Spice Rubbed Chicken
Today I’ve got another recipe that would be perfect for Memorial Day. I’ve made this chicken numerous times. I have no idea why it has taken me so long to getting around to posting it…
We’ve made it for friends, for family, and for other guests. It’s always been a huge hit. Huge. As in, everyone asks for the recipe.
This Spice Rubbed Chicken comes out perfectly moist and tender. No surprise there. The people over at America’s Test Kitchen really know what they’re doing. They test recipes over and over again until they’re foolproof.
I’ve let this chicken sit in the rub for anywhere from 2 hours to 2 days. Obviously, the longer it has to soak in all that deliciousness, the more amazing the outcome.
Since we don’t have a grill, I’ve always used the instructions outlined below. I’m sure this Spice Rubbed Chicken would be just as awesome cooked on a grill (if not better. Isn’t everything better when it’s been grilled?)
One Year Ago: Cucumber Hummus Bites and Chocolate Covered Strawberry Truffles
Two Years Ago: Homemade Ding Dongs
Spice Rubbed Chicken
This chicken is always a huge hit. It's very tender and has just the perfect amount of spice
Yield: Serves 8
Ingredients:
5 pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken pieces, trimmed of excess fat and skin
2 Tbsp kosher salt
3 Tbsp brown sugar
2 Tbsp chili powder
2 Tbsp smoked paprika
2 tsp ground black pepper
1/4-1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
Directions:
Use a sharp knife to make 2 or 3 short slashes in the skin of each piece of chicken, taking care not to cut into meat.
Combine the salt, sugar, and spices in a small bowl and mix thoroughly. Coat the chicken pieces with the spices, gently lifting the skin to distribute the spice rub underneath but leaving it attached to chicken. Transfer the chicken skin side up to wire rack set over rimmed foil-lined baking sheet, lightly tent with foil, and refrigerate 6 to 24 hours.
Secure the skin of each breast piece with 2 or 3 toothpicks placed near the edges of the skin.
Adjust an oven rack to the middle position; heat the oven to 425 degrees.
Roast the chicken until the thickest part of smallest piece registers 140 degrees on an instant-read thermometer, 15 to 20 minutes.
Increase the oven temperature to 500 degrees and continue roasting until the chicken is browned and crisp and the thickest parts of the breast pieces register 160 degrees, 5 to 8 minutes longer, removing pieces from the oven and transferring to a clean wire rack as they finish cooking. Continue to roast the thighs and/or drumsticks, if using, until the thickest part of the meat registers 170 to 175 degrees, about 5 minutes longer.
Remove from the oven; transfer the chicken to a rack and let it cool completely before refrigerating or serving.
Recipe from The Way the Cookie Crumbles, originally from Cooks Illustrated
I am Jen the Beantown Baker. Engineer by day and baking maven by night. Hubby serves as my #1 fan and official taste tester. We got hitched back in 2006. Barefoot. In the sand. With the waves crashing behind us. It was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. 
This is brilliant. What an informative post! I need to use my crockpot more often… poor thing is so ignored.
This is brilliant. What an informative post! I need to use my crockpot more often… poor thing is so ignored.
I love my crockpot. Most people think they should only be used in the winter, but I love using mine in the summertime because then your kitchen doesn’t get hot and you still have a hot meal ready when you get home from work!
I have been in love with Stephanie O’Dea’s crockpot blog for a few years now and cook from it all the time. It was so exciting to see that you were linking back to her in this post – it’s like the corners of my culinary universe have collided into deliciousness! I highly recommend Stephanie’s blog and book for those who are looking to utilize the crockpot more often.
I’ve always wanted to make a chicken stock like this. (I thought that chicken broth involved the chicken meat while the stock involves the carcass. I could be wrong since I just started cooking over a year ago.) Anyway, thanks for sharing this recipe!
I’m excited to try this recipe. I love homemade soup and love your idea omn how to freeze it!!