Lexington Style Grilled Chicken Recipe

If you are looking for an alternative to ham to serve for your Easter meal, add a touch of Carolina-style barbecue to your spread with this chicken recipe. It's also a great go-to recipe for summer cookouts that will please any crowd.

Lexington-Style Grilled Chicken
The inspiration for the marinade on this grilled chicken comes from Carolina-style barbecue sauce, which is a spicy, vinegar-based sauce. Be sure to marinate at least 2 hours or as long as overnight to get the most flavor from the marinade for your Easter.
Active Time:
15 mins
Total Time:
2 hrs 55 mins
Yield:
8 to 10 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 cup cider vinegar

  • 1/4 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar

  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil

  • 3 tablespoons dried crushed red pepper

  • 4 teaspoons salt

  • 2 teaspoons pepper

  • 2 (2 1/2- to 3-pound) cut-up whole chickens*

Directions

  1. Stir together first 6 ingredients until blended.

  2. Place half each of vinegar mixture and chicken in a large zip-top plastic freezer bag; seal. Repeat procedure with remaining vinegar mixture and chicken, placing in a separate zip-top plastic freezer bag. Chill chicken at least 2 hours or up to 8 hours, turning occasionally.

  3. Remove chicken from marinade, discarding marinade.

  4. Grill chicken, covered with grill lid, over medium-high heat (350° to 400°) 35 to 40 minutes or until done, turning occasionally.*8 skinned and boned chicken breast halves and 8 skinned and boned chicken thighs may be substituted for whole chickens. Chill in marinade at least 1 to 2 hours, turning occasionally. Grill chicken, covered with grill lid, over medium-high heat (350° to 400°) 4 to 5 minutes on each side or until done.

Related Articles