A whole chicken on the barbecue, a real showstopper: it’s so flavourful yet absolutely not difficult to make. The best way to cook a juicy chicken with a crispy skin. Trust me, you’ll want to try it!
Whole barbecue chicken
Although cooking a whole chicken on the barbecue may sound complicated, nothing could be further from the truth. It’s actually super easy! All you need to do is make a marinade with butter and herbs, coat the chicken in it, and then let the barbecue do the rest. Perfect!
The perfect temperature
For best results, keep the barbecue at 175 degrees Celsius / 347 degrees Fahrenheit. This will ensure the chicken is nice and tender and juicy, so keep a close eye on the temperature.
Next, measure the internal temperature, which is the temperature of the meat in the middle of the chicken. If it’s between 75 and 80 degrees Celsius / 167 and 176 degrees Fahrenheit, the chicken is cooked through and nice and tender. Handy tip: You can use a meat thermometer to do this. Some thermometers have an alarm that goes off when the desired core temperature is reached. In the meantime, you can enjoy your meal while the barbecue does the work.
How long does it take for the chicken to cook? About 45 minutes. If you don’t have a thermometer, you can use this time as a guide.
Making a whole chicken on the barbecue
The secret to this incredibly delicious whole chicken on the barbecue is the mega-flavourful marinade. Incidentally, it’s very easy to make. It’s simply a mixture of butter, fresh herbs and spices such as garlic powder, onion powder, thyme and paprika. Because the marinade is butter-based, it’s easy to spread over the chicken, ensuring it turns out deliciously tender and crispy.
The combination of herbs gives the chicken a warm, spicy and fresh taste. Is your mouth watering yet? 😉
The tastiest BBQ chicken
For me, this is one of the best ways to cook chicken on the barbecue. The marinade gives the chicken its flavour, so it’s best to prepare it slowly and give it time. Then you can be sure that you’ll end up with delicious, juicy chicken that’s absolutely packed with flavour!
The perfect side dishes
The next question is what to serve with it. I have some delicious suggestions. Baked potatoes and a fresh salad are always a great choice. These side dishes are also delicious with a whole chicken on the barbecue:
- Cucumber salad is a refreshing side dish.
- Macaroni salad, easy and a very comforting side dish.
- Garlic butter, as a spread is always a good idea!
- Potato salad is my personal favorite BBQ side dish.
Ingredients
- 200 gram butter (at room temperature.)
- 1 bunch chives (fresh, finely chopped)
- 1 bunch parsley (fresh, finely chopped)
- 1 lemon (zest only)
- 1 tsp paprika powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp dried thyme
- ½ tsp dried rosemary
- ½ tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp Cajun seasoning
- salt and pepper
- 1 whole chicken
Equipment
- BBQ
- Meat thermometer
INSTRUCTIONS (how to make this recipe):
- First, make the herb butter by mixing the butter, chives, parsley, lemon zest, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, thyme, rosemary, oregano, Cajun seasoning and salt and pepper together in a bowl or food processor until smooth.
- Place the chicken breast side down on a chopping board. Use kitchen scissors to cut along both sides of the backbone and remove it. Turn the chicken over and press firmly on the breast to flatten it.
- Rub the herb butter all over the chicken, both on and under the skin. Make sure the herb butter is evenly distributed.
- Leave the chicken to marinate in the refrigerator for at least one hour to allow the flavours to infuse.
- Preheat the barbecue to a medium heat 175 degrees Celsius / 347 Fahrenheit.
- Place the chicken, skin side up, on the grill.
- Cook slowly for 45 minutes or until the chicken has reached the right internal temperature. The chicken will be nice and tender at 75–80 Celsius / 167-176 Fahrenheit so keep a close eye on it.
- Serve the chicken warm from the barbecue with potato wedges and a fresh salad, if desired. Enjoy!
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