At Spragg's Meat Shop, we know Albertans make the most of our long summer nights, and nothing goes with a beautiful evening quite like BBQ chicken does!
As we prepare our BBQ'S for that sweet summer grilling season, we wanted to take a moment to offer a few of our favourite tips for that perfect BBQ chicken dinner. Bon appétit!
Choose the Right Ingredients
Firstly, you need to choose the right cut. For a fast weeknight dinner, boneless chicken breast is ideal, while a whole chicken or bone-in breasts are perfect for those lazy weekend nights when you have more time to prep. Regardless of the cut you choose, picking the freshest, highest quality meat is always the right choice! Our locally produced, ethically raised chicken at Spragg's Meat Shop is a perfect option for an affordable, high-quality chicken dinner.
Check out our blog on how to choose the right cut of meat at your local butcher
Marinate, Marinate, Marinate!
Now that you've got that perfect cut, it's time to head to flavour town. The real secret to a perfect BBQ chicken? Yup, it's marinade! Marinade generally refers to a mixture of oil, spices, citrus, or acid in which meats soak before cooking. Marination makes your chicken flavourful and tender by beginning the breakdown process of the tissues of the meat. With a little planning ahead, you will definitely appreciate the joy that marinating will bring to your life!
If you're looking for some inspired marinade ideas, check out these 12 Best BBQ Chicken Marinade recipes.
Get Even Sizes
When it comes to grilling chicken, even-sized pieces is key – otherwise, your chicken will cook at different rates, and you could end up with one section still raw while another is dry and over-cooked! We recommend pounding out chicken breasts into a more even size or butterflying a whole chicken for faster and more even cooking.
Prep Your Grill
It can be easy to take a care-free attitude when it comes to your BBQ, but your BBQ needs to be regularly cleaned and maintained to work properly like anything in the kitchen. Ensure you pre-heat your clean grill and rub a little oil onto the grates before cooking to keep the chicken from sticking.
Pick Your Side
Life is full of choices, and what to eat with your BBQ chicken is one of the best! BBQ chicken is so versatile; there is almost nothing it won't pair well with, but if you're looking for some fabulous side-dish ideas, check out these 17 finger-licking good ideas!
There you have it, some of our favourite tips for the art of the perfect BBQ chicken. So grab some chicken from Spragg's Meat Shop and toss into your marinade so you can get ready to soak in the ambience of a perfect BBQ dinner on a lovely summer evening!
If you're ready to get grilling, visit our Calgary or Rosemary location, or find us at our booth (Aisle 1, Booth 28) at the Calgary Farmers Market for all your BBQ chicken needs, or go online to shop our curbside pick-up boxes.
Happy eating!
SPRAGG’S MEAT SHOP CALGARY
9675 Macleod Trail SE
Calgary, AB, T2J 0P6
P: 403.255.1232
E: calgarystore@spraggsmeatshop.com
SPRAGG’S MEAT SHOP ROSEMARY
438 Centre St
Rosemary, AB, T0J 2W0
P: 403.378.3800
E: meatshop@spraggsmeatshop.com