Chicken with Plum Sauce and Grilled Plums
This easy Grilled Chicken with Plum Sauce is a delicious way to celebrate late summer’s bounty. The plum sauce is sweet, tart, and sticky, and perfect for brushing over juicy, indirect-grilled chicken. Add grilled plums for a smoky-sweet finish you won’t forget.
This was the second recipe I ever shared back in 2014. It was long overdue for an update, and I couldn’t wait for the plums to ripen so I could remake it. When the weather heats up, we grill just about everything. This summer, we’ve barely cooked inside at all.
What you Need
- Chicken: Use whatever you have; breasts and thighs are both perfect.
- Plums: Large plums or prunes will both work.
- Salt and Pepper: Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper to season.
- Olive Oil: Just for grilling.
For the Sauce
- Plum Jam: You can often locate plum jam in the international foods section of better grocery stores, in the European section.
- Red Wine Vinegar: This provides the acidity needed to counterbalance the sweetness of the jam and create a well-balanced sauce.
- Garlic: Grate the garlic on a microplane. About four large cloves of garlic.
- Onion: Finely chop or grate the onion.
- Ginger: Ginger gives the sauce a distinct Asian flair.
- Brown Sugar: Light or dark brown sugar, we like the flavor of dark brown sugar
- Salt and Pepper: Kosher salt and freshly grated black pepper.
How to Make it
For the Sauce
Grate onion, garlic and ginger into a small saucepan with plum jam.
Add the remaining ingredients to the pan. Bring to a simmer under medium heat.
Stir often until bubbly (approximately 20 minutes) or until sauce is fairly thickened (resembling barbeque sauce). Set the sauce aside. ** Can be done up to 3 days ahead and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Brush the cut side of the plums with plum sauce and set aside.
Brown chicken over high heat on the grill. Once browned, remove to the side of the grill that has no flame, leaving the other side on. Try to maintain a grill temperature of about 350°F. Depending on the size of your chicken pieces, they should take about 45 minutes to one hour (for thighs, less for breasts) to reach an internal temperature of 165°F.
During the last 10 to 15 minutes, baste the chicken with the plum sauce. Lastly, grill the plum over direct heat for 3-4 minutes, until it is soft and develops grill marks.
You can use any cut of chicken that you like, even a whole chicken would be great with the sauce! It is a bit tart and a bit sweet! Just the way we like our Barbecue Sauce.
What to do With Leftovers
Store leftovers in an airtight container or storage bag for 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
The chicken freezes well. This is a perfect meal prep recipe. Make a big batch, freeze it in airtight containers or freezer bags for up to 4 months. Freeze it in quantities suitable for feeding the family for one meal.
Make sandwiches or salads with the leftover chicken. To reheat the chicken, cover it and grill or bake for 15-20 minutes until warmed through.
What to Serve it With
Serve this delicious, fresh summer meal with rice or grilled potatoes, fresh corn on the cob, or green beans, and garnish it with the grilled plums.
If you love quick and easy dinners with minimum cleanup, like this grilled plum chicken, check out this Sheet Pan Orange Chicken. One pan and 30 minutes, and you have a complete meal!
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This Chicken with Plum Sauce and Grilled Plums is a perfect, easy summer meal. Pair it with fresh vegetables and rice pilaf, and you’ll have a satisfying dinner the whole family will enjoy.
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Enjoy. And have fun cooking!
Chicken with Plum Sauce and Grilled Plums
Ingredients
- 4 large chicken breasts or thighs bone-in or boneless
- 4 Large Plums halved
- Olive Oil
- 1 teaspoon salt and pepper to taste
For the Plum Sauce
- 1 cup Plum Jam
- 1½ Tablespoons Red Wine Vinegar
- 1½ Tablespoons garlic grated
- 1½ Tablespoons Onion grated
- 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
- 1½ Tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients for sauce in a small saucepan. Cook on low heat until bubbly and thick. Brush the plums on cuts side with sauce, and set aside.
- Pound chicken breasts to achieve even thickness.
- Brush the grill with olive oil and grill chicken breasts for approximately 4 minutes on each side until you have achieved nice grill marks.
- Move to the other side of the grill. Let the chicken indirect grill until it reaches 165° F (Approximately 45 minutes, depending on the thickness). Remove the chicken and let it rest. While the chicken is resting, grill the plums for approximately two minutes on each side to get nice grill marks.
- Serve with rice pilaf and your choice of vegetables. Serve with extra sauce spooned on top.
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Nutrition
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Originally Published September 12, 2014 Updated June 28, 2025
- Recipe Name: Chicken with Plum Sauce and Grilled Plums
- Type: Main Course
- Main Ingredients: Chicken breasts, plums, plum jam, garlic, onion, ginger
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Servings: 4
- Cuisine: American
- Cooking Method: Grilling (direct and indirect)
- Special Notes: Sauce can be made up to 3 days ahead; great with any cut of chicken
Can this plum sauce be frozen? Sounds delicious.
Sure freezing the plum sauce shouldn’t affect it. I hope you enjoy Renee!
Plums are so good right now, I love them with pork and sure will with chicken, can’t wait to try grillin’ them! Yum!
They are so good grilled! It makes them nice and juicy and warm! Thanks Patty!
I bet this sauce tastes amazing! What a yummy addition to chicken. I bet it would be great for a crowd.
It’s so easy, it would be perfect for a crowd! Thanks so much Julie!