Do you have a best friend? Well, call him (or her) and tell them, sorry, but you have a new best friend. That would be me. You new best friend. As my new best friend, you might want to know ...my likes - chocolate, cats, and the color pink...dislikes - okra, lima beans, and National Geographic Wildlife Shows (not all the shows, but the ones where the innocent, frolicking, little antelope gets killed by totally unremorseful lion, and since you never know when they are going to spring that on you, I avoid them all).
Why am I your new best friend? Well, I am introducing you to the best barbecued chicken recipe in the whole world, that's why. I'm not kidding. I don't make these statements lightly. This is seriously the best barbecued chicken recipe ever. And I am not just saying that because it's Tyler's and because there is always the possibility that he may feel the need to come thank me. In person.
You begin by brining the chicken. A step I usually skip. Never again. It makes the chicken so flavorful and moist. It really complements the sauce, so it becomes almost one flavor the chicken and the barbecue sauce as opposed to chicken...and sauce. And speaking of sauces. What can I say about a sauce that has you begin by wrapping bacon around thyme? I repeat, bacon around thyme. The sauce was amazing, rich and thick, and sweet and smokey and everything you want a barbecue sauce to be.
The Ultimate Barbecued Chicken
from Tyler's Ultimate: Brilliant Simple Food to Make Any Time
Brine:
2 quarts water
2 tablespoons kosher salt
¼ cup brown sugar
2 garlic cloves, smashed with the side of a large knife
4 sprigs fresh thyme
6 chicken legs and thighs, still connected, bone in, skin on, about 10 ounces each
The Ultimate Barbecue Sauce:
1 slice bacon
1 bunch fresh thyme
Extra-virgin olive oil
½ onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, chopped
2 cups ketchup
¼ cup brown sugar
¼ cup molasses
2 tablespoons red or white wine vinegar
1 tablespoon dry mustard
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon paprika or smoked paprika if available
Freshly ground black pepper
For the brine, in a mixing bowl combine the water, salt, sugar, garlic, and thyme. Transfer the brine to a 2-gallon sized re-sealable plastic bag. Add the chicken, close the bag and refrigerate 2 hours (if you've only got 15 minutes, that's fine) to allow the salt and seasonings to penetrate the chicken.
Meanwhile, make the sauce. Wrap the bacon around the bunch of thyme and tie with kitchen twine so you have a nice bundle. Heat about 2 tablespoons of oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the thyme and cook slowly 3 to 4 minutes to render the bacon fat and give the sauce a nice smoky taste. Add the onion and garlic and cook slowly without coloring for 5 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients, give the sauce a stir, and turn the heat down to low. Cook slowly for 20 minutes to meld the flavors. Once the sauce is done cooking, remove about 1 ½ cups of the sauce and reserve for serving along side the chicken at the table. The rest of the barbecue sauce will be used for basing the legs.
Preheat oven 375 degrees F.
Preheat a grill pan or an outdoor gas or charcoal barbecue to a medium heat. Take a few paper towels and fold them several times to make a thick square. Blot a small amount of oil on the paper towel and carefully and quickly wipe the hot grates of the grill to make a nonstick surface. Take the chicken out of the brine, pat it dry on paper towels. Arrange the chicken pieces on the preheated grill and cook, turn once mid-way, and cook for a total of 10 minutes. Transfer the grill marked chicken to a cookie sheet and then place in the oven. Cook the chicken for 15 minutes, remove it from the oven and then brush liberally, coating every inch of the legs with the barbecue sauce and then return to the oven for 25 to 30 more minutes, basting the chicken for a second time half way through remaining cooking time. Serve with extra sauce.
This will be my entry for this week's Tyler Florence Fridays.
BFF,
Pam
Peter M says
My oh My...this chicken does look dang'good...the molasses perhaps? This kind of food has to been eaten with hands.
Paula says
I'm back ... just wanted to say that I made this for dinner tonight! No kidding it is the best bbq chicken ever! I used just plain old boneless chicken breasts, and the brine really made them tender and able to stay moist on the grill. I was also surprised at how the thyme flavor really came through in the marinade. That bbq sauce is terrific! It's thick and sweet and smokey and oh so good. I could see using that sauce on many things including the lowly sloppy joe. I licked the serving spoon when I was done! YUM, YUM, YUM!
Sanghi says
This is yummmy! Looks fascinating, so perfect juicy...!
Lynnylu says
Tyler Florence has great food! Your photos are exceptional and the recipe looks like a definite keeper for me.
karen says
you're the perfect new BFF, we love all the same things. 😛 i totally agree on this chicken 100%, THE BEST. i made this with the added peach preserves, the version from tyler's ultimate. i would suggest you try adding preserves to at least half of the sauce next time, it was really amazing.
Pam says
Barbara - brining chicken is definitely the way to go.
Tins - cats and cooking are always good!
SusanD - no, I'm the number 1 chocolate fan!
Maybelle's mom - do you still have your blog, your profile is private now.
Donna - it is so good.
Joanne - if he comes and thanks me, I'll send him on to you. How about that?
Girli - it was amazing!
Pam - I suddenly have a lot of BFF's, we should have a big BFF party.
Shabby - bacon around thyme, I can't stop saying it.
Ungourmet - thank you!
Noble - it was, thank you!
Marjie - chocolate and pink and we sew and we bake bread and and.
Debbie - I'm brining all my chicken from now on.
Jenn - this should be your first thing on your new grill!
Paula - your welcome BFF!
Kim - it is amazing!
Sweetpea - sorry to make you hungry!
Jennifer - they are SOOO worth it!
Natashya - no, you thought we were working on the lima bean thing, I have made no promises.
Jenny - I know, bacon and thyme, wonderful!
Grace - try it, you'll like it!
Megan - sorry it's all gone!
Deb - thank you!
Arlene - we have so much in common!
Kristin - me too, this is my chicken.
Debinhawaii says
Gorgeous pictures! It sounds delicious and I am glad you loved it so much!
Kristin says
I totally agree, I tried this a couple weeks ago and will never make any other kind again!!
http://sogkonniteliving.blogspot.com
ARLENE says
I've bookmarked this recipe and passed it by week after week because I have a tendency to rush things on the grill (hence, burn them). I like that this starts on the grill and finishes in the oven. I'm convinced. I'm trying this one soon. I, too, love chocolate and cats and loathe lima beans and okra.
Megan says
Ok - I'll be your bff, but only if you bring the chicken!
Grace says
oh pam. that char is outstanding. if i'm not careful, i'm gonna become a major tyler florence fan. 🙂
Jenny says
Love the picture of the bacon and thyme!
I've made this chicken and I agree, it is good.
Jennifer W says
I've made these fabulous legs, they are worth all the fuss. And the sauce is something that you taste over and over while you are cooking it.
SweetPeaSurry says
That just made me super duper hungry! Now I need to go find a snack!
Kim says
A girl can never go wrong with another BFF, right?? I'm convinced that this BBQ chicken is delicious. I've been watching it circulate through the TFF site for weeks now 🙂 Your pics are great!
Paula says
You had me at cats! I'm thrilled to have a new BFF! I'll be even more thrilled to eat this chicken. After all, anything that has herbs enveloped in bacon is heavenly to me! I bet it smelled as fabulous as it tasted, too! YUM! Thanks, BFF, for the BBC in the whole world! 🙂
JennDZ - The Leftover Queen says
Oh goodness, Pam, that looks so good!!! Perfect for that grill I am gonna get soon!
girlichef says
OhmyGosh...that looks amazing. I want to tear into a piece and have that gorgeous sticky on my fingers and face...YUM!! Oh, Tyler...
Debbie says
The recipe sounds wonderful! I have never brined chicken before. Something new for me!
Joanne says
It's good to know that his self-proclaimed ultimate recipe is actually ultimate! And even though anything that may in fact induce Tyler to come and personally thank me would seem too good to be true, I trust you on its fabulousness. We are, after all, BFF.
Marjie says
You can be my best friend even if you don't tell me the secret to better chicken. We both like chocolate and pink. What else is there to say?
I'm making whole chickens tonight (yes, plural), and maybe I'll try brining those suckers.
Susan D says
This recipe looks and sounds wonderful. I've brined the turkey for Thanksgiving but never seem to have time to do chicken. I'm definitely trying this. Blessings, SusanD
Oh yeah.....#1 chocolate fan here!
noble pig says
OMG that sounds delicious and looks so good!
the ungourmet says
Wonderful Entry! These are cooked perfectly and the brine sounds amazing. If I close my eyes I can smell it on the grill right now!
shabby girl says
Dear BFF,
Bacon wrapped thyme??? I'm printing it! And the weekend is coming up; perfect for BBQ chicken!!!
Pam says
Hey, if you are my new BFF how come I wasn't invited over for dinner?
The chicken looks fantastic, I can't wait to try this recipe.
Donna-FFW says
OK, your description convinced me.. I am so trying this VERY soon, maybe for next TFF. It looks gorgeous, gorgeous gorgeous!
maybelle's mom says
great post, brining is the way to go--and I am totally with you on those shows. My husband calls them snuff films.
Tins and Treasures says
Wow...this looks fabulous!
Pretty sure I'll be making this tonight or tomorrow.
Cooking and cats...these are two of my favortie things...
Have a good day today. ~Natalie
Barbara says
I watched this show as well and printed out the recipe immediately. I'm so glad you made it first and loved it. Never have brined chicken before, but I will now. Mouth-watering photo too!!