Plain Ol’ BBQ Chicken and Bruce’s Secret Sauce

Who knew that the unconfidential cook was married to a confidential cook? It was actually Bruce’s suggestion that I post his bbq chicken, and I wish you could have seen the look on his face when I told him a) it might be too plain and simple to interest anyone and b) I would need the recipe for his bbq sauce. He said he only gives away this recipe as a trade for another…as he did when he got Bruce’s Chocolate Cheesecake (which I highly recommend). I asked a second time and simply suggested that he consider his dinners EVERY SINGLE NIGHT as a pretty good trade!

So, I got you the recipe, which qualifies for spoonalicious in our house. Whether we use it on chicken, pork tenderloin or ribs, we always serve a bowlful on the side and it always disappears. The secret to the chicken, Bruce says, is to stay with it the entire time it’s cooking, turning constantly, brushing on more sauce each time. This chicken took an hour. Even though we generally prefer breasts/white meat, we always opt for the thighs when Bruce bbqs–they carmelize perfectly and are a nice combo of moist and crisp. Do yourself a favor and buy extra thighs.

I have a particular fondness for Bruce’s bbq chicken because it was our first staple dinner-party fare when we started dating. We served it with a salad (first course) and Oven-Roasted Crispy Potatoes. Dessert was Our #1 Favorite Chocolate Cake. It was so simple, but so good–everyone enjoyed it, and we gained the confidence to venture forth to more complicated meals.

Bruce’s Secret BBQ Sauce

“Makes a big platter full of chicken,” says he.

1 18 oz. bottle of Kraft’s original BBQ Sauce

1/2 cup pure maple syrup

2 T brown sugar

3 T ketchup

2 t. yellow mustard

Pinch of salt

Pinch of pepper

Stir all ingredients together in a bowl, says he….