A few weeks ago we butchered our first batch of broilers for the year. We had been craving chicken as we’d been out for awhile. Last night we were finally able to cook one. One of our favorite chicken recipes is “Beer Can Chicken” although we use neither beer nor a can. This recipe is especially great in the summer because you can keep all the cooking outside and you don’t have to heat the kitchen up.
I use this handy “Beer Can Chicken” stand that I picked up several years ago at the grocery store and an old stainless steel frying pan that I removed the handle from. In the past, I had used just a can to support the chicken and a disposable aluminum pan to catch the drippings. You can use whatever you have on hand.
In your pan, place a 3/4 full can of beer or soda or a half pint canning jar filled 3/4 full with water. You can add spices or BBQ sauce to the water if you like.
Rub the outside of your chicken with salt and/or your desired spices.
Then slip the bottom of the chicken over your can/jar, spreading the legs to help support and balance the bird so that it stands upright.
Pre-heat your grill for a few minutes. You’ll want to use indirect heat by turning off the burner directly under where the chicken will be in the center of the grill and turning on the outside burners on medium heat.
Once pre-heated, place the pan containing your seasoned chicken on the center of the grill.
Cook 15 minutes for every pound of chicken plus 15 minutes. So for example, a 4 lb chicken would cook approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Check on your chicken 2-3 times while it cooks, turning it 180* each time so that it cooks evenly.
At the end of the cooking time, be sure to check the thickest part of the breast, the temp should be at least 165 degrees F.
At this point, bring the chicken inside, cover with tented aluminum foil and let rest for 10-15 minutes before carving.
"Beer" Can Chicken
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Ingredients:
1- 12 can of beer (optional)
Salt
Steps:
Preheat grill on high heat while you prep the chicken.
In the center of a grill proof pan, place a half-pint mason jar filled 3/4 full with water or place an open can of beer (take a few sips first so that it's approximately 3/4 full).
If using water in the above step, add 1/2 tsp salt to it.
Place your chicken, bottom down, over the top of the jar/can. Use the chicken's legs and the jar to balance the chicken upright.
Sprinkle the outside of chicken generously with salt.
Place the pan containing your chicken in the center of the grill.
Turn off the center burner and turn the outside burners to medium. You'll need to adjust the heat a bit depending on your grill. You want to be cooking at about 300 - 325 degrees.
Cook 15 minutes for every pound of chicken, plus 15 minutes. For example, a 4 lb chicken would cook for 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Rotate the chicken 180* midway through cooking.
At the end of cook time, check the internal temp to be sure it's at least 165 degrees.
Remove from heat and allow to rest covered for 15 minutes before carving. Enjoy!!