About
This one's for the kids and all who are kids at heart! Everyone wants Fun-Times Barbecue Chicken at the party. Not only is the meat so perfectly tender, but the sweet, sweet sauce it's coated in is infused with your favorite kind of cola to really bring the flavor. Doesn't it sound like a blast?! Well, get ready to let the good times roll with Fun-Times Barbecue Chicken!
Ingredients
- For the barbecue sauce:
- 3/4 cup ketchup
- 2/3 cup cola, such as Dr Pepper®, Coca-Cola®, or root beer
- 1/2 cup honey
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- For the chicken:
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 (3–4-pound) whole chicken, bone-in and skin-on, room temperature and spatchcocked
Directions
Step 1 -In a saucepan over medium heat, add the ketchup, the cola, the honey, the minced garlic, the apple cider vinegar, the Dijon mustard, the Worcestershire sauce, the onion powder, 1/2 teaspoon of the paprika, and 1/4 teaspoon of the pepper and whisk until it is well-combined. Bring the sauce mixture to a boil.
Step 2 -Reduce the heat to low heat and cook the sauce, stirring occasionally, until it thickens, about 30 minutes-1 hour.
Step 3 -Transfer the saucepan from the heat and let the sauce sit at room temperature until it is cool. Reserve 1/4 of the sauce for serving.
Step 4 -Preheat the grill to high heat.
Step 5 -In a large bowl, add the brown sugar, the remaining paprika, the garlic powder, the salt, and the remaining pepper and stir to combine.
Step 6 -Place the chicken on a cutting board and evenly sprinkle 1/3 of the seasoning mixture on the underside of the chicken.
Step 7 -Flip the chicken skin-side up and evenly rub 1/2 of the seasoning mixture all over the skin, then evenly sprinkle the remaining seasoning mixture under the skin, along the breasts and the thighs.
Step 8 -Turn off the center burner on the grill and reduce the side burners to medium heat. This helps stabilize the heat between 350-400 degrees F. Adjust the temperature of the side burners, as needed.
Step 9 -Place the seasoned chicken in the center of the grill skin-side up, close the lid, and cook, about 40 minutes.
Step 10 -Uncover the lid and evenly brush the top of the chicken with about 1/3 the remaining barbecue sauce. Cook the chicken, brushing it 2 more times with the remaining sauce, until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F in its thickest part, about 10-20 minutes.
Step 11 -Transfer the chicken to a large cutting board and let it rest, about 15-20 minutes.
Step 12 -Slice the chicken and serve with the reserved barbecue sauce.
