilling for caramelized, glossy BBQ chicken.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 520
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Chicken and glaze
  • 3 lb chicken pieces (thighs and drumsticks)
  • 1 cup BBQ sauce
  • 1 cup Dr Pepper
  • 0.5 cup cherry preserves
  • 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Fresh cherries for garnish

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Make the cherry Dr Pepper BBQ sauce
  1. Combine BBQ sauce, Dr Pepper, cherry preserves, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and garlic powder in a saucepan. Simmer over medium heat for 10 minutes, stirring, until slightly thickened and shiny.
  2. Reserve half of the sauce for serving. Let the reserved sauce sit until the chicken is nearly done so it stays pourable.
Season and grill the chicken
  1. Season chicken pieces with salt and pepper. Grill over medium heat for 20-25 minutes, turning occasionally, until the exterior starts to caramelize and the juices run clearer.
  2. Brush chicken generously with sauce in the last 10 minutes, building up layers of glaze. Grill until the glaze looks sticky and mahogany-colored, with visible cherry pieces, and the sauce clings to the chicken.
  3. Remove chicken when internal temperature reaches 165°F. Serve immediately with the reserved sauce and fresh cherries on top.

Notes

Pro tip: keep the sauce hot but not boiling while you glaze so it thickens into a smooth coating instead of scorching; if it gets too thick, loosen with a splash of Dr Pepper. Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container up to 3-4 days; freeze cooked chicken with a little sauce up to 2 months (cherries are best added fresh). Dietary swap: use a lower-sugar BBQ sauce and cherry preserves for a lighter, less sweet glaze.