Description
A simple and delicious BBQ Picnic Chicken recipe featuring perfectly grilled chicken leg quarters basted with your favorite BBQ sauce. This easy-to-follow recipe results in juicy, smoky chicken with a caramelized sauce glaze, perfect for any outdoor gathering or picnic.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 6 chicken leg quarters
BBQ Sauce
- 1 jar BBQ sauce (use your favorite brand)
Instructions
- Prepare the Grill: Place charcoal into the grill below the grates. Use lighter fluid or tumbleweeds to ignite the charcoal. Let the coals burn until they begin to turn white, indicating they are hot and ready for cooking.
- Clean and Place Chicken: Wash the chicken leg quarters thoroughly. Place them on the grill grates and generously brush with BBQ sauce. This initial saucing helps flavor the chicken right from the start.
- Grill and Baste: Grill the chicken, turning every 5 minutes to prevent burning and to ensure even cooking. At every turn, baste the chicken with more BBQ sauce to build a rich, caramelized coating.
- Check Temperature and Doneness: Continue grilling until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 175 to 180 degrees Fahrenheit. Cooking to this temperature is ideal for dark meat, as it renders fat and ensures the meat is tender and juicy.
- Serve: Remove the chicken from the grill and serve hot alongside your favorite BBQ side dishes, such as coleslaw, baked beans, or cornbread.
Notes
- Always use a meat thermometer to ensure the chicken reaches the safe internal temperature of at least 175°F for dark meat.
- Turning every 5 minutes helps prevent burning and promotes even cooking with crispy skin.
- Feel free to customize the BBQ sauce to your preferred taste – spicy, sweet, tangy, or smoky.
- Charcoal grilling imparts a delicious smoky flavor that enhances the BBQ experience.
- Let the chicken rest for a few minutes after grilling to lock in the juices before serving.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30-35 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: BBQ chicken, grilled chicken, picnic chicken, BBQ leg quarters, grilled BBQ chicken, outdoor grilling, summer cookout
