Grilled Roadside Whole Chicken Recipes

THE BEST GRILLED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Prepare a grill for medium indirect heat: For gas grills (with 3 or more burners), turn all the burners to medium-high heat; after about 15 minutes turn off one of the middle burners and turn the remaining burners down to medium. For charcoal grills, bank one chimney starter-full of lit and ashed-over charcoal briquettes to one side of the grill. Set up a drip pan on the other side to avoid flare-ups (see Cook's Note).
• To spatchcock the chicken, use strong kitchen scissors or poultry shears to cut down both sides of the backbone. Pull out the backbone, turn the chicken over and press down firmly on the breast to flatten it out to one thickness. Set aside at room temperature (see Cook's Note).
• Combine the butter, parsley, chives, garlic, shallot, lemon zest, 2 teaspoons salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a medium bowl.
• Starting at the neck, gently slide your fingers under the skin of the chicken to loosen it from the breast meat. Continue to slide you hand down and loosen the skin around the legs, taking care not to tear it. Rub all but 1 tablespoon of the butter mixture under the skin, spreading it all the way down to the legs. Rub the outside of the chicken with the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter.
• Place the chicken skin-side up on the indirect-heat area of the grill with the legs facing the hotter side. Cover the grill (the lids vents should be partially open) and cook until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the thigh (avoiding the bone) measures 150 to 160 degrees F (almost cooked through), about 50 minutes.
• Transfer the chicken to the direct-heat area of the grill. After 2 minutes, flip the chicken to char and crisp up the skin side, another 3 to 4 minutes. Check that the temperature in the thigh is now at least 165 degrees F when not touching bone. If not, move the chicken back to the indirect area, skin-side up, cover and cook until the final temperature of 165 degrees F is reached.
• Remove the chicken from the grill to a cutting board; let rest 20 minutes before carving.

GRILLED ROADSIDE CHICKEN WITH KNOB ONIONS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, mix together all the marinade ingredients.
• Heat one side of a bass grill to medium. If you have a grill with charcoal, let it burn until the charcoal is covered with white ash and about medium hot.
• While the grill is heating remove the giblets (if there are any) from the cavity of the chicken. Flip the chicken onto its breast. using poultry shears, cut down both sides of the backbone from tail to neck; discard backbone (or sometimes I save to make homemade stock!).
• Open the bird onto your work surface, breast side up. Make sure that the legs returned inward. Using your fist or mallet, wallop the bird on the breast, hard enough to dislodge the bones and flatten out the breast. (Reserve a little to baste with while cooking.
• Smear both slides of the chicken with the marinade. Lay over indirect heat on the grill. Cook, basting from time to time with remaining marinade until the juices run clear when a thigh is pierced deeply with a fork. If cooking on a gas grill, it will take about 45 minutes, if only a charcoal grill more like 1 hour 15 minutes - 1 hour 30 minutes, depending on size of chicken.
• About 10 minutes before the chicken is ready, put the knob onions on the grill, turning frequently until softened and browned.

MY FAVORITE GRILLED CHICKEN EVER

Steps:

• Combine vinegar, water, butter, Worcestershire sauce, garlic salt, pepper, sugar, and minced garlic in a pot. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat and let marinade cool to room temperature, at least 30 minutes.
• Place chicken in a resealable zip-top bag. Pour marinade over chicken, seal, and marinate, 8 hours to overnight.
• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat and lightly oil the grate. Transfer chicken pieces to the grill, shaking off excess marinade; discard remaining marinade.
• Grill chicken until no longer pink in the center, 30 to 45 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted near the bone should read 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).