It will soon be Memorial Day and you know what that means — Summer barbecue season is here! I love everything about grilling, eating, and casual outdoor entertaining. I especially love that our barbecue meals are a combined effort. I do a lot of the menu planning and prep work and then John mans the grill while we hang out on the deck and enjoy a cool drink. It’s a time of laughter and togetherness, and always great food! One of my favorite grilling meals is BBQ Chicken with Memphis-Style BBQ Sauce. We brine chicken leg quarters ahead of time, grill them to crisp up the skin, and then finish off cooking and basting with a tangy homemade sauce.
Grilling takes the formality out of entertaining. Everyone wants to get involved. Bobby Flay
Just in time for Memorial Day weekend, here’s my suggestion for a complete outdoor feast:
- BBQ Chicken with Memphis-Style BBQ Sauce (see recipe below)
- Fresh Herb Potato Salad
- Easy Baked Beans
- Spicy Grilled Corn
- Succotash Salad
- Rustic Cherry Tart
P.S. I love this little basting brush by Sur La Table and use it ALL the time.
P.S.S. Check out the Man Crates Guide to the Regions of BARBECUE Sauce below. And if you’re looking for a great gift idea for Father’s Day, Man Crates is really fun and unique!
Yields 4
2 hrPrep Time
1 hrCook Time
3 hrTotal Time
Save Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 quarts water
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 garlic clove, crushed
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon celery seed
- 1 teaspoon seasoned salt
- 1 cups ketchup
- 1/4 cup mustard
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1-1/2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon canola oil
Instructions
- Place chicken into a gallon-size ziplock bag. Combine all ingredients for the brine and pour into bag with chicken. Seal tightly and refrigerate for up to 2 hours (at least a minimum of 30 minutes).
- Remove chicken from bag and pat dry with paper towels, discarding the brine.
- Oil grill grates and heat to medium high. Place chicken on grill and cook about 10 minutes on each side to crisp up the skin and get nice grill marks.
- Bake chicken in a 375 degree oven to finish cooking, about 35-40 minutes or until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 170 degrees. After 20 minutes, baste all over with barbecue sauce. Baste again before the end of cooking.
- Serve with extra sauce.
- In a medium saucepan, stir together all the ingredients except the oil. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 25 minutes.
- Add 1 tablespoon canola oil and whisk until well blended.
Notes
Recipe adapted from Tyler Florence[/url] and [url href=http://www.finecooking.com/recipes/memphis_barbecue_sauce.aspx target=_blank]Fine Cooking .
I am from Memphis and I am always homesick for real BBQ. I am now stuck in Kansas City and they have no idea what real BBQ is here! This was fun to read!
Oh, Chandra! You’ve made me chuckle this morning!
Yum! I love me some BBQ!
Thanks, Victoria! It’s the best!
Oh wow. It doesn’t get much better than this! I would love some of this chicken right now 🙂
Thanks, Mandy! Have a great holiday weekend!
Dear Sheila, this sounds absolutely wonderful! A perfect summertime dish, my mouth is watering! xo, Catherine
Why, thank you so much, Catherine!