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Barbecue Chicken

Course dinner, Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine American

Ingredients
  

For the Barbecue Sauce

  • 1 3/4 cups ketchup
  • 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons water
  • 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
  • 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon white vinegar
  • 1/4 cup plus 1 1/2 teaspoon brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp plus 1 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tbsp chile powder
  • 1 tbsp ground cumin
  • 1 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 1/2 tsp coarse black pepper

For the Dish

  • 1 whole chicken that has been halved.
  • salt water for brining over night
  • a neutral oil like vegetable or canola for brushing
  • salt and pepper
  • prepared bbq sauce

Instructions
 

For the Barbecue Sauce

  • Combine all of the ingredients in a saucepan and warm gently over medium heat, stirring occasionally. There is no need to bring the mixture to a boil, as the idea is just to warm it enough to melt and integrate the ingredients. Once you have done that, remove from the heat and let cool. Transfer to a jar, bottle, squeeze bottle, or however you want to store it. Store in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.

For the Chicken

  • You don't have to brine but I do like to because it makes a juicier chicken and the salt water adds salt to the inside of the chicken. Place the halved chicken (instructions in the post on how to half a chicken) into the brine just enough to cover in a plastic container or bag and place in the refrigerator over night.
  • When ready to grill, prepare your gas grill or charcoal grill. Remove the chicken from the brine and pat dry. When dry, coat the chicken with a neutral oil like vegetable or canola and salt and pepper the chicken.
  • If you are using a gas grill, place the chicken skin side up on the side that there is no direct heat. I don't place on direct heat to prevent it from charring too fast. If using a charcoal grill, move the charcoals to one side and place the chicken on the opposite side.
  • When the chicken starts to brown, I start to add barbecue sauce to top and bottom. Continue to cook, brushing with bbq sauce every 15 minutes until the internal temperature reads 165-170 degrees. Hope you enjoy!
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