Chili Beer Grilled Chicken: Flavorful Recipe with Chipotle Kick

Grilled Chicken with Chili Beer Baste

YIELD Makes 8 servings

INGREDIENTS

2 tablespoons vegetable oil 1 small onion, chopped 1 clove garlic, minced 1/2 cup ketchup 2 tablespoons brown sugar 2 teaspoons chili powder 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, minced 1 teaspoon dry mustard 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 3 bottles (12 ounces each) pilsner beer, divided 1/2 cup tomato juice 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce 1 tablespoon lemon juice 2 whole chickens (about 3-1/2 pounds each), cut up

PREPARATION:

1. To make Chili Beer Baste, heat oil in 2-quart saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and garlic; cook until onion is tender. Combine ketchup, brown sugar, chili powder, chipotle peppers, mustard, salt and pepper in medium bowl. Add 1 bottle of beer, tomato juice, Worcestershire sauce and lemon juice; whisk until well blended. Pour mixture into saucepan with onion and garlic. Bring to a simmer; cook until sauce has thickened slightly and is reduced to about 2 cups. Let cool. Refrigerate overnight.
2. Place chicken pieces in 2 large resealable food storage bags. Pour remaining 2 bottles beer over chicken in both bags; seal bags. Refrigerate 8 hours or overnight.
3. Prepare grill for direct grilling; grease grid. Remove chickens from marinade; drain and discard marinade. Place chicken leg and thigh quarters on hottest part of grid 4 to 6 inches above solid bed of coals (coals should be evenly covered with gray ashes); place breast pieces above medium-hot coals (toward edge of coals). Grill, turning occasionally, 25 to 30 minutes.
4. Remove Chili Beer Baste from refrigerator; reserve 1 cup. Brush chicken generously with basting sauce during last 10 minutes of cooking. Internal temperature should reach 170°F for breast meat and 180°F for dark meat when tested with meat thermometer. Serve chicken with warmed, reserved baste.

This recipe appears in: Chicken