Beer Can Chicken Recipe
By Dennis Amo
Mandatory Credit: Jamie McCaffrey
Beer Can Chicken was introduced to me while I was over in Germany, by a family that was from the Texas.
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I have to say that this was probably one of the best chickens I have ever had, and whenever my family does a whole chicken, it is 90% of the time done as a Beer Can Chicken.
Some basics to start off with. If you have never tried a Beer Can Chicken, you need to. You will be blown away and once you Beer Can, you won’t go back.
Find yourself a beer can chicken holder or set up that will work for you. I actually have one specially made for beer can chicken through Pampered Chef. There are ones out their that you can buy or you can be resourceful and buy an aluminum grill pan, poke some holes in it and place the beer right into the middle of the pan and set the bird on the can. Doesn’t really get any simpler than that.
Ok, so pick your chicken out. Depending on how many people you are feeding that day, and you can always have leftovers, so go bigger never smaller. I always tell my wife, go big or go home.
I usually have a bird about 5 to 6 pounds for our family of five and that will feed up to 8-10 people easily. Season the bird with whatever your favorite seasonings are and cover generously. I will usually use garlic and onion powders, salt, pepper as my basis and then stem from their depending on the flavor I want to have with it. It usually changes from time to time.
After the chicken is seasoned well, you will then season the inside of the chicken with the same seasoning. Dump that seasoning right into the cavity.
Now, when it comes to beer can chicken, one of the best parts of this is drinking the beer. Open your beer can and drink approximately 1/4 of the can. Then add the seasoning mix that you rubbed on the chicken to the beer.
Place the beer on the pan and the chicken on the beer.
By this point, the chicken is ready to go. The grill should be fired and ready to go, if not start it now. I like a crispier skin on the chicken so I usually will cook the chicken at 350 on the grill for about 2 to 2.5 hours.
Right before I put the chicken on the grill, I throw some soaked wood chips to add some smokey flavor to the chicken as well. I prefer hickory but have used cherry and apple as well. I have also combined them all. I will usually smoke the chicken 3 times, right in the beginning, in the middle at about the 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minute mark and then about 30 minutes before I take the chicken off the grill.
This chicken comes out with a crispy skin that is to die for and the inside of the chicken stays most and does not get dried out and the flavor goes on forever. This is a meal that you cannot be without and one that you should try. Add some roasted potatoes or some grilled vegetables and you are set for one fantastic meal.