I wonder how many people have ever heard of smothered chicken? In case you haven’t, it’s chicken that has been either deep fried or pan fried, then a gravy is made and the chicken is returned to the pan to “smother” in the gravy for an hour or so. The chicken becomes so, so juicy and falling-off-the-bone tender. Really good old-fashioned comfort food.
Well, take that idea and instead of the gravy, “smother” your chicken in barbecue sauce. Yes, barbecue sauce. Oh. my. goodness. Juicy, tender, rich, deep dark flavor, and I could go on and on. By the end of the cooking time the chicken and sauce have taken on a deep mahogany color and a sticky sweetness that children, especially, really like. Just be sure to put a bib on the little ones and make sure there are plenty of napkins for everyone! I’ve been making barbecued chicken this way for years and it’s a real favorite around our house. And since I’ve never seen anyone else make anything like this recipe, I’m claiming this one as my own. Please let me know, though, if I’m stepping on anyone’s toes with that claim.
Now, before I start the recipe, let me just clear up one thing about “barbecue.” In some parts of the world, cooking outdoors over a flame is called a ”barbecue.” In the South, that is called “grilling” or “grilling out.” In the South, barbecue is any meat that has been cooked and a barbecue sauce has been applied. It does not mean that the meat has been cooked outdoors on a grill although it very well may have been. A steak cooked outdoors on a grill is a grilled steak, but not barbecued unless you have put some barbecue sauce on said steak. That all cleared up for you? Good.
1 3 to 3 1/2 pound cut-up frying chicken
Jane’s Crazy Mixed-Up Salt (or seasoned salt of your choice)
2 tblsp. canola oil
4 tblsp. butter
2 cups barbecue sauce
Use paper towels to make sure your chicken is dry before beginning. A wet chicken will just sit in the pan and boil instead of getting nice and dark and crispy like we want for this recipe. Place the chicken on a plastic cutting board or other washable surface. Sprinkle all sides liberally with Jane’s Salt, Lawry’s Seasoned Salt or other seasoned salt mixture that you like.
Add the canola oil and butter to a large skillet and heat over medium-high heat until the butter melts. Add the seasoned chicken, skin side down, and cook until a deep brown color forms. Turn the chicken oven and repeat on the other side.
Remove the chicken pieces from the pan and place them on paper toweling to drain. Pour off excess fat from the pan.
Add all the chicken pieces back to the pan, nestling them in so that they all fit. Pour over the barbecue sauce. I’m using my family’s decades old barbecue sauce recipe here, but you just use whatever kind you like best.
Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce the heat to simmer. Cook for 45 minutes to 1 hour or until the chicken is tender. Check during cooking time and add 1/4 to 1/2 cup water if needed to prevent the barbecue sauce from burning, but not so much that the sauce thins out.
Arrange the chicken on a serving platter and pour all the pan juices over the chicken.
Enjoy!
Download a printable copy of Smothered Barbecued Chicken.
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
Smothered Barbecued Chicken? Now, that sounds interesting! The ‘barbecue’ part got me going already, ‘smothered chicken’, hmmm, I got to try this!
I remember doing something similar once. I used my slow-cooker to make it. I’ve got a serious craving for chicken all of the sudden. :-D
Thank you for the clarification as to the Southern distinction between barbecued and grilled. That one seems to really trip up transplants.
It looks fabulous.
Miss P
I love how you clarified BBQ! ;) I think I should have been born and raised in the south. LOL. I love southern way of thinking!
It looks delicious, I will have to try this….RaeDi
Yum is all I can say!
using my family’s decades old barbecue sauce recipe
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No chance of getting a copy of that is there…..the recipe looks too good for KC masterpiece (?). Regardless, I cant wait to try this…thanks.
Clive – You know, that barbecue sauce is probably the only recipe I have that I wouldn’t share. I wish I could because it’s soooo good, but I’m afraid that several generations of Taylors would turn over in their graves. Not to mention the reactions of the ones who are still “with us.” Just use whatever happens to be your favorite store-bought brand :-)
I understand!
Will let you know how it turned out. many thanks, your site is awesome
made this last night. It was OK. …chicken was very moist. Now to find a good bbq recipe haha. I will definitely be doing this again. thanks
My Mom made something similar to this when I was growing-up. She would fry the chicken, like you, then throw it in the slow cooker with the BBQ mixture. I loved it so much. I’ve asked her for the recipe, and she tells me what she remembers, but something doesn’t seem right about it. She can’t remember the BBQ sauce she used and that is probably one of the biggest defining components of it. :( Makes me so sad, I miss it so much!
My mother used to make this when we were young 30 or 40 years ago. It has always been a family favorite. Make sure to do some mashed potatoes because the sauce is better on them than any gravy!
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