Kansas City Barbecued Chicken
Experience the irresistible flavors of Kansas City Barbecued Chicken, a recipe that captures the essence of classic barbecue with its perfectly seasoned, smoky, and saucy goodness. Featuring bone-in, skin-on chicken pieces, this dish is coated in a bold dry rub of smoked paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder before being cooked to juicy perfection on the grill or in the oven. The signature Kansas City-style barbecue sauce adds a sweet, tangy, and slightly smoky glaze, creating a sticky, caramelized finish that will have everyone reaching for seconds. Ready in just over an hour, this recipe is ideal for backyard gatherings or weeknight dinners. Serve with extra barbecue sauce on the side for dipping, and pair it with coleslaw or cornbread for a true taste of Kansas City barbecue tradition. Your next barbecue masterpiece awaits!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 4 pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken pieces (thighs, drumsticks, or breasts)
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1.5 cups Kansas City-style barbecue sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
Preheat your grill to medium heat (about 350°F) or preheat your oven to 375°F if baking.
In a small bowl, mix together the kosher salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder to create the seasoning rub.
Pat the chicken pieces dry with paper towels, then rub each piece with olive oil to lightly coat them.
Evenly sprinkle the seasoning rub over all sides of the chicken, pressing gently to adhere.
If grilling, place the chicken on the grill, skin-side down, and cook for 10–12 minutes before flipping. If baking, arrange the chicken in a single layer on a foil-lined baking sheet, skin-side up, and bake for 25 minutes.
After the initial cooking time, brush the chicken generously with Kansas City-style barbecue sauce. If grilling, rotate and flip the chicken every 5 minutes, basting with more sauce after each turn. If baking, brush the chicken with more sauce every 5-7 minutes.
Continue cooking until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F (about an additional 20–25 minutes on the grill or in the oven). The skin should be caramelized, and the sauce will be sticky and slightly charred.
Remove the chicken from the grill or oven and let rest for 5–10 minutes before serving. Serve with additional barbecue sauce on the side, if desired.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
807 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 51.6 g | 66% | |
| Saturated Fat | 13.6 g | 68% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 242 mg | 81% | |
| Sodium | 889 mg | 39% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 29.8 g | 11% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 0.4 g | 1% | |
| Total Sugars | 25.8 g | ||
| Protein | 54.5 g | 109% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.4 mcg | 2% | |
| Calcium | 56 mg | 4% | |
| Iron | 2.9 mg | 16% | |
| Potassium | 678 mg | 14% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
