Ultimate Bbq Chicken

Total Time: 3 hrs 10 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 3 hrs

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons onion salt
• 1 tablespoon seasoning salt
• 1 tablespoon garlic salt
• 2 tablespoons paprika
• 1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons lemon pepper
• 1 tablespoon dried sage
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary, crumbled
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne
• 1/2 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon onion salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons celery seeds
• 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
• 1 teaspoon finely ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne
• 2 cups tomato ketchup
• 1/4 cup vinegar, more to taste
• 2 tablespoons prepared yellow mustard
• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon liquid smoke (optional)
• 7 -8 lbs bone in chicken parts
• 1 cup apple juice, for basting

Recipe

• 1 for the spice rub- mix all ingredients in a bowl.
• 2 store in an airtight container.
• 3 for the sauce- put all ingredients in a saucepan, bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar (keep a screen handy- it spits).
• 4 reduce the heat and simmer for about 25 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• 5 let cool, store in the refrigerator in a tight-lidded jar for months.
• 6 bbq chicken- rinse the chicken and pat it dry.
• 7 sprinkle on the rub generously.
• 8 get your bbq (gas or charcoal) very hot.
• 9 if you have some hickory chips or apple chips, feel free to add them.
• 10 when the grill is ready, put the chicken, skin side up, on the grill: if you have a charcoal grill push all your coals to one side and put the chicken on the other side.
• 11 if you have a gas grill turn off one side and put the chicken on that side.
• 12 you don't want the chicken over direct heat.
• 13 put the lid on the grill and cook the chicken for about 30 minutes, maintaining an internal temperature of 230- 250 degrees by adjusting the vents (opening the vents lets in oxygen and raises the temperature).
• 14 if your grill doesn't have a thermometer, use an oven thermometer to monitor the heat.
• 15 after 30 minutes, baste the chicken with apple juice.
• 16 continue to cook and baste until the chicken is done, about 3 hours.
• 17 at first, the chicken will appear that it isn't cooking at all, and you will be tempted to crank up the heat.
• 18 don't!
• 19 trust me- just keep going.
• 20 you will think nothing is happening and wonder if this recipe is wrong, wrong, wrong.
• 21 just let it go- it will cook.
• 22 baste every half hour or so with more apple juice.
• 23 check for doneness at 2 1/2 hours.
• 24 when it is done, baste each piece with the sauce and let it cook a few more minutes to let the sauce adhere to the chicken.
• 25 serve with more of the sauce, lots of napkins, some beer, and prepare for applause.
• 26 note: i was once hungry for this chicken in january (brrrr!) and with 2 feet of snow, didn't feel like trudging out to the grill.
• 27 i made it in the oven and it turned out great.
• 28 just keep the oven temperature on 250 degrees, put the chicken on a cookie rack set over top of a sheet pan covered in aluminum foil.