Buttermilk Barbecue Chicken
Description
Chicken turns out super moist and flavorful on the grill after soaking in Chef John's subtly smoky, slightly sweet buttermilk marinade.
Ingredients
•
2 cups buttermilk
•
1/4 cup brown sugar
•
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
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4 cloves garlic, minced
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1 teaspoon dried thyme
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1 tablespoon ground black pepper
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1 tablespoon smoked paprika
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1 teaspoon ground cumin
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1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
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2 tablespoons kosher salt
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1 (3 pound) whole chicken
Directions
1
Whisk buttermilk, brown sugar, cider vinegar, garlic, thyme, pepper, paprika, cumin, cayenne, and salt together in a bowl.
2
Trim wing flats from the chicken. Cut along both sides of the backbone from the tail to the neck; remove backbone. Make a 1/4-inch-deep cut through the piece of cartilage in the center. Open up both sides to reveal breastbone; lift out. Cut chicken in half through the center line.
3
Place both halves in a resealable zip-top bag and pour in the buttermilk marinade. Place the bag in a bowl to catch any leaks. Press air out and seal. Marinate in the fridge for 6 to 18 hours.
4
Preheat an outdoor grill for medium heat and lightly oil the grate. Remove chicken from marinade and transfer onto a paper towel-lined plate. Blot off excess marinade.
5
Place chicken on the grill cut-side down, skin-side up; cover and cook for 20 minutes.
6
Flip chicken over and continue grilling for 7 to 10 minutes. Flip once more and grill until no longer pink in the center, about 15 minutes more. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh, near the bone, should read 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).