We use our grill for almost every meal in the summer months. Tonight I made grilled chicken and asparagus. I used hickory wood chips to give the food a hint of smoky flavor. Brush on your favorite barbecue sauce at the end and you are good to go. The whole meal takes about 30 minutes to cook on the grill.
Summer is a great time of the year because we can cook so many tasty meals on the grill. Barbecue Chicken and Grilled Asparagus is an example of an easy meal that takes little preparation, but delivers a meal packed with flavor and homemade appeal! This 30-minute meal is a favorite in our home.
Barbecue Chicken and Grilled Asparagus Recipe
What’s needed?
- 10 chicken drumsticks
- 2 tablespoons salt
- warm water
- grilling seasoning
- prepared barbecue sauce
- 1 bundle fresh asparagus (about 1 pound)
- sea salt
- canola oil
- Parmesan cheese
How to brine the chicken?
I like to brine the chicken for this recipe. It is not necessary and you can certainly skip this step, but it adds flavor, especially when grilling.
- Rinse all 10 chicken drumsticks and place them in a gallon plastic bag. Fill the bag with enough warm water to cover the chicken. Add the 2 tablespoons of salt. Seal the bag tightly and gently shake it to dissolve the salt.
- Place the bag in a bowl to hold it upright and place it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, turn the bag upside down and refrigerate it for another 30 minutes.
- After you brine the chicken, remove each piece from the bag and lay them on a paper towel. Pat the chicken dry to remove excess moisture before grilling. This is important so that your chicken doesn’t stick to the grill.
How to make Barbecue Chicken and Grilled Asparagus?
- Once the chicken has been patted dry, add some grilling seasoning. Select a seasoning from your grocery store or you can make your own. The seasoning I used is a combination of dried garlic, salt, crushed black and red pepper. Sprinkle the seasoning on both sides of the chicken. Do not put barbecue or wet sauces on your chicken until it is almost done grilling. These will make your chicken stick to the grill and because of the high sugar content they tend to burn, so wet sauces should be added at the end.
How to use wood chips on the grill?
- Heat the grill to about 350 degrees, this is a medium setting on most gas grills. If you want the best flavor, put a handful of hickory smoke wood chips in a small stainless steel pan or in a foil pouch with some water and place it on the grill. The wood chips will give off smoke that makes the food taste wonderful. Make sure the wood chips stay wet.
- Now add your chicken to the grill and do not move it. Spread it out and leave it alone. Close the lid and walk away for 10 minutes. You do not need to oil the grill top, but you can if you wish. You also do not need foil on the grill. For years, I used foil because I was afraid the food would stick. It will be just fine without foil. Trust me.
- After 10 minutes, open the lid quickly and turn the chicken. It should release from the grill without too much coaxing and should not stick. It will begin to show golden grill marks. It should not be black, of course. If it looks too dark, your grill is too hot. Close the lid and cook for another 10 minutes.
- After 10 minutes, open the lid and turn the chicken one more time. You can now add your asparagus too. Cut off the bottom 4 or 5 inches, as it is always the toughest part of the asparagus. Drizzle canola oil on it and place it directly on the grill next to the chicken. Close the lid and cook chicken and asparagus for about 8 more minutes.
Make sure chicken is cooked through and safe to eat:
- After 8 minutes, open the lid of the grill and use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the chicken. It should read between 180 and 190 degrees.
- Once you are at the right temperature, add a small amount of barbecue sauce to each piece of chicken. I try not to add too much, as it adds unnecessary calories to the chicken. Brush it on to cover.
- Turn the asparagus and sprinkle on some salt and grated Parmesan cheese. Close the grill and heat all for another 2 minutes.
- Remove the food from the grill, you are ready to serve it. The chicken will be juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside. The asparagus will be tender and cheesy. Delicious!
In grilling, as with anything, practice makes perfect. Enjoy your grill and the food you cook on it. That is what summer is all about! Remember to leave a comment and be sure to check out more of my recipes.