One of our top five cheater recipes was inspired by a summer cookout at the Nashville hideout of songwriter/producer Desmond Child, the genius behind scores of hit songs, including “Dude Looks Like a Lady,” “Livin’ on a Prayer,” and “Livin’ La Vida Loca.” Margarita, a member of Desmond’s Miami posse, is an excellent cook and veteran cheater. The chart-topping single of the incredible Cuban feast was Bar-B-Cuban Chicken. After marinating chicken legs and thighs overnight, she cheated big-time by cooking them in the oven before the party. In a matter of minutes, the precooked chicken was effortlessly seared on the grill in a showy haze before a live audience. Garlic and tangy lemon not only filled the air, they had penetrated deep into the meat (and our clothes). Margarita admitted, “I don’t measure and I always use too much garlic. I say, it’s good? No. More.” “How much garlic do you use, Margarita?” “Too much,” she said. This is our cover of Margarita’s smash hit.

　　

Ingredients

makes 6 to 8 servings

　　4 pounds chicken legs and thighs, trimmed of excess skin and fat

　　1 cup fresh lemon juice

　　1/3 cup olive oil

　　12 garlic cloves, minced

　　1 chicken bouillon cube, crumbled

　　2 teaspoons kosher salt

　　Handful of chopped fresh rosemary and oregano

　　Black pepper

　　

Step 1

PLACE the chicken in a large sealable plastic bag. Add the remaining ingredients, seal the bag, and massage to blend the ingredients. Refrigerate overnight for maximum impact.

　　

Step 2

REMOVE the chicken from the marinade. Place the chicken in a roasting pan and toss it with a little of the marinade; discard the rest. Bake at 350°F for 40 minutes.

　　

Step 3

REMOVE the chicken from the oven and finish it on the grill or under the broiler about 4 inches from the heat source, turning frequently, until the skin is nicely charred and crisp and you can smell the garlic down the street.

　　Cheater BBQ