🍉đźĄđźŤ— Watermelon Mango Salsa Chicken features tender, juicy, grilled barbecue chicken with a fresh, sweet watermelon mango mint salsa. Fast, easy, and full of so much flavor, this is the perfect option for backyard barbecues or weeknight dinners!
Grilled Watermelon Mango Salsa Chicken
Chicken on the grill is a favorite of ours because it’s tender, so juicy, and full of flavor from the grill. Topped with this fresh mango watermelon salsa, it’s easy to get excited about this chicken dinner!
- It’s easy, healthy, and there’s zero cleanup.
- The dish is ready in 15 minutes, and you don’t have to heat your house up. Plus, I’m sure you have everything on hand in your pantry to get started on the chicken marinade.
- The watermelon salsa that tops the chicken is music to my watermelon and mango-loving self’s ears. I have a Strawberry Mint and a Peach Mango Salsa recipe that are other favorites if you want a little variety.
This BBQ chicken with mango salsa is fantastic on its own, but I love pairing it with tortilla chips to scoop up any leftover salsa. Then, wash everything down with a homemade margarita.
Ingredients You’ll Need
To make the watermelon mango salsa chicken, you’ll need the following simple ingredients:
- BBQ sauce: I use Trader Joe’s organic brown sugar BBQ, but any brand will work
- Honey
- Olive oil
- Apple cider vinegar
- Sriracha (optional)
- Garlic
- Chicken breast tenders: As a shortcut, I used chicken breast tenders — sometimes called breast cutlets or medallions. Their smaller size makes for faster grilling times and much more even cooking. You can also use juicy chicken thighs if preferred
- Watermelon mango salsa: Watermelon, mango, fresh mint, lime juice, and jalapeño pepper. If you aren’t a fan of jalapeño, feel free to omit them. Or, include extra ingredients like black beans, red onion, avocado
Note: Scroll down to the recipe card section of the post for the ingredients with amounts included and for more complete directions.
How to Make BBQ Watermelon Mango Salsa Chicken
- Combine the barbecue sauce, honey, olive oil, and apple cider vinegar in a large zip-top bag.
- Add the chicken, toss to coat each piece with the marinade, and marinate in the fridge. I prefer to let my chicken marinade overnight for the best taste and texture, but you can get away with an hour.
- Grill the chicken on an outdoor grill or an indoor grill pan on the stovetop over medium heat, flipping halfway through. You’ll know it’s done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165F when measured with a meat thermometer!
- Combine all the salsa ingredients in a bowl while the chicken cooks, and chill the mixture in the fridge. Note: Because the salt causes the watermelon and mango to release their natural juices, I don’t recommend making this salsa too far in advance, maybe 4 hours in advance max
- Spoon the salsa over the grilled chicken, and enjoy warm served in tacos, over white rice, or cauliflower rice!
Grilled Chicken With Watermelon Mango Mint Salsa
Equipment
- 1 Grill
Ingredients
Chicken
- ½ cup your favorite barbecue sauce (I use this one
- ½ cup honey
- 2 to 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 to 3 tablespoons lemon juice or apple cider vinegar
- 1 to 3 tablespoons sriracha, optional and to taste for a spicier result
- 2 to 4 cloves garlic, finely minced or pressed
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
- about 1.25 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts tenders
Salsa
- 2 cups watermelon, diced small
- 1 cup mango, diced small (fresh is best but frozen can be substituted)
- 2 to 4 tablespoons fresh mint, finely minced or to taste
- 2 to 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 1 or 2 jalapeno peppers finely minced with seeds removed, optional and to taste
- 1 to 2 teaspoons honey, or to taste
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste if desired
Instructions
For the Chicken:
- To a large ziptop plastic bag, add all ingredients, seal bag, and squish the contents around so chicken is evenly coated.
- Place bag in the fridge to marinate for at least 1 hour (overnight is great if you can plan ahead).
- Preheat an outdoor grill to medium-high heat (or indoor grill pan) and grill the chicken for about 7 minutes, or until done; flip intermittently to ensure even cooking.
- Garnish with the salsa and serve immediately.
For the Salsa:
- To a large bowl, add all ingredients, stir to combine, taste and add additional salt, lime juice, mint, etc. if desired. Cover and chill until ready to serve. *
- Chicken adapted from Honey Barbecue Grilled Chicken
Notes
- *Note that the salt will cause the watermelon and mango to release their juices so I don’t recommend making this salsa too far in advance, maybe 4 hours in advance max.
- Chicken is best fresh but will keep airtight in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Extra salsa will keep airtight in the fridge for up to 5 days, noting it will continue to become more watery and juicy as time passes.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
©averiecooks.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.
The Best 35 Grilling Recipes 📖🔥 – Unlock the full potential of your grill with my ebook! From juicy steaks to flavorful veggies, this cookbook is your guide to mastering outdoor cooking. With expert tips and mouthwatering recipes, elevate your grilling game and create unforgettable meals every time.
More Easy Chicken Recipes:
15 Chicken Dinners Ready in 15 Minutes – Easy dinners that are ready in a flash and perfect for busy weeknights! Delish, healthy, and guaranteed to please your toughest dinner critics!
Sweet Chili Grilled Chicken – Tender, juicy, and full of flavor from the sweet chili sauce! Easy, healthy, ready in 10 minutes, zero cleanup, perfect for backyard barbecues or easy weeknight dinners!
Spicy Garlic Grilled Chicken – An EASY homemade marinade made with everyday ingredients that produces super FLAVORFUL, juicy chicken! If you’re looking for a NEW marinade to jazz up grilled chicken, this is the one!
Peach Chili Grilled Chicken – Tender, juicy, and full of flavor from the sweet peach preserves and chili garlic sauce! The perfect contrast! Easy, healthy, ready in 10 minutes, zero cleanup, perfect for backyard barbecues or easy weeknight dinners!
Foil Pack Barbecue Chicken – Ready in 15 minutes and such an easy way to enjoy barbecue chicken on the grill! A delish and healthy meal made in a foil pack with zero cleanup!
Grilled Honey Mustard Chicken Kabobs – Juicy chicken and crisp vegetables coated in a sweet-and-tangy sauce! Great for parties or easy weeknight dinners! Everything tastes better grilled!