How to Barbecue Chicken With a Gas Grill

Wash raw chicken pieces before grilling.

Barbecue chicken on the grill has a smoky flavor and when cooked correctly, is tender but cooked through. If cooked incorrectly, chicken can become burnt or undercooked. Undercooked chicken causes illness so make sure to cook until the chicken pieces have no pink in the center. Depending on the sizes of the chicken pieces and the heat of the grill, the chicken will take from 20 to 45 minutes to cook.

Things You'll Need

• Paper towels
• 4 lbs. chicken legs, wings
• Salt and pepper
• Wire brush
• Barbecue basting brush
• Barbecue sauce
• Knife
• Tongs

Instructions

1. Rinse the chicken under cool water and pat dry with paper towels. Season with salt and pepper.

2. Clean the grill with a wire brush. Turn on the gas grill to medium-high heat,

3. Place the chicken on the grill and cook with the grill lid open for 20 minutes. Turn the chicken a few times.

4. Brush barbecue sauce over the chicken. Flip the chicken over and brush the sauce on both sides. Adding the sauce earlier causes the chicken to burn because of the sugar content in the barbecue sauce. If the pieces start to burn, move to the outside of the grill and continue cooking.

5. Check the pieces to see if they are done after 30 minutes. Cut into the middle of the chicken. If no pink appears and the juices run clear, the chicken is done. Remove from the grill and turn off the heat.

Tips & Warnings

• Eating raw chicken is dangerous. Chicken should be cooked to an internal temperature of 170 degrees.

• Use caution around the open flame of a gas grill.

References

• Grilling Companion: Barbecue Chicken on a Gas Grill
• Serious Eats: Grilling Barbecue Chicken