Grilled chicken is juicier and tastes better when you brine it first, and the sweet and smoky homemade barbecue sauce is even "sweeter" without the extra calories from sugar.

Barbecued Chicken

Barbecue Sauce:

3 cups reduced-sugar ketchup

1/4 cup SPLENDA® Brown Sugar Blend

1/3 cup cider vinegar

3 tablespoons prepared yellow mustard

3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

2 tablespoons molasses

1 tablespoon paprika

11/2 teaspoons salt

11/2 teaspoons garlic powder

3/4 teaspoon onion powder

3/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

2 teaspoons liquid smoke

 

Chicken:

1/4 cup SPLENDA® Sugar Blend

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1 cup hot tap water

3 cups cold water

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

1. For Barbecue Sauce: Combine all ingredients for barbecue sauce in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer 20 minutes, or until slightly thickened. (Top with a splatter guard during cooking.)
2. Use immediately or cool, cover, and refrigerate for up to 1 month.
3. For Chicken: Combine SPLENDA® Sugar Blend, salt, and hot water in 1-gallon zipper-lock bag and shake to dissolve SPLENDA® and salt. Add cold water and chicken. Press air out of bag, seal, and refrigerate 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
4. Remove chicken from brine and discard brine. Refrigerate chicken until half an hour before you want to grill it (up to 1 day). Pat chicken dry with paper towels and sprinkle all over with pepper. Let rest at room temperature for 20 minutes.
5. Heat grill to medium-high. Brush grill grate and coat with oil.
6. Put chicken on grill, cover, and cook 5 to 7 minutes on one side. Flip chicken and brush with barbecue sauce. Cook another 5 to 7 minutes, or until chicken is no longer pink and juices run clear (about 170°F / 80°C) on an instant-read thermometer).
7. Coat chicken with 1 1/2 cups Sweet and Smoky Barbecue Sauce.

Makes 8 servings.

Nutritional Information Per Serving (1/8 of recipe): Calories: 270; Calories from Fat: 60; Total Fat: 7g;Saturated Fat: 1.5g; Cholesterol: 70mg; Sodium: 1770mg; Total Carbs: 25g; Dietary Fiber: 1g; Sugars: 68g; Protein: 22g

Recipe and photograph provided courtesy of Splenda, Inc; through ECES, Inc., Electronic Color Editorial Services.