Swing State Cheerwine BBQ Chicken Recipe. An Iconic North Carolina Chicken Dinner by Donna John

Don't you love it when you discover a recipe you've never heard of? Being from Texas, we love our barbecued chicken, so how have I not heard of Cheerwine barbecue chicken?

November 5, 2024, is the election. According to CBS News, these the battleground states in the 2024 presidential election:

• Arizona
• Georgia
• Michigan
• Nevada
• North Carolina
• Pennsylvania
• Wisconsin

Why not try a new recipe from one of these swing states? This North Carolina Cheerwine barbecue chicken recipe uses a soft drink that I have also not heard of: Cheerwine. Cheerwine is a cherry-flavored soda made by Carolina Beverage Corporation in Salisbury, N.C. It has been produced since 1917, claiming to be "the oldest continuing soft drink company still operated by the same family."

To make this chicken dinner you will need a whole chicken (or chicken pieces), butter, fresh garlic, onion, ketchup, Cheerwine (see Recipe Notes for substitutions), apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, black pepper, brown sugar and ground mustard.

Serve this BBQ chicken for dinner with your favorite side dishes. And be sure to vote! 

Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour and 10 minutes
Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 1 whole chicken, cut up (or your favorite bone-in chicken pieces)
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 cup ketchup
• 1 cup Cheerwine (see Recipe Notes for substitution)
• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper (or to taste)
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground mustard

Recipe Notes

• If you don't have access to Cheerwine, use cherry cola as a substitute.

• This easy barbecue chicken recipe is cooked on a grill, but if you don't feel like firing up the grill, bake the chicken in a 375-degree F oven until cooked through, about 35 to 40 minutes, depending on the size of the chicken pieces and your oven. 

• Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge.

Here's how to make it: 

1. Melt the butter in a skillet. Add the onions and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 30 seconds.
2. Add the ketchup Cheerwine or cherry cola, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, paprika, pepper, brown sugar and mustard. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and cook, stirring often, about 20 minutes. Divide the sauce in two equal portions (half will be used to baste and the other half as a sauce when serving).
3. Preheat a grill to medium heat. Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Put the chicken on the grill and cook about 20 minutes on each side, covered.
4. Start basting the chicken with the Cheerwine sauce and continue to cook, uncovered, until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. Remove chicken and serve with the reserved Cheerwine sauce. 

Recipe cooking times, nutritional information and servings are approximate and provided for your convenience. However, 30Seconds is not responsible for the outcome of any recipe, nor may you have the same results because of variations in ingredients, temperatures, altitude, errors, omissions or cooking/baking abilities. Any nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and it is up to the individual to ascertain accuracy. To ensure image quality, we may occasionally use stock photography.

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