Best 7 Barbecued Picnic Chicken Recipes

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Barbecued picnic chicken is a classic summertime dish that is both delicious and easy to prepare. Whether you are hosting a backyard barbecue or packing a lunch for a day at the park, this dish is sure to be a hit. The key to making the perfect barbecued picnic chicken is to choose the right chicken parts and to use a flavorful marinade. Bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts or thighs are the best choices for barbecuing, as they will stay moist and juicy during cooking. A simple marinade made with olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and herbs will help to infuse the chicken with flavor. Once the chicken is marinated, it can be cooked over a charcoal or gas grill, or even in a smoker.

Here are our top 7 tried and tested recipes!

BARBECUED PICNIC CHICKEN



Barbecued Picnic Chicken image

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

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 1h

Yield 8 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 11

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

Steps:

  • In a large saucepan, saute garlic in butter until tender. Add the next 8 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.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 296 calories, Fat 14g fat (4g saturated fat), Cholesterol 79mg cholesterol, Sodium 761mg sodium, Carbohydrate 18g carbohydrate (12g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 25g protein.

ZESTY & SWEET BARBECUED PICNIC CHICKEN



Zesty & Sweet Barbecued Picnic Chicken image

This is a wonderful grilled chicken recipe submitted by Priscilla Weaver in the Taste of Home's Grilling Recipe Collection cookbook. This chicken is so moist and juicy and the sauce is a great combination of zesty and sweet!

Provided by Dine Dish

Categories     Whole Chicken

Time 1h15m

Yield 8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 11

2 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons butter or 2 teaspoons margarine
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, quartered

Steps:

  • In a saucepan saute the garlic in butter until tender.
  • Add the next eight ingredients.
  • Bring to a boil, stirring constantly.
  • Remove from the heat and set aside.
  • Grill the chicken, covered, over medium heat for 30 minutes, turning occasionally.
  • Baste with sauce.
  • Grill 15 minutes longer or until a meat thermometer reads 170 degrees for breast meat quarters or 180 degrees for leg quarters, basting and turning several times.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 575, Fat 36.3, SaturatedFat 10.7, Cholesterol 175.6, Sodium 765.8, Carbohydrate 16.9, Fiber 0.5, Sugar 14.1, Protein 43.9

PICNIC FRIED CHICKEN



Picnic Fried Chicken image

Provided by Jeff Mauro, host of Sandwich King

Categories     main-dish

Time 3h10m

Yield 8 pieces

Number Of Ingredients 15

2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/3 cup honey
Kosher salt
1/2 cup Chicago-style giardiniera, drained well and chopped (reserve drained brine for chicken)
1/4 cup giardiniera brine reserved from Honey Giardiniera Butter
1/4 cup dill pickle brine from a jar of dill pickles
1 fryer chicken, cut into pieces (thighs, breasts, legs and wings)
2 cups buttermilk
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup cornstarch
1 tablespoon paprika
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Canola oil, for frying

Steps:

  • For the honey giardiniera butter: Add the butter, honey and salt to taste to a bowl and mix until smooth. Stir in the giardiniera until well blended. Refrigerate until ready to use.
  • For the chicken: Add the chicken thighs, reserved giardiniera brine and pickle brine to a plastic zip-top bag and refrigerate overnight or for at least 2 hours.
  • When ready to fry the chicken, fill a Dutch oven halfway full with oil and heat to 350°F.
  • Set up a dredging station: Pour the buttermilk into a large bowl and in a separate large bowl, stir together the flour, cornstarch, paprika, salt, pepper and cayenne until well combined. Use your tongs to drizzle some of the buttermilk mixture into the flour mixture.
  • Remove 1 or 2 pieces of the chicken from the brine at a time and submerge in the buttermilk. Add 1 piece of the buttermilk-soaked chicken at a time into the flour mixture and turn to completely coat the chicken. Transfer to a plate and repeat until all the remaining chicken is well coated.
  • Add the chicken to the hot oil in batches, 2 or 3 pieces at a time, and cook until brown and crispy, 12 to 15 minutes. Transfer the cooked chicken to a wire rack on a baking sheet to drain. Serve immediately with the giardiniera butter or let cool and store on a wire-rack on a sheet pan, lightly covered, in the fridge overnight. Serve at the picnic at room temp. Served with softened honey giardiniera butter.

GRILLED PICNIC CHICKEN



Grilled Picnic Chicken image

This tasty chicken marinates overnight. The next day, I just pop it on the grill for dinner in no time. -Cindy DeRoos, Iroquois, Ontario

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 45m

Yield 12 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 8

1-1/2 cups white vinegar
3/4 cup canola oil
6 tablespoons water
4-1/2 teaspoons salt
1-1/2 teaspoons poultry seasoning
3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
3/4 teaspoon pepper
3 broiler/fryer chickens (3 to 4 pounds each), quartered or cut up

Steps:

  • In a bowl, combine the first 7 ingredients. Remove 1 cup for basting; cover and refrigerate. Pour remaining marinade into a large shallow dish; add chicken. Turn chicken to coat; refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight, turning once or twice., Drain chicken, discarding marinade in bag. Grill chicken, uncovered, over medium heat for 15 minutes on each side. Baste with the reserved marinade. , Grill 10-20 minutes longer or until the juices run clear, turning and basting several times.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 522 calories, Fat 34g fat (8g saturated fat), Cholesterol 157mg cholesterol, Sodium 725mg sodium, Carbohydrate 0 carbohydrate (0 sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 50g protein.

PICNIC CHICKEN



Picnic Chicken image

This is from Cooks Illustrated and is touted as great barbecued chicken to serve cold, like on a picnic, without skin that turns rubbery.

Provided by KathyP53

Categories     Lunch/Snacks

Time 6h35m

Yield 8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 7

5 lbs roasting chickens (cut up, bone-in, skin on, trimmed of excess fat and skin)
2 tablespoons kosher salt
3 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 tablespoons sweet paprika
2 teaspoons ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

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.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 427.3, Fat 29.6, SaturatedFat 8.4, Cholesterol 133.7, Sodium 1904.2, Carbohydrate 7.4, Fiber 1.4, Sugar 5.3, Protein 32

EASY BARBEQUE CHICKEN



Easy Barbeque Chicken image

This recipe was passed down to me from my Italian grandmother.

Provided by ANNELIZABETH

Categories     Meat and Poultry Recipes     Chicken     Whole Chicken Recipes

Time 1h40m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 7

1 cup lemon juice
¼ cup vegetable oil
¼ cup vinegar
1 tablespoon dried oregano
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 whole chicken, cut into pieces
salt and pepper to taste

Steps:

  • In a large glass bowl mix lemon juice, vegetable oil, vinegar, oregano, and garlic powder. Place chicken pieces in the bowl, and season with salt and pepper. Cover, and marinate in the refrigerator at least 1 hour.
  • Preheat an outdoor grill for high heat, and lightly oil grate.
  • On the prepared grill, cook chicken until no longer pink and juices run clear. Periodically brush chicken with the remaining marinade mixture while cooking. Discard any leftover marinade.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 584.1 calories, Carbohydrate 4.7 g, Cholesterol 170.3 mg, Fat 43.4 g, Fiber 0.6 g, Protein 42.6 g, SaturatedFat 11.2 g, Sodium 159.7 mg, Sugar 1.2 g

CHICKEN-BACON PRESSED PICNIC SANDWICHES



Chicken-Bacon Pressed Picnic Sandwiches image

The sweet and tangy combination of raspberry preserves with horseradish mustard is uniquely delicious. Swipe any leftover chicken in the sauce when nobody is looking if you love that sweet/savory combination as much as I do!

Provided by Rebekah Rose Hills

Categories     Chicken Sandwiches

Time 8h15m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 7

¼ cup raspberry preserves
3 tablespoons horseradish mustard, or to taste
1 (1 pound) loaf bread
6 ounces Louis Rich Deli Thin Rstd Chicken Breast
6 thick slices cooked bacon
2 slices Havarti cheese
4 leaves romaine lettuce, chopped

Steps:

  • Combine raspberry preserves and horseradish mustard in a bowl and whisk or stir until evenly blended. Reserve a little sauce for serving.
  • Slice loaf of bread in half. Slather the bottom half generously with remaining sauce. Layer the chicken, bacon, cheese (cut slices to fit as needed), and lettuce over the sauce layer, then top with remaining bread half.
  • Wrap sandwich in plastic wrap and place on a baking sheet. Place a second baking sheet on top and add books (or something that has some weight to it) to press the sandwich. Transfer to the refrigerator until flavors have melded, 8 hours to overnight.
  • When ready to serve, unwrap sandwich and slice into 4 pieces. Serve with additional sauce.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 798.2 calories, Carbohydrate 74.8 g, Cholesterol 102 mg, Fat 36.5 g, Fiber 3.7 g, Protein 40.9 g, SaturatedFat 12.9 g, Sodium 2849.6 mg, Sugar 18.6 g

Tips:

  • Prep: Before cooking, ensure the grill grates are clean and oiled to prevent the chicken from sticking.
  • Choose the Right Chicken: Select whole chicken that is plump and has a slightly moist surface (not wet or slimy), indicating its freshness.
  • Remove Extra Fat: Prior to cooking, remove excess fat from the chicken cavity and truss the chicken to help it retain its shape.
  • Use Brine or Marinade: Consider using a brine or marinade to flavor and tenderize the chicken, enhancing its taste.
  • Create an Indirect Heat Zone: Set up two heat zones on your grill – direct heat for searing and indirect heat for cooking the chicken thoroughly without burning it.
  • Monitor the Temperature: Use a meat thermometer to keep an eye on the chicken's internal temperature and ensure it reaches 165°F (74°C) in the thickest part of the thigh.
  • Baste Consistently: Baste the chicken with marinade, sauce, or melted butter during cooking to keep it moist and enhance flavor.
  • Let it Rest: After cooking, allow the chicken to rest for 10-15 minutes before carving to redistribute its juices, resulting in juicier meat.

Conclusion:

Barbecued picnic chicken is a classic dish that brings people together. Following the tips mentioned above will help you achieve perfectly cooked, juicy, and flavorful chicken that will be the star of your next picnic or backyard gathering. Don't be afraid to experiment with different marinades, sauces, and side dishes to create a unique and memorable culinary experience for your friends and family.

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