Backyard Barbecue Chicken Recipes

CITRUS BBQ CHICKEN

Steps:

• Put the chicken in a large resealable plastic bag.
• Whisk the ketchup, brown sugar, orange zest and juice, lemon zest and juice, garlic, Dijon, Worcestershire sauce, cumin, smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon salt, and a few grinds of black pepper together in a 4-cup liquid measuring cup (or alternatively a medium bowl) until combined.
• Remove 1 cup of the sauce and add the remaining sauce to the resealable plastic bag with the chicken. Seal and toss the bag to evenly coat the chicken. Marinate the chicken in the refrigerator for 1 hour and up to overnight.
• Meanwhile, add the remaining sauce to a small saucepan. Bring the sauce to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to low and simmer until the sauce thickens, about 10 minutes. Reserve reduced sauce for glazing and serving.
• Prepare a grill for medium-high heat.
• Remove the chicken from the marinade and allow any excess marinade to drip off. Arrange the chicken skin-side down on the grill, leaving some space between each. Cook until deep grill marks form and releases easily from the grill, about 4 minutes. Flip the chicken skin-side up. Cover the grill and cook until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of each thigh reads 165 degrees F, 20 to 25 minutes more.
• Brush the skin side of the chicken with some of the reduced sauce. Flip the chicken pieces and brush the other side of the chicken with the sauce and continue to cook, sauce-side down, for an additional minute. Flip and grill for 1 minute more. Transfer the chicken to a platter and let rest for 5 minutes.
• Serve the chicken with the remainder of the sauce.

BACKYARD BARBECUED CHICKEN WITH HOMEMADE BBQ SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat a grill to medium-low, and brush the grate with oil.
• Season both sides of the chicken legs with salt and pepper. Place the chicken on the grill, skin side down, and cook, adjusting the chicken's position and turning the pieces occasionally, until it appears to be about halfway cooked, about 15 minutes. Then use a basting brush to brush the chicken legs with the barbecue sauce, and continue to cook, turning the pieces frequently and reapplying barbecue sauce each time the chicken is turned, until it is cooked through and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part registers 160 to 165 degrees, 15 to 20 minutes. Serve the chicken hot or warm.

DEEP IN THE HEART OF TEXAS BACKYARD BARBEQUE CHICKEN

Steps:

• Make sure the whole chicken is rinsed under running water. Cut chicken into quarters, brush with vegetable oil and season with salt, pepper, thyme, and pepper flakes on both sides. Set aside.
• A clean grill is a happy grill. Make sure old ashes are discarded and grates are brushed clean. Add wood charcoal and ignite. When charcoal has burned to white ash, add chicken quarters skin side down. The process now is to render as much grease from the skin without burning the skin or causing the grease to flare-up on the fire and burn the skin. Take your time and be attentive to what is on the grill.
• At this point, add water soaked hickory chips (a small handful at a time) to the edge of the fire. This will start the smoking process. Seal in the smoke with a lid or the top of the grill. Remember to keep an eye on the chicken and turn when skin is rendered about 8 to 10 minutes. If the smoke dies down, add another handful of hickory chips.
• Grill and smoke chicken for about 15 additional minutes making sure the meat is cooking evenly on both sides. Then begin basting each piece of chicken with barbeque sauce. Don't be afraid to swipe on the barbeque sauce heavy and keep turning each piece to prevent burning in 1 area of the grill.
• Remove barbequed chicken from grill to a platter and serve family style with bowls of Country Greens-Cornbread Pan Stuffing and Peach-Jalapeno Chutney. You may find 1 whole chicken is just not enough to satisfy "A Big Texas Appetite."
• To prepare the collard greens, pick through the greens, discarding any large stems and brown or yellow leaves. Wash thoroughly to remove all grit. With a knife, cut the greens into bite-sized pieces.
• Place the ham hock, onion, chiles and pepper in a large pot over medium-high heat and add enough stock to cover by 1-inch. Bring to a boil. Then reduce the heat to medium-low, cover and simmer for 45 minutes.
• Add the greens in 4 batches, stirring each batch down until wilted and submerged in the liquid. If needed, add more stock to keep the greens covered by 1-inch. Increase the heat, to medium and simmer, 40 to 60 minutes. The length of cooking time depends on the age of the greens; the older the greens, the longer it takes to tenderize them. The liquid (potlikker) should be reduced by 3/4. Remove the ham hock, pull the meat from bones and cut into medium dice. Add back to greens. Remove onion, chop fine and add back to greens. Season with pepper vinegar. Combine with the cornbread and keep warm!
• Cornbread:
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
• Grease a 10-inch cast iron skillet and place in oven.
• Combine cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add milk, eggs and butter. Stir with a few rapid strokes until dry ingredients are just moistened.
• Pour batter into hot pan. Place in the oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until edges are light brown and bread is firm. Remove from oven and let cool. With a knife cut cornbread into 1-inch dice.;
• Peel and pit all peaches. Medium dice 3 peaches, place in a bowl and set aside.
• Puree the remaining peaches in a blender. Pour mixture into a medium saucepan with ginger, sugar, cinnamon, and lemon juice. Bring pan to medium heat and reduce mixture, stirring occasionally, until thick for about 5 to 6 minutes. Pour diced peaches into saucepan and cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 minutes or until mixture is hot. Remove and set aside.