Electric Skillet Barbecue Chicken

By
Stephanie Gallagher
Stephanie Gallagher
Stephanie Gallagher is a journalist and food writer who has authored multiple cookbooks.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 12/18/21
Barbecue chicken

Moncherie / Getty Images

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 40 mins
Total: 50 mins
Servings: 6 to 8 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
464 Calories
16g Fat
31g Carbs
45g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6 to 8
Amount per serving
Calories 464
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 16g 21%
Saturated Fat 4g 22%
Cholesterol 198mg 66%
Sodium 783mg 34%
Total Carbohydrate 31g 11%
Dietary Fiber 1g 2%
Total Sugars 19g
Protein 45g
Vitamin C 0mg 2%
Calcium 48mg 4%
Iron 2mg 12%
Potassium 561mg 12%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

The challenge in making BBQ chicken is preventing the outside of the chicken from burning before the inside is cooked through. This is traditionally solved by brushing the barbecue sauce on the chicken at the end of cooking.

But this recipe skips the grilling altogether—another common impediment to barbecued chicken— along with the worries about charred exteriors hiding uncooked interiors. It uses a different method: an electric skillet. If you've been on the fence about using your skillet, this recipe will make you a believer. It's a very simple method that requires you to cook the chicken in a mixture of barbecue sauce and orange soda (for some extra flavor) right in the electric skillet. Periodically baste the chicken with the soda-sauce mixture to keep it extra moist.

This is one of those electric skillet chicken recipes that makes for a tender, tasty BBQ chicken through and through. Using this handy appliance helps to regulate the chicken's temperature and cook it evenly. It's great to serve as an appetizer for a party or for game day, with additional barbecue sauce on the side if needed. Barbecue chicken is also fun to serve as part of a bigger meal spread with baked beans, corn on the cob, rice, and/or coleslaw.

Ingredients

Steps to Make It

  1. Preheat an electric skillet to 275 F. Add oil.

  2. Season chicken on both sides with salt and pepper. When oil is hot, add chicken to the skillet. Brown for 2 minutes on the first side. Flip.

  3. Add the barbecue sauce and orange soda.

  4. Cook, basting occasionally, 35 to 40 minutes until chicken is cooked through.

Tip

For this recipe, you can use your favorite barbecue sauce, or opt to make one from scratch if you like. You can experiment with Carolina or Memphis-style sauce, or opt for one with Jack Daniel's in it.

Variations

  • This recipe calls for orange soda, but you could use cola instead if you prefer. The flavor will be slightly different.
  • Feel free to use a combination of wings and drumsticks, or all wings, or all drumsticks.

How to Store and Freeze Electric Skillet Barbecue Chicken

  • You can keep chicken, once cooked, wrapped in foil or in an airtight container in the fridge for three to four days. As a next-day leftover, it's especially good eaten cold in a salad, or tossed into a soup.
  • Freeze the chicken, well-wrapped, for up to six months and defrost in the refrigerator. Gently reheat in the oven, or use cold and incorporate in tacos, soups, or salads.