Pit Barrel Cooker: Chicken Thighs

In this video I bring you along as I fire up the pit barrel cooker and make some secret sauce for some bone in skin on chicken thighs. Mrs. O. makes some NY salt potatoes and my favorite strawberry spinach salad with feta cheese and poppy seed dressing.
-Enjoy!

[@TheRealEricO]

-Pit Barrel Cooker Classic Package - 18.5 Inch Drum Smoker: amzn.to/3K8wjbT -Chiavetta's BBQ Marinade: amzn.to/3ThZspc It's so cool reading the comments about the salt potatoes! Pretty much get them with any chicken BBQ you will ever go to here in NY. Here is a tid bit I barrowed from the internet: What is a Salt Potato? The origin of salt potatoes can be traced to the 19th century in the Syracuse, NY area where Irish immigrants working in salt mines prepared the dish on their lunch break. Throughout the Onondaga Lake region, miners would boil small, unpeeled potatoes in salinated brine that was mined from salt springs. In the cooking process, the salty water forms a crust on the potato’s skin and seals it which helps to prevent salt potatoes from tasting waterlogged as ordinary boiled potatoes sometimes do. As a result, salt potatoes have a unique texture that is similar to that of a baked potato. In the decades following their inception, salt potatoes became a regional dish of Central New York and - in more recent years - they are typically served in the summer when young potatoes are first harvested. Salt potatoes are currently a staple food at fairs and barbecues throughout the Central New York region.

[@CPthetooladdict]

Thanks for the back story very interesting 👍

[@bkon4675]

You are correct, never heard of salt potatoes even thou I have a bit of the Irish in me. Sounds good, I'll be trying it out here in Minnesota.

[@John_D75]

I’m in north central Ohio and I’ve never heard of salt potatoes. Definitely going to give them a try though.

[@foodskewed9197]

In nc you just get butter potatoes. Not the salt. Standard practice with any church bbq plate

[@scrappy7571]

Never heard of salt potatoes, my parents grew up in Pittsburgh, and now live in NJ. Gonna give them a try, my heart Dr is gonna be pissed!

[@lalondeguitar]

I came for the car repair videos and I stayed for the cooking videos! I enjoy every last bit of content you put out there! Thank you for sharing your life a bit with us!

[@mph5896]

NY, they salt their potatoes and salt their cars. Never heard of salt potatoes, will have to try them.

[@jamesmac8424]

They're fantastic. I don't find them overly salty, especially if you keep the skins intact. They're a "new" potato, so smaller and more tender. Boiled with butter topping is delicious, as shown.

[@johnasosajr]

They are good I’m from New York about an hour from Eric O I didn’t know until recently that it was a New York thing they are pretty easy to make and they are awesome I’m sure you can videos on how to make them

[@terebrown2892]

What do you mean they salt their cars?

[@jamesmac8424]

@@terebrown2892 There's s lot of salt put on all NYS roads in winter to melt snow sand ice.

[@KevinWindsor1971]

It's a Syracuse thing. Syracuse used to be the country's largest salt producer due to the salt springs that were there around Onondaga Lake. Salt was highly prized in the days before refrigeration to cure and store meats. Grocery stores there sell the potatoes and salt packets together. A good heaping cup of coarse kosher salt per 2 pounds of small white new potatoes is about the ratio you need. You know the ratio is right when they come to a boil and the potatoes want to float. They will leave salt stains on your pot and your stove top. Cook them until they're soft inside. I like to use a toothpick and dip them into melted butter.

[@kevinrenn9123]

Just remember folks, If Eric O can do it, so can you, especially after he gives you the recipe! I'm gonna try the marinade and salt potatoes here this weekend

[@adobo8383]

Eric's second channel is a hidden gem for sure!

[@andrewgarcia1250]

Thanks for letting us into your home/family time. Everything looks delicious 😋

[@jimrodgers3684]

Best advice ever: "Grab a beer and stand by." - Eric O. 2022

[@leepennington4649]

Absolutely love the cooking sideshows. 🤘🏻 This has got to be the best channel on KZbin. Love from Kentucky ❤️🤍💙

[@air4ce96]

Diggin’ the recent uploads. Keep ‘em coming!

[@DAI26554]

My mom used to do salt pototoes every sunday wish she was still here she passed away in 2018 a week of thanksgiving looks like i am planning a trip to upper new york to Chef Erics house for dinner

[@jerryhatrick5860]

I literaly set my drums put the food on, set my vents and go riding for 4-6 hrs come home and my butts or whatever is done when I get home. No digotals. I'm so happy to see you discovered these type of cookers. Because I despise easy bake pellet poopers. Expensive, high maintenance. And every single one I've ever been forced to use cramps out screws up and have to baby sit the damn thing Ugly drums never give me an issue. But I have many years of practice with them. And yes more food slows the cooking, I'm a fan of hot smoking it comes out better better bark on the meats and come out just as tender due to the fact it's a sealed system. Un like easy bake ovens that move a ton of air. If your after a crispier skin. Par boil or steam, render the fat out the skin. The other trick is the refrigerator overnight uncovered. Refrigerators pull moisture. Trust me try it. It works. And come on I to the ugly drum smoker groups on fake book.

[@cgoad]

When Chef Eric gets that Pit Barrel fired up it looks like he could feed most of Avoca! The 1st video with pork....I had just finished my dinner and my mouth started watering and my stomach started growling! 2nd video...chicken, well, repeat! I had just finished eating and now I'm hungry again. Plus we were having a nice thunderstorm. Coincidences? Great looking salad Mrs. O.!

[@frankthomas2231]

That`s the way it is when you fire up the smoker. I`ve had both my pellet smokers, gas grill, and flat top griddle fired up in one day.

[@petersmart1999]

Rule of firing up the smoker,if your gonna fire it up,it takes fuel,so make it worth while,your not gonna fire it up and do 1 rack,or one butt! Might as well load it up!

[@robertfreeman-of3ts]

I have lived in Oregon my whole life and never heard of salt potato's ? Sound good.

[@robpeters5204]

Mr. O. You are a lucky man. Mrs. O is a keeper! Try a raspberry vinaigrette in that salad. It will make that salad pop!

[@klaw163]

Really digging the second channel reboot! Thanks for sharing this stuff with us, I've been getting into more "creative" foods and ways to cook them lately so this is right up my alley and awesome 👍

[@bassbone52]

Eric O. and Mrs. O. - the best couple on KZbin!

[@Thomas_jefferson69]

You got it all in the vid. Beer, dogs, BBQ, and family. God Bless you.

[@philipallard8026]

Down in North Carolina here and I’ve never heard of salt potatoes here. With enough butter anything is Devine. North Carolina is very big on vinegar barbecue sauces so you get a great endorsement from here.

[@fishypictures]

California here, any chef worth his salt will tell you that a pinch of salt on everything is the way to go, even on ice cream, potatoes, mushrooms,veggies.. definitely boil pasta in salty water. Butter won’t kill you, anything cooked with bones can stay on fire a little longer, boneless meat will get away from you . I like the barrel cooker. Here in Cali we eat spring salads with fruit and avocado quite a bit. California cuisine….. check it out. Nice couple.

[@erwinallen2309]

My wife grew up in New York and I am from Idaho needless to say we have salt potatoes a lot and I love them.

[@mrpiccolo23]

Made all three for lunch today. Unique salad. Can't go wrong with potato and salt! Two thumbs up!

[@hilltopmachineworks2131]

So funny. We have a GSD and a Husky too. They are just like yours. The Husky lounges around and the Shepherd wants to play constantly.

[@pkcruiser]

Hi! I live in sweden and i’ve never heard of salt potatoes but it sounds interesting. Will definitely try. Thanks for all your videos!

[@hexaforce]

Since the start of charter tours to the Canary island the dish has come into the nordic countries.. Called Canary-potatoes (Kanaripoteter)or "saltpoteter"(saltypotatoes) in Norway 👍

[@rjlkc4668]

Never heard of it here in eastern Canada. We do have the Acadian poutine and rapee which is a grated potato and salt pork. Poutine looks like a snowball and the rapee is a flat dish. Probably one of the best things I’ve ever eaten.

[@user-ss3mq5jh3x]

Oh lucky man ' takes care a the homestead, with beautiful house with sears siding , and nice wife who hangs out with him .

[@golfmaniac]

Great all American family. Car repairs, grilling, archery, shooting, and enjoying a brew. Just enjoying life, don't get any better than this folks. Lived in Michigan my whole life, never heard of a salt potato. Shows how a certain area can have something they enjoy, that no one else even knows about.

[@gbeairsto]

Cornell chicken, Spiedies, salt potatoes !! Upstate NY for the win !

[@davidalpers6869]

great video... now i'm hungry. My wife and I enjoy cooking together. Its nice to see both of you enjoying your day together.

[@klwthe3rd]

I never heard of Salt potatoes before and i was born and raised in Connecticut. I live down south now and i haven't heard of them down here either. First time watching Eric O's other channel and it was pretty dang awesome. I do love chicken especially when it's been marinade in a secret sauce.

[@kirstenspencer3630]

Love the ambient sound complete with birds.....

[@rjb6327]

Always nice to see Mrs. O.

[@Papa7557]

All the fancy dishes (salad looks yummy, the chicken look delicious) you did a fantastic job Eric! Thanks Mrs “O” for making the salad. Also in California southern or northern no salted potatoes 🥔. This is the first time I heard of this.

[@DownRange02]

Born & raised in KY. 50 years old. Never heard of salt potatoes. Gonna try them now for sure though!

[@scburg66]

Moved here from Utah 6 years ago. We live in the Cortland area just south of Syracuse. It was the first time we ever had salt potatoes. Good eats! The chicken looks fantastic.

[@CPthetooladdict]

Never heard of salt potatoes in the Midwest you guys are family culinary artists I'm hungry now dang it! Lol great video thanks for sharing,.

[@SouthMainAuto]

That is so interesting. I heard they were reginal but I wasn't sure how reginal and how far they have spread across the USA

[@milleraudio3280]

No Salt Potato’s in NJ where we grew up or NC where we’ve lived for the past 20 plus years. My wife just got me a pit barrel for Christmas, so I appreciate these videos!

[@BG-vq9fd]

I was starving 5 minutes in. It all looks so good. Love the dogs.

[@remogaggi82]

Never heard of salted potatoes. I spent almost every summer of my youth in Erie, PA so reasonably far east. I was born and raised in California.

[@BBQPITDOG]

I've only seen salt potatoes up near Binghamton when I worked there years ago on helicopters for Sikorsky. Love Pit Barrel chicken. It's the best! Great looking dinner y'all!

[@dustinlang9278]

From around Oswego & Watertown, Only ever had them in Upstate NY, Moved all around the US and people have never heard of them. We would stock up when visiting and make it for friends and they loved them.

[@jeffhenson1994]

IT DOES NOT MATTER ITS JUST FUN WATCHING YOU COOK

[@mmeter3]

SMOKIN HOT BABY!!! got another winner there for you and the wife. keep up the great work

[@cortneybudau1700]

Mrs.O is pretty slick with that carving knife!

[@GarthGoldberg]

Wow, now I can get my cooking and car repair knowledge from the same source.

[@billbrigham7514]

Can't believe I just watched Eric cook chicken for a half hour.. ;) Eric, you're the embodiment of what many of us wish we were and how our country should be. Keep it up Sir.

[@dirtroadsailing6418]

Those chicken thighs look great. My North Carolinian born grandfather would have approved of the vinegar based marinade, he used to have an entire back porch dedicated to smoking and made a great vinegar based BBQ sauce. I have never heard of salt potatoes, I'm going to try them.

[@KayakTN]

My go-to salad is spinach, dried cranberries, pecans, and Newman’s honey balsamic. Tasty.

[@alansullivan5913]

Never heard of salt potatoes but it sounds like how I eat them anyway 🤣 I'm from Illinois about 300 miles south of Chicago I love potatoes with salt pepper and lots of butter love the video

[@waynegarrison2481]

Lived in Maryland 55 years, West Virginia 13 years now Holland Michigan ...NEVER heard of salt potatoes.. an I love to cook. Professional Firefighter for 30 years.

[@innercityprepper]

MN lifer here -- the minute I found out about salt potatoes (a few years ago) I absolutely did them and I do them all the time.

[@JC-tm6wh]

Country life in NY, love it.

[@billmudd8516]

Family and food nothing is better! As a family we had the good Three square meals a day.On Sunday ..we had Sunday meal we all were there . You have some blessed kids right there good food good parents. Eric O for the White House and Vanessa would make a great first lady.I can already hear you Oh H...No just keep doing your thing we will keep watching 👍.

[@1jackvalley580]

Chicken looks super great, I can almost smell it here in Minnesota. I'm still laughing my A** off when I heard you talking about the "salmonella sauce" and saw you mopping it over the top of the chicken 🐔 but I agree with Mrs O that raw chicken is a salmonella issue when it's raw but since you kept cooking it in the pit after putting it over the chicken again it's safe, but I'd sure as heck throw that little chicken "Mopper Topper" thingy in the Neighbors garbage. I'm going to make that "Salmonella Salad" it looks really good. Another fun video, Thanks for taking us along 🙏🐔🐾🐾🐾🐾❤️

[@jimpantherdrivervickers5439]

I'm from Ohio and my grandma used to make salt potatoes...that's been at least 40 years ago. She grew up in Rochester

[@vwwrenchie314]

South Main Auto Menu...live from our beautiful kitchen in Bath..featuring the lovely Mrs. O. ERIC ..eat your darn salad.😎🇨🇦

[@IFIXCASTLES]

All that cooking says you love your family!

[@seastacker8582]

Love the classic chicken thighs. Underrated bbq meat. Cooks up fantastic and are super cost effective. It takes a little time to prep/ trim em, but well worth it. Also… from Michigan. Never heard of salt potatoes. Clearly gotta try them now.

[@DrLee65]

I never knew this channel existed I am old lol, omgoodness Eric O. can cook too!!?? Never watched a Pit Barrel in action, that's cool. I think I would have to pass on the Salt Potatoes my BP would probably be sky high, lol, beautiful family stay blessed 🙋🏾

[@TotalDestructionStudios]

Tried this recipe last summer to break in my new smoker! Ended up making some pulled chicken sandwiches. They were amazing! Thanks Eric!

[@amundsonjm]

I absolutely love these pit barrel videos Eric and Vanessa! Keep them coming! Cheers from Wisconsin!

[@Wayman_Simmang]

Your are the PITMASTER Eric!! That Chicken looks good and crispy too!!

[@stephenmorrissey1254]

I do appreciate that a guy who can't smell has his own cooking channel! Subscribed!

[@TexasRanchu]

I am the same way , the first rule of smoking & grilling is a tong in one hand and a beer in the other!! It makes everything tastes better

[@billyg7281]

Very nice! Thank you for taking us along!

[@jhaedtler]

As always a great Video ! Thanks

[@harveybrimer1054]

I'm in central illinois and I have never heard of a salt potatoe, wife called her dad in Pennsylvania and they were all about the salt potatoe lol, love the cooking vids, and farm vids!!!

[@jormalonnberg1578]

Hi , Eric, looks gooood, We here in Finland cook those fresh spring potatoes with salt and dillstems, and sprinkle rest of dill on them when serving, to side melted butter mixed with fresh oniongreens or leak finely chopped. You should try it. And ONE more thing, you must try some of those Indian Tandoori recepies in your pitbarrel 😋😋

[@kenwiggins2699]

Love these cooking videos with you and Mrs .O

[@Wayman_Simmang]

Looks so good!! Thanks for these Vids!!

[@ionfuel]

looks awesome!

[@markpieklik8246]

Greetings from Syracuse. Salt potatoes a summertime favorite.

[@robertdibble3510]

Salt potatoes are a NY thing. I grew up in Oneida just east of Syracuse. When I moved to Virginia 40 years ago I had to introduce them to folks here.

[@mbazzy123]

Dang Mr O I am now hungry I guess I know what I am cooking this weekend. Nice recipe thanks for posting.

[@markmichlewicz5141]

Love these cooking videos.

[@travisperry7985]

Thanks for the cooking videos Mr and Mrs O

[@kebova1]

Originally from Oswego, love me some salt potatoes! From what I understand the salt is slightly different than table salt. Always have them a few times while up north on our summer vacations! And don't forget the bucks seasoning, also regional to the Syracuse area.

[@donaldsanders7234]

Oh how I miss the salt potatoes and speedies at the NYS fair. I went to school at Syracuse University, and lived in Syracuse for most of the 80s. Have not been to the fair in 30+ years. Thanks for the memories!

[@edharry3984]

This was great ! Eric & Mrs. O thanks for inviting me along . I got my wife to watch too. Ed

[@justthetip96]

Love these videos too. Thanks for sharing this with us. Thank Mrs. O too. She adds just that much more to the videos.

[@a1f1l65]

Texas here - Never heard of salt potatos, will give them a try. Chicken looks really good.

[@Allazander]

Love to your family! I recently found your channel so I've got some catching up to do but so far I've enjoyed all of your content, both SMA and after hours. I can't afford one of those pit barrels but I do have a good steel barrel or two laying around, may try to make one... Thank you so much for taking the time to share your life and knowledge with us through these videos.

[@AlexWhyte901]

LOVE the grilling and cooking vids as of late Eric and Mrs. O!!! Nice change up! I think at this point I would watch anything you put on your channel. Love them all.

[@rusilver01]

Weber kettle grill is great for quick charcoal grill items.

[@geraldclemens1682]

Looks amazing.

[@benjaminstockton3917]

Eric O. That chicken looked good buddy tell Mrs O. The salad looked awesome appreciate you guy's

[@markstanfield4345]

Looks really good 👍 yard bird always been my favorite 😍

[@ryanhodges7101]

That looks delicious!

[@paulschwarz3659]

Never heard of the salt potatoes, Chicago area here. Loved the pit barrel videos, please keep em coming. It all looked delicious! Thanks for sharing!

[@MrGardman]

These are really good videos. Very interesting Eric. A big thanks to you and the Mrs. for making such good content.

[@mrplasticpete]

From Arkansas and never heard of making potatoes like that before. But I will have to try it someday. Thanks for a new recipe. And keep up the good work. Love the content.

[@alpearl8583]

I love watching you and your wife doing everything together it’s great

[@CheezyDee]

My ex girlfriend introduced me to salt potatoes a few years ago when we went camping up in Roscoe, except they were little potatoes like 1 1/2" diameter. We just threw them in a pot and cooked them on the fire until you could poke them easily. She learned of salt potatoes from a classmate up in Potsdam who was a Rochester native.

[@m.b8257]

Mr O, that looks amazing, I’m gonna give that recipe a try this wkn, thanks for sharing.

[@ezrhino1803]

Recipe looks great. Gonna give a try tomorrow

[@dustinwalker7849]

Didn’t know there was a second channel but I do enjoy it. I usually start my chimney with a wad of paper towels, can also add oil on them for an extended burn. Works if you run out of tumbleweeds. Also, skin side up will render out some of the fat first so it doesn’t flare as bad when you flip it if doing normal grilling vs skin side down first.

[@rogerchevelle8543]

Thanks for the video Eric O. Love this channel as much as the Southmain Auto.👊

[@Darren.R]

I believe salt potatoes started in the Syracuse area by Hinerwadels grove. They were a staple item every summer at bbq’s anywhere in the Syracuse area when I was growing up.

[@1234554321ep67890]

So fun to watch you guys! From Minnesota and have never heard of 'salt potatoes' before seeing this but will try them! Keep up the great videos!

[@tubecoatue]

So nice to see more content with Mrs. O.

[@scottn8003]

Awesome video!!

[@alancall5113]

Great pro Tips keep them coming, love the channel.

[@timpage2976]

Glad to see you revived this channel Mr. O, learning some cooking ideas to throw at my misses.