Brining chicken offers the ultimate in moistness and flavor of grilled chicken.
Ingredients
Brine and Chicken
- 2 cups water
- ¼ cup kosher (coarse) salt
- ¼ cup packed brown sugar
- 4 cans or bottles (12 oz each) beer or nonalcoholic beer, chilled
- 2 cut-up whole chickens (3 to 3 1/2 lb each)
Barbecue Rub
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon table salt
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
Directions
- In 6- to 8-quart noncorrosive (stainless steel, enamel-coated or plastic) container or stockpot, mix water, kosher salt and brown sugar, stirring until salt and sugar are dissolved. Stir in beer. Add chicken. Cover; refrigerate at least 8 hours but no longer than 24 hours.
- Line 15×10-inch pan with sides with foil. Remove chicken from brine; rinse thoroughly under cool running water and pat dry with paper towels. Discard brine.
- Place chicken in pan. Refrigerate uncovered 1 hour to dry chicken skin. Meanwhile, in small bowl, mix all rub ingredients except oil; set aside.
- Heat gas or charcoal grill for indirect cooking. Brush oil over chicken; sprinkle rub mixture over chicken. For two-burner gas grill, heat one burner to medium; place chicken on unheated side. For one-burner gas grill, place chicken on grill over low heat.
- For charcoal grill, move medium coals to edge of firebox; place chicken over drip pan. Cover grill; cook 15 minutes.
- Turn chicken over; cover grill and cook 20 to 30 minutes longer, turning occasionally, until juice of chicken is clear when thickest piece is cut to bone, 170°F for breasts; 180°F for thighs and drumsticks.