Sunny’s Classic BBQ Chicken

  4.2 – 5 reviews  • Grilling
Level: Easy
Total: 11 hr
Active: 45 min
Yield: 4 to 6 servings

Ingredients

  1. 1 cup sweet tea
  2. Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  3. 4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
  4. 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  5. 1 to 2 tablespoons canola oil
  6. 1/2 cup chopped Vidalia onions
  7. Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  8. 1 cup ketchup
  9. 1/2 cup beer
  10. 1/4 cup tightly packed light brown sugar
  11. 1/2 teaspoon sweet paprika
  12. 1/2 teaspoon red chile flakes
  13. 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  14. 2 cloves garlic, finely minced or grated on a rasp

Instructions

  1. For the brine and chicken: In a medium pot on high heat, add the tea, 1/4 cup salt and 1 cup water. Cook, stirring, until the salt dissolves. Remove from the heat and let cool to room temperature.
  2. Pour the cooled brine into a large resealable plastic bag. Add the chicken thighs and breasts and refrigerate overnight.
  3. About 2 hours before grilling, remove the chicken from the bag and pat dry. Let rest on a plate in the refrigerator for 1 1/2 hours, then at room temperature for 30 minutes.
  4. For the sauce. In a medium pot over medium-high heat, heat the oil. Add the onions and saute until tender, about 4 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, then add the ketchup, beer, brown sugar, paprika, chile flakes, garlic powder and garlic. Cook, stirring, until the sauce thickens and the sugar is completely dissolved, about 10 minutes. Set aside.
  5. Preheat a grill to high heat.
  6. Salt and pepper both sides of the chicken pieces. Over the direct heat, put the chicken on the grill on what would be the skin side. Grill until the chicken easily releases and there are grill marks, 6 to 8 minutes. Flip and move the chicken to the indirect heat area of the grill and brush with the sauce. Cover and grill until cooked through, brushing with the sauce again once or twice, another 6 to 8 minutes.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 of 6 servings
Calories 392
Total Fat 11 g
Saturated Fat 2 g
Carbohydrates 24 g
Dietary Fiber 1 g
Sugar 18 g
Protein 47 g
Cholesterol 187 mg
Sodium 810 mg

Reviews

Kimberly Brown
Replying to Dee: The alcohol content is cooked out and what’s left is the flavor. If you prefer, try non-alcoholic beer. Beer braised Italian sausage is so tender and delicious, I only make it that way. The same goes for food made with wine.
Paula Thomas
I love your recipes, but why do you have to include alcohol in everything?  So many people have lost their lives because of alcohol and you glamorize it so much.  almost too much, but otherwise your recipes are truly unique and delicious.  Thanks

 

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