Spice Rubbed Picnic Chicken Recipes

PICNIC CHICKEN

Steps:

• Use sharp knife to make 2-3 short slashes in skin of each piece of chicken, taking care not to cut into meat. Combine salt, sugar, and spices in small bowl and mix thoroughly. Coat chicken pieces with spices, gently lifting skin to distribute spice rub underneath but leaving it attached to chicken. Transfer chicken skin side up to wire rack set over rimmed baking sheet, lightly tent with foil, and refrigerate 6-24 hours.
• Secure skin of each breast piece with 2-3 toothpicks placed near edges of skin.
• Adjust oven rack to middle position; heat oven to 425 degrees. Roast chicken until thickest part of smallest piece registers 140 degrees on instant read thermometer, 15-20 minutes. Increase oven temperature to 500 degrees and continue roasting until chicken is browned and crisp and thickest parts of breast pieces register 160 degrees, 5-8 minutes longer, removing pieces from oven and transferring to clean wire rack as they finish cooking. Continue to roast thighs and/or drumsticks, if using, until thickest part of meat registers 170-175 degrees, about 5 minutes longer. Remove from oven; transfer chicken to rack and let cool completely before refrigerating or serving.

SPICY BAKED PICNIC CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Spray a broiler pan with cooking spray.
• Whisk buttermilk, 1 teaspoon taco seasoning, and cayenne pepper together in a bowl.
• Mix remaining taco seasoning, bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, flour, onion powder, salt, and black pepper together in a separate bowl.
• Dip chicken in buttermilk mixture; coat with bread crumbs mixture. Place coated chicken in broiler pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until chicken is longer pink in the center and coating is crispy, 30 to 35 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).

SPICE-RUBBED CHICKEN

Steps:

• In small bowl, mix all rub ingredients. Fold wings of chicken across back with tips touching. Tie or skewer drumsticks to tail. Sprinkle rub inside cavity and all over outside of chicken; rub with fingers. Insert ovenproof meat, grilling or digital thermometer so tip is in thickest part of inside thigh and does not touch bone.
• Heat gas or charcoal grill for indirect cooking. For two-burner gas grill, heat one burner to medium; place chicken, breast side up, on unheated side. For one-burner gas grill, place chicken, breast side up, on grill over low heat. For charcoal grill, move medium coals to edge of firebox; place chicken, breast side up, on grill rack over drip pan.
• Cover grill; cook 2 hours to 2 hours 15 minutes, turning every 20 minutes, until thermometer reads at least 165°F and legs move easily when lifted or twisted.
• In 1-quart saucepan, mix all sauce ingredients; heat to boiling. Reduce heat; simmer uncovered 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove chicken from grill; let stand 10 minutes. Serve chicken with sauce.