This recipe for BBQ Chicken with Peach Salsa is the perfect way to celebrate Labor Day and the end of the summer season. The best part is that you get all of the flavors of traditional barbecue, but it’s completely AIP-friendly and nightshade-free!
I’m excited every time August rolls around because it’s “peach season” around here. Peaches provide a sense of nostalgia for me. We had a peach tree in our backyard when I was growing up. So every August we had a lot of ripe, juicy peaches at our fingertips. In fact, one of my favorite childhood memories is when my dad used to take us (the kids) to the beach and make us a special treat at the end of the afternoon: “sangria” made of chopped fresh peaches soaked in white wine.
Of course, these days, you’d probably have someone calling Social Services on us. But back in the 80s, no one blinked an eye, and we were just a group of kids innocently enjoying the freshest and juiciest of fruits. No, we never got drunk or tipsy (it was just a little bit of wine, after all), and it’s still one of my favorite summertime memories today. While I don’t drink wine or any kind of cocktails anymore (can we say “migraines,” everyone?), I still enjoy the taste and texture of peaches. They’ll forever remind me of my dad and my childhood: sun-drenched afternoons at the beach and those wonderful, lazy days of summertime fun.
So when it came time to develop another AIP-friendly and nightshade-free salsa recipe, peaches seemed like the perfect tomato substitute!
Of course, the key to the flavor in this recipe for BBQ Chicken with Peach Salsa is the barbecue flavored seasoning. Truthfully, I’m not a big poultry or meat eater (I force myself to eat this way because it keeps inflammation down in my body), so I’m always looking for ways to “mask” or add flavor to meat and poultry dishes. In other words, I have to trick myself into liking these foods.
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Fortunately, I’ve discovered Paleo on the Go’s AIP-friendly Sweet & Smoky BBQ Rub, and it provides the delicious barbecue flavor for this BBQ Chicken with Peach Salsa recipe (for both the chicken and the salsa components). Actually, this rub is the perfect way to dress up any poultry or meat dish. It also adds a punch of flavor to vegan sides (like this peach salsa). Translation: this rub is versatile, and you can use it for pretty much any food to which you’d like to add a touch of “sweet” or “smoky.”
So here are my recipes for nightshade-free BBQ Chicken with Peach Salsa (separated into two individual recipes). Not only is this dish delicious, healthy, and easy to make, but it’s also Paleo and AIP friendly!
I hope you enjoy it!

- Pastured bone-in chicken thighs, drumsticks, and/or leg quarters (we leave the skin on)
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Sweet & Smoky BBQ Rub (to taste)
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Brush chicken with extra virgin olive oil (optional, but recommended).
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Season chicken generously with Sweet & Smoky BBQ Rub.
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On a preheated grill, cook chicken on low to medium heat for about 20 minutes, flipping intermittently, until internal temperature of chicken reaches 165 degrees F.
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Remove from heat and let rest 5-10 minutes.
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Serve with AIP-friendly BBQ peach salsa (recipe below).

(gluten-free, grain-free, nightshade-free, dairy-free, vegan)
- 2 yellow peaches, finely chopped
- 2 Tbsp onion, finely chopped
- 1 Tbsp fresh basil, finely chopped
- Fresh squeezed lime juice (about 1 medium lime)
- 1-2 Tbsp Sweet & Smoky BBQ Rub (to taste)
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Mix chopped peaches, onion, and basil in a medium bowl.
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Squeeze lime juice over the mix and toss thoroughly.
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Season with Sweet & Smoky BBQ Rub and toss again.
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Keep chilled until ready to serve.
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Serve as a condiment to grilled chicken or main course of your choosing.
To learn more about Paleo on the Go healthy meal delivery, check out my full review here.
And for another refreshing AIP-friendly salsa recipe, check out my Cucumber Apple Salsa.
Note to my readers: I originally labeled this recipe as Whole30-friendly. However, the BBQ rub contains coconut sugar, so this recipe is not actually Whole30 compliant (oops!). Sorry for any confusion!
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