Why You’ll Love this Drive-By Chicken
Even before you fire up the grill, you’ll find yourself falling in love with this Drive-By Chicken recipe.
It’s that perfect blend of quick-casual and restaurant-quality that makes weeknight cooking feel like a win, not a chore.
The simple spice blend brings punchy flavor without endless measuring. Just season, grill, brush with that bourbon barbecue sauce, and you’re done. No marinating required.
What’s not to love? The thin chicken breasts cook evenly in minutes, the Cajun kick delivers just enough heat, and the versatility means you can sandwich it or serve it straight up.
What Ingredients are in Drive-By Chicken?
Drive-By Chicken brings street food flavor right to your backyard with a simple but powerful list of ingredients. This recipe doesn’t demand a fully-stocked spice cabinet or a special trip to some fancy grocery store—just a handful of pantry staples and fresh chicken. The magic happens when these straightforward ingredients come together on the grill, creating that perfect balance of smoky, spicy, and slightly sweet flavors.
- 4 thinly sliced chicken breasts
- 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper
- 1 1/2 teaspoons cajun seasoning
- 2 tablespoons of bourbon barbecue sauce
- Hamburger buns (optional, for serving)
When shopping for this recipe, quality matters in a few key areas. Look for chicken breasts that are either pre-sliced thin or slice them yourself—the thinness helps them cook quickly and evenly. For the bourbon barbecue sauce, you can certainly make your own if you’re feeling ambitious, but a good store-bought version works perfectly fine. And while not listed in the base recipe, don’t forget to reflect on your favorite condiments for serving—some tangy pickles, crisp lettuce, or even a dollop of mayo can take this from great to absolutely crave-worthy.
How to Make this Drive-By Chicken
Making Drive-By Chicken might be the easiest path to flavor town you’ll ever take. Start by combining your spice blend in a small bowl—that’s 1½ teaspoons garlic powder, 1½ teaspoons black pepper, and 1½ teaspoons cajun seasoning. This simple mix creates that signature street food flavor without requiring a culinary degree. Give it a good stir to make sure everything’s evenly distributed.
Now for the fun part: seasoning and grilling those 4 thinly sliced chicken breasts. Sprinkle your spice blend generously on one side of the chicken, then place them seasoned-side down on a preheated grill. While the first side gets all sizzly and gorgeous (about 5 minutes), season the exposed side with your remaining spice blend.
Then flip those beauties over and let them finish cooking for another 5 minutes. The thin cut of the chicken breasts is key here—they cook quickly and evenly without drying out, which is pretty much the holy grail of chicken grilling, right?
The final touch that transforms this from regular grilled chicken to Drive-By Chicken is that bourbon barbecue sauce. Once your chicken is fully cooked, brush about 2 tablespoons of sauce over each piece. The heat from the freshly grilled chicken helps the sauce get all glossy and caramelized without burning.
You can serve these saucy delights on hamburger buns with your favorite toppings for a sandwich experience, or simply plate them alongside your preferred sides for a more fork-and-knife situation. Either way, you’re looking at about 15 minutes from spice bowl to dinner table, which might make this the most efficient path to deliciousness in your recipe arsenal. For the ultimate outdoor cooking setup, consider investing in a smoker grill combo that lets you achieve both direct and indirect heat cooking methods for versatile results.
Drive-By Chicken Substitutions and Variations
While the basic recipe creates a fantastic foundation, let’s talk about how flexible this Drive-By Chicken can actually be.
Don’t have Cajun seasoning? Try a mix of paprika, oregano, and cayenne for similar heat. Chicken breasts can be swapped for thighs—they’re juicier and more forgiving if you’re worried about overcooking.
The bourbon barbecue sauce can become any sauce you prefer.
Think Korean gochujang for spice lovers or a honey-mustard glaze for something milder.
Want to make it lighter? Skip the bun and serve over greens with sliced avocado.
What to Serve with Drive-By Chicken
So you’ve mastered the art of grilling that perfectly seasoned Drive-By Chicken—now what?
Let’s talk sides that’ll take your street food experience to the next level.
I’m partial to classic coleslaw—that creamy, crunchy contrast works magic against the spicy cajun notes.
Crispy potato wedges or sweet potato fries make perfect dipping companions for that bourbon barbecue sauce.
For something lighter, a simple corn salad with lime and cilantro keeps things fresh.
And don’t forget the pickles! Those tangy bites cut through the richness wonderfully.
Water? Sure. But an ice-cold lemonade or craft beer, my friends—that’s the move.
Final Thoughts
Drive-By Chicken has become my go-to recipe whenever I need something quick, flavorful, and guaranteed to please a crowd. There’s something magical about the combination of those simple spices with that bourbon barbecue sauce that transforms ordinary chicken into something truly special.
What I love most? The versatility. Serve it on a bun, alongside some grilled veggies, or even sliced over a salad. Can’t beat that five-minute cooking time per side, can you?
