Citrus, Garlic and Chipotle Marinated Chicken

I really need to learn patience. I am way too impatient to marinate meat on most occasions. If I am going to get a piece of meat out of the refrigerator, it is just a natural next step for me to throw it on a hot grill and then enjoy. When I am a good boy and put off my need for instant gratification long enough to soak a cut of meat, I am reminded why it is SO worth the trouble. This marinated chicken is a great example. The citrus and garlic flavors really come through in the cooked chicken, along with a hint of smokiness from the chipotles. The acid from the citrus juice also makes for a moist and tender bird. While the chicken takes on some of the marinade flavor in as little as 4 hours, you really need to soak it overnight. I know, but it is worth it!

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Citrus, Garlic and Chipotle Marinated Chicken

Grilled chicken marinated in citrus, garlic and chipotle

Ingredients

• 1 whole chicken
• 1/4 cup lime juice
• 1/4 cup orange juice
• 1/8 cup olive oil
• 6 garlic cloves smashed and then minced
• 2 chipotle peppers minced
• Kosher salt
• ground black pepper

Instructions

• Remove the chicken from the packaging, making sure to remove the gizzards and neck from the cavity if they are present (I know, duh, but still).
• Rinse the chicken thoroughly and then pat dry with paper towels.
• Follow these instructions to remove the backbone, keel bone and then flatten and cut the chicken into halves.
• Whisk together the lime juice, orange juice, olive oil, garlic and chipotle peppers in a bowl.
• Place the chicken halves in re-sealable bags and then pour in the marinade.
• Squeeze all of the air out of the bags and then place them in the refrigerator to marinate overnight.
• Remove the chicken from the marinade and then dust with Kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper.
• Heat a grill to medium heat (around 400 degrees).
• Grill the chicken halves over medium heat with the lid closed, turning every few minutes until an instant-read thermometer reads 165 degrees in the breast meat.
• Total cooking time should be around 20 – 25 minutes. If the outside of the chicken is getting too charred, move the chicken halves to an unlit side of the grill and then close the lid to bake/roast the chicken until done.