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Cherry Dr Pepper BBQ Chicken

Cherry Dr Pepper BBQ Chicken is sticky, mahogany-glazed chicken made by simmering Dr Pepper with cherry preserves and then grilling until lacquered. Finish with reserved sauce for a glossy sheen and scatter fresh cherries as a bright garnish.
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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: 780
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Cherry Dr Pepper BBQ glaze
  • 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
Chicken
  • 3 lb chicken pieces (thighs and drumsticks)

Equipment

  • 1 saucepan
  • 1 grill

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 and stir to mix. Simmer over medium heat for 10 minutes until slightly thickened, then visually check that it coats the spoon.
  2. Reserve half of the simmered sauce for serving. Pour the reserved portion into a separate heat-safe container while the remaining sauce stays warm for glazing.
Season and grill the chicken
  1. Season chicken pieces with salt and pepper, then place on a grill over medium heat. Grill for 20-25 minutes, turning occasionally, until the surface is browning and the chicken releases easily from the grates.
  2. Brush chicken generously with the reserved glaze during the last 10 minutes and build up layers as it caramelizes. Continue glazing until the coating looks glossy and deep mahogany.
  3. Remove chicken when the thickest piece reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. Serve immediately with the remaining reserved sauce and top with fresh cherries for garnish.

Notes

For the deepest mahogany color, keep the grill at true medium heat and glaze only during the final 10 minutes so the sugars don’t burn early. Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container up to 3-4 days; reheat gently in a covered pan until hot. Freezing is not recommended because the cherry preserves can lose some texture. Dietary swap: use a sugar-free or reduced-sugar BBQ sauce to lower added sugar while keeping the soda-cherry flavor.