How to Make Chef John's Barbecue Chicken - A Step-by-Step Guide

There's nothing quite like the juicy, smoky flavor of barbecue chicken hot off the grill. And when it comes to mastering the art of barbecue, Chef John has got it down to a science. His recipe for barbecue chicken is a surefire crowd-pleaser, with its perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and spicy flavors that will have your taste buds singing.

Using a combination of spices, herbs, and a homemade barbecue sauce, Chef John's barbecue chicken is a labor of love that is well worth the effort...

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Ingredients

  • 1 whole chicken, cut into halves
  • ¼ cup rice vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons barbecue sauce
  • 2 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • ½ cup barbecue sauce, or as needed

Information

  • Prep Time: 20 mins
  • Cook Time: 40 mins
  • Additional Time: 1 hr
  • Total Time: 2 hrs
  • Servings: 6

  • Cut 1/2-inch deep slashes in the skin-side of each chicken half: two cuts in each breast, two in each thigh, and one in each leg. Remove wing tips.
  • Whisk vinegar, 2 tablespoons barbecue sauce, and garlic together in a large bowl. Place chicken in the bowl and turn to coat. Arrange chicken halves in the bottom of the bowl with the cut sides down; cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.
  • Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat and lightly oil the grate.
  • Remove chicken from the bowl and pat dry with paper towels; discard any remaining marinade. Place chicken halves, skin-side up, on a plate and season with salt, pepper, paprika, onion powder, and cayenne pepper.
  • Cook chicken, skin-side down, on the preheated grill until grill marks appear, 3 to 4 minutes. Turn chicken over, close the grill lid, and cook, basting with remaining barbecue sauce every 6 minutes, until no longer pink at the bone and the juices run clear, about 35 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh, near the bone should read 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).
  • Nutrition

    464 cal.

    • Total Fat: 24g
    • Saturated Fat: 7g
    • Cholesterol: 149mg
    • Sodium: 1583mg
    • Total Carbohydrate: 11g
    • Dietary Fiber: 1g
    • Total Sugars: 7g
    • Protein: 48g
    • Vitamin C: 1mg
    • Calcium: 34mg
    • Iron: 3mg
    • Potassium: 396mg