The sweet and smokey flavor of BBQ sauce delights many taste buds. Make getting your kids to eat their protein a bit easier by preparing a whole BBQ chicken as your main meal component. Preparation of a barbecued chicken takes little time and even less skill. Even the most inexperienced chef should be able to prepare it.
Step 1
Remove whole chicken from packaging. Complete this task over the sink to ensure that no potentially dangerous chicken liquids get onto your counter or floor.
Step 2
Rinse the bird under lukewarm running water. Run your hands across the bird, massaging its surface. Fill the cavity with water, washing away any unwanted liquids. If you notice any unplucked feather tips, remove them while completing this step. After washing the bird, clean your sink with bleach to prevent the spread of salmonella.
Step 3
Place the bird inside a clean resealable freezer bag. Select a bag that is large enough to hold the bird yet can still close without straining. If your bird is too large to use a bag, create a foil pouch, carefully crimping each side to close it.
Step 4
Pour bottled or homemade barbecue sauce over the chicken. Apply this flavorful sauce liberally to the outside of the bird. Place some inside the cavity, lightly coating the walls, to ensure full flavor absorption.
Step 5
Close the bag. Seal the bad tightly to ensure that the barbecue sauce and the chicken remain trapped inside.
Step 6
Place the bag in a dish. Select a casserole dish if your chicken is large or a smaller plate or pie pan if your chicken is small.
Step 7
Place the dish in the refrigerator. While the bag and dish should join together to prevent any possible dripping, it is still wise to place your chicken on the lowest shelf in your refrigerator, taking extra care to ensure that it does not sit above any already prepared foods or foods that are eaten raw, such as fruits and vegetables.
Step 8
Allow the bird to marinate for 12 to 24 hours.
Step 9
Remove the chicken from the bag. When doing this, take care not to splash chicken liquids or barbecue sauce on your counters as these liquids may contain contaminants. If you do, clean up the mess immediately with an antibacterial cleaner. Reserve the barbecue sauce in the bag to use for basting.
Step 10
Place chicken on the grill or in a covered baking pan.
Step 11
Follow package instructions for cooking time and temperature. The cooking time and temperature will vary, depending on the size and type of the bird as well as your cooking method. This chicken packaging will contain a detailed account of how long you must cook the bird you purchased.
Step 12
Brush additional barbecue sauce over the bird several times during the baking process. Use a basting brush and your reserved barbecue sauce to complete this basting process.
Step 13
Use the thermometer the chicken to ensure that it is done. Place your meat thermometer in the thickest part of your chicken to determine its internal temperature. Chicken is done when it reaches an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees F.
Step 14
Place the chicken on a platter to serve whole, or cut it apart to make serving easier.
Comments