Cornell BBQ Chicken With Slight Changes

Name: Cornell BBQ Chicken (Upstate NY Style)
Prep time: 8 h
Cook time: 1 h
Total time: 9 h
Yield: 12 servings
Ingredients: 2 whole chickens, cut up into 4 to 6 pieces each; 2 large whole eggs; 2 cups olive oil or 2 cups canola oil; 3 cups apple cider vinegar; 1 cup lemon juice; 6 tablespoons kosher salt or 6 tablespoons season salt; 2 tablespoons poultry seasoning; 2 teaspoons black pepper; 2 tablespoons italian seasoning; 2 tablespoons granulated garlic or 2 tablespoons garlic powder; 1 cup water

Cornell BBQ Chicken is an Upstate New York classic featuring a tangy apple cider vinegar and egg marinade that creates a crispy, flavorful exterior. This modernized version adds Italian seasoning and granulated garlic for deeper complexity while maintaining the iconic vinegar-forward taste.

🏷️Chicken 🏷️Poultry 🏷️Meat

Total

9h

Servings

12

Difficulty

Expert

Est. Cost

$22–$36

Recipe Source

View original recipe

From Food.com · by Darrin W.

Ingredients

2 whole chickens, cut up into 4 to 6 pieces each
2 large whole eggs
2 cups olive oil or 2 cups canola oil
3 cups apple cider vinegar
1 cup lemon juice
6 tablespoons kosher salt or 6 tablespoons season salt
2 tablespoons poultry seasoning
2 teaspoons black pepper
2 tablespoons italian seasoning
2 tablespoons granulated garlic or 2 tablespoons garlic powder
1 cup water

11 Ingredients

Delivery in as fast as one hour.^*

Powered by Instacart

Prices vary by store

^*Service fees apply. Instacart^® and the Instacart logo are registered trademarks of Maplebear Inc. d/b/a Instacart.

Instructions

1
in a large bowl, combine the eggs and oil. whisk until completely emulsified.
2
Add the apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, and water and whisk again.
3
add the remaining ingredients and whisk again until completely incorporated. Let sit while you cut the chicken.
4
Cut the chickens into quarters, if the breasts are very large you can cut those in half again.
5
place the chicken parts into gallon sized plastic zipper bags, or a plastic marinating pan that will allow the marinade to cover the chicken completely.
6
cover the chicken with marinade and allow to set for at least 4-5 hours in the refrigerator. overnight is usually better.
7
to Grill: it is best if you grill the chicken on a lower heat like 350-375 either on direct gas flame or charcoal. you can also cook over indirect heat for most of the cook and finish on direct heat to crisp the skin. You could also cook in the oven at 365 for 45 minutes and finish it with the broiler for 10 minutes to crisp. Make sure the internal temperature is over 180 degrees before serving.

Was this recipe helpful?

Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Whisk eggs and oil together before adding vinegar to emulsify the baste and help it cling evenly to the chicken.
Apply the marinade to both sides and reserve extra baste for brushing on the chicken during the last 10 minutes of grilling.
Use poultry seasoning and Italian seasoning as written; they build the classic Cornell flavor and prevent the dish from tasting one-dimensional.
Don't skip kosher salt in the marinade—it seasons the meat from inside out and helps the exterior crisp.

Substitutions

apple cider vinegar → white wine vinegar (slightly less tangy; use same amount)
poultry seasoning → dried sage and thyme blend (1 tablespoon each; loses traditional Cornell character)
olive oil → vegetable oil (neutral flavor; won't affect final dish)
kosher salt → sea salt (use same weight; measure by weight if scaling)

Storage & make-ahead

Store leftover chicken refrigerated for up to 3 days in an airtight container; reheat gently over low heat or in a 325°F oven to avoid drying out.

Equipment

outdoor grill (charcoal or gas) · instant-read thermometer

Common Questions

What is the original Cornell chicken recipe?

Cornell chicken is a grilled poultry dish from Upstate New York featuring a distinctive apple cider vinegar and egg marinade, originally developed at Cornell University. This version adds Italian seasoning and extra garlic for enhanced flavor.

Can I use this as a marinade ahead of time?

Yes. Combine the vinegar, oil, eggs, and seasonings the night before and marinate the chicken pieces for up to 12 hours refrigerated for deeper flavor penetration.

What type of grill works best?

Any outdoor grill (charcoal or gas) works well. Maintain medium heat to prevent burning the vinegar-egg baste while cooking through, about 40–50 minutes for cut-up fryers.