Chicken with Balsamic Barbeque Sauce

This recipe was inspired by Kickpleat over at http://www.everybodylikessandwiches.blogspot.com/. It was posted a while ago, but it has taken me a while to get it on my BBQ. Her photo has stuck in my mind of the beautiful caramelized sauce. Her recipe has fewer ingredients and she says there is some plate licking involved. My version calls for the use of tomato sauce as well. I think that both are wonderful sauces for chicken, steaks or pork chops on the BBQ.

This photo was taken near Kamloops in British Columbia on the Trans Canada Highway. It is a view of the Thompson River. I love to stop at these picnic grounds and drink in the view!


**Chicken with Balsamic Barbeque Sauce**

1 cup balsamic vinegar
3/4 cup tomato sauce
1/3 cup brown sugar
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 T Worcestershire sauce
1 T Dijon mustard
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
4 pieces chicken (any combination)
salt and freshly ground black pepper

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For the BBQ sauce: Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan and stir until all the ingredients are incorporated and the mixture is smooth. Simmer over medium heat until reduced by 1/3, about 15 - 20 minutes.

Place a grill pan over medium heat or preheat a gas or charcoal grill. Season the meat with salt and pepper. Lightly coat with some of the BBQ sauce using a pastry brush. Place the meat on the grill. Place the remaining BBQ sauce, still in the saucepan, over low heat or on the edge of a gas or charcoal grill and allow to gently simmer while the meat cooks. (The side burner works well for this)

Cook the chicken about 8 minutes per side.

Continually brush the meat with BBQ sauce every few minutes. Remove the meat from the grill and let rest for at least 5 minutes. Serve with the heated barbeque sauce alongside.

Alternately, the chicken can be baked in the oven. Preheat the oven to 375F. Place the chicken skin side up in a baking dish and bake for 25 minutes. Remove the baking dish from the oven and spoon the barbeque sauce all over the top of the chicken. Return the baking dish to the oven and bake for another 15 minutes.

Serves 4