Barbecued Picnic Chicken

Name: Barbecued Picnic Chicken
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 60 min
Yield: 8 servings.
Ingredients: 2 garlic cloves, minced; 2 teaspoons butter; 1 cup ketchup; 1/4 cup packed brown sugar; 1/4 cup chili sauce; 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce; 1 tablespoon celery seed; 1 tablespoon prepared mustard; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 2 dashes hot pepper sauce; 2 broiler/fryer chickens (3-1/2 to 4 pounds each), cut up

I like to serve this savory chicken at family picnics. Cooked on a covered grill, the poultry stays so tender and juicy. Everyone loves the zesty, slightly sweet homemade barbecue sauce—and it's so easy to make. —Priscilla Weaver, Hagerstown, Maryland

Ingredients

2 garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoons butter
1 cup ketchup
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup chili sauce
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon celery seed
1 tablespoon prepared mustard
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 dashes hot pepper sauce
2 broiler/fryer chickens (3-1/2 to 4 pounds each), cut up

Directions

In a large saucepan, saute garlic in butter until tender. Add the next eight ingredients. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat; set aside.
On a lightly greased grill rack, grill chicken, covered, over medium heat for 30 minutes, turning occasionally. Baste with sauce. Grill 15 minutes longer or until a thermometer reaches 170°, basting and turning several times.

Test Kitchen Tips

This sauce is best when made a day or two in advance, giving the flavors time to come together.

If you don't have chili sauce on hand, you can use 1/4 cup extra ketchup or 1/4 cup cocktail sauce.

Try this cool-guy move if you don't have a basting brush: Tie a few sprigs of rosemary or another hearty herb together with twine, then baste with it.

Nutrition Facts

3 ounces cooked chicken: 296 calories, 14g fat (4g saturated fat), 79mg cholesterol, 761mg sodium, 18g carbohydrate (12g sugars, 1g fiber), 25g protein.

Originally published as Barbecued Picnic Chicken in Taste of Home August/September 1998

Reviews

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Average Rating:

Lois

Jun 16, 2018

I’ve been making this recipe since I first saw it in 1999 Taste of Home annual recipes cookbook. It is a family favorite as it is easy to put together and very flavorable. Works well on bbq and in oven!
ms11145

Jun 10, 2018

I don't have a grill, so I just baked in the oven. The only chicken I had were tenders. Family loved them. I put foil in a pan and placed the chicken tenders on the foil. I spread sauce over them and baked. Clean up was a breeze. Just tossed the foil.
chris

Jun 6, 2018

made this tonight on chicken thighs was perfect used sirracha chili sauce ( we like hot) came out perfect tenderwill make again and again made in oven thanks!!
migz

Jun 5, 2018

Gayla, we happened to make this last eve for a family get-together meal. I made as written (well I used one cut-up hen and 3lbs bone-in skin on thigh meat) and it was cooked great - some charred skin but meat stlill juicy ! I was really pleased as I wasn’t born to BBQ and have had disappointing chicken before! Also I checked temperature and was still climbing when it hit 170.We all enjoyed this! Only comment was to have additional sauce as this amount was perfect for how I basted but teen daughter would have liked a little extra to put on at table .(And normally she moans if chicken is not boneless,skinless breast!) I also appreciated this about this recipe cos sometimes I seem to have scads of sauce over with other recipes!I would encourage you to try this and hope you have same great results!!Thanks for sharing, Priscilla.
Gayla Burger

Jun 5, 2018

Is the cooking time long enough for bone-in chicken? On a medium heat, I think my chicken would be well done on the outside, and rare in the middle. Thoughts?
rllewis7

May 29, 2018

My family loved the flavors of this BBQ sauce. Just the right amount of heat!
walkerjo

May 29, 2018

Everyone enjoyed this chicken. The ladies were surprised I made the BBQ sauce from scratch. Very good.
dschultz01

Aug 11, 2017

This was a pretty good sauce. The wife didn't really care for it, but I liked it. Quick and easy to make. Used it on boneless chicken breasts.
Kelly_m14

Jul 8, 2017

I made this on an indoor grill using chicken thighs. Turned out excellent and I'll make it again for sure.
Carol

May 29, 2017

This is one of our all-time favorite BBQ chicken recipes. Have been making it since it first appeared in the magazine. It is finger-licking good.