Sweet ‘n Tangy BBQ Chicken
Whether you have a favorite family BBQ chicken recipe or you’re forever searching for “just that right one,” I invite you to try mine. After tinkering for quite awhile, I finally created a BBQ sauce with just enough “sweet ‘n heat” to satisfy. Combined with my sister Ronnie’s trick of partially cooking in the oven, followed by adding the sauce and completing the cooking on the grill, in my mind produces BBQ chicken perfection! See if you agree.
Ingredients
- Olive oil spray I like the Misto!
- 6 chicken drumsticks
- 6 chicken thighs
- Kosher salt or other coarse salt
- Coarse pepper
- Garlic powder
- Paprika
- Oil for grilling not extra-virgin
- About 1 cup Sweet ‘n Tangy BBQ Sauce
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly coat a large baking pan with olive oil spray. (Line pan with foil and spray for easier clean-up.) Place chicken on pan. Sprinkle both sides of chicken with salt, pepper, garlic powder and paprika as desired. (Or try McCormick’s Perfect Pinch Rotisserie Chicken Seasoning.) Bake chicken for 20 minutes, uncovered.
- Prepare grill for direct-medium heat; lightly oil rack. Grill chicken for about 10 minutes. Brush chicken all over with BBQ sauce. Turn chicken for even cooking, brushing with additional BBQ.
- Grill for approximately 10 minutes longer or until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F and sauce has caramelized the skin. Transfer chicken to a serving platter. Allow chicken to rest for 10 minutes to bring up to temperature.
Notes
Make Ahead and Storage Tips: chicken may be seasoned up to 1 day before cooking. Cover and refrigerate. Cooked chicken may be stored for 2 days; cover and refrigerate. Serve cold or reheat covered at 325 degrees F for about 10 minutes or until heated through. Cooked chicken may also be frozen for up to 4 months.
Partially cooking chicken before adding the BBQ sauce prevents grilling flare-ups. I learned this trick from my sister Ronnie who is a fantastic cook. Chicken that has been marinated in a BBQ sauce with higher sugar content can easily burn on the grill. Starting the cooking process in the oven and adding your BBQ sauce during the second half of grilling, produces more evenly cooked chicken with succulent meat and a delightfully crispy skin. Try it!
Have leftovers? Try my delicious BBQ Chicken Pizza!
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