What Kind Of Beer For Beer Can Chicken
Most people use a lager, or a beer that is not too hoppy or bitter. I used a Corona Extra because thats what we drink. Ive put a list of different types of beers you can use for cooking beer can chicken, and whether it matters.
When it comes to choosing the right beer for your beer can chicken, there are no set rules, You can use fruity beers or sour beers.
Fruity and sour beers have more acidity and tend to do really well with grilled chicken.
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Thanks To A Recipe From Chef Michael Symons Cookbook And Our Easy Tricks Youre Going To Master This Grill Technique
Its hard to believe that beer can chicken is one of the easiest ways to grill a chicken, but cooking it vertically, atop a semi-full can of beeryes, you can cook with beeris the way to go if youre looking to wow your guests. Not only does it look impressive, it tastes amazing, too!
The thing that makes it so delicious is the chicken sits on a beer and as the beer is heating up, its throwing steam and flavor into the inside of the chicken which keeps things incredibly moist, says Food Network star, Iron Chef and restaurateur Michael Symon. He includes a beer can chicken recipe in his new cookbook, Playing with Fire.
Check out Chef Symons recipe below plus some of our tricks to make the seasons best beer can chicken:
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Beer Can Chicken Variations
This recipe here is a traditional dry rub that many people use for their beer can chicken. If these seasonings arent your favorite, there are a couple of variations you may like.
One thing many people choose to do is a BBQ rub that contains brown sugar and seasonings such as garlic, onion, and paprika. Another option would be a cajun rub, or even using a seasoning blend such as Old Bay.
For the beer, you can use your favorite IPA, stout, a hard cider, or you can swap the beer for a mason jar half full of chicken stock, apple cider, or lemon juice and water. Some people even drop a couple of garlic cloves down into the liquid before they put it inside of the chicken.
For easier adaptation to indoor cooking, or for use during winter months when your grill might not be accessible, there is a spatchcock variation.
There youd spatchcock the chicken and lay it flat in a roasting pan and pour the beer or other cooking liquid into the pan as well. This way the chicken roasts in its juices and the beer aromatics are also infused into the meat.
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Thanks To A Recipe From Chef Michael Symon’s Cookbook And Our Easy Tricks You’re Going To Master This Grill Technique
Its hard to believe that beer can chicken is one of the easiest ways to grill a chicken, but cooking it vertically, atop a semi-full can of beeryes, you can cook with beeris the way to go if youre looking to wow your guests. Not only does it look impressive, it tastes amazing, too!
The thing that makes it so delicious is the chicken sits on a beer and as the beer is heating up, its throwing steam and flavor into the inside of the chicken which keeps things incredibly moist, says Food Network star, Iron Chef and restaurateur Michael Symon. He includes a beer can chicken recipe in his new cookbook, Playing with Fire.
Check out Chef Symons recipe below plus some of our tricks to make the seasons best beer can chicken:
How Do You Make Beer Can Chicken
Start by brushing a whole chicken with olive oil, then covering the inside and outside of the chicken with BBQ rub. Open a can of beer and pour approximately 1/4 of the liquid out. Carefully set the chicken on top of the can. Be sure to push the chicken down to create a tripod effect with the legs of the chicken and the beer can to keep everything stable. Cook the chicken over indirect heat on the grill for 60-90 minutes until the chicken is cooked through. Garnish with fresh herbs, then serve and enjoy.
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Preheat The Grill And Mix The Spices
For this recipe, you will need to use a grill, so go ahead and preheat yours to medium-high heat at 425 F. While the grill preheats, you can melt the butter and tend to the rest of the prep work.
In a small bowl, add the ingredients for the chicken rub. This includes paprika, brown sugar, ground thyme, and kosher salt. Pour out half the beer . Take the can with the remaining beer and place it on a rimmed baking sheet. If you like, you can add a layer of foil first to prevent any messes.
The Grilling Of Our Bird:
Heat your grill until it maintains a temperature of somewhere between 350 and 400 degrees. With a spot to place your chicken that is not right over the heat. As read on your grills hood thermometer.
Tip for smaller 2 burner gas grills: Even with one burner on high you may not be able to maintain a temperature in this range. So, every 15 minutes or so you will need to turn on the burner below the bird for a few minutes. Low to medium heat will do just until you get the grill heat up to 400 degrees. Then turn off for another 15 minutes. The temp will slowly drop down.
Place your chicken on the grill grates, off of the heat and close the lid. If you only have a single heat source you will need to rotate the bird a quarter turn, every 20 to 30 minutes. The size of your bird will dictate how long the cooking time will be. Anywhere from 1.5 up to 2 hours is the norm, we cook to temp not to time.
Temp check the breast meat at 1.25 hours in. When the breast reaches 130 degrees we are ready for the final stage
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Indirect Heat On The Grill
This beer can chicken needs to be grilled over indirect heat so that it doesnt burn before the inside cooks through. To create this effect with a charcoal grill, arrange the charcoal on just one side of the grill, and place a drip pan on the other side. Cook the chicken on the drip pan side. For a gas grill, preheat all the burners, then turn half the burners off before you add the chicken. Place the chicken on the side of the grill where the burners are not lit. You can also place a drip pan on the burners that are not lit. Another method is to build a ring of coals along the outer edge of the grill, then place the chicken in the center where there are no coals.
What Temperature Should Beer Can Chicken Be Cooked To
Your whole grilled chicken is done when a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the chicken thigh reads 165°F. Depending on the size of your chicken and the type of grill you use, this means that your beer can chicken cook time will vary a bit. We recommend starting to check the temp at an hour and 15 minutes, and then keep checking regularly until you see that 165°F. Also, when youre checking the internal temperature, make sure that youre not touching the bone.
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Let The Chicken Rest Then Serve
After you remove the chicken from the grill, let it rest for 10 to 15 minutes. Then, you can go ahead and slice and serve as you please. “I love to marinade veggies in Italian dressing and grill them up while the chicken is resting. It’s a great healthy meal, and the grill is already hot, so it’s perfect,” Rapone says.
We don’t think you will have much left over, but if you do, don’t sweat it! “I recommend keeping leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days,” Rapone says. “If you want to freeze it, just pick the meat off and shred it, and store it in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months.”
Preparing Beer Can Chicken In An Oven
Ingredient list:
- Garlic powder, basil, ground thyme, dried oregano, paprika
- Finely ground black pepper
Step 1: Start preheating the oven .
Step 2: Take a shallow pan and put the whole chicken on the beer can or vertical roasting rack.
Step 3: Combine paprika, garlic powder, oregano, basil, thyme, and salt in a tiny bowl. Use the rub to coat the chicken.
Step 4: Cook the chicken for about 75 to 90 minutes or until the thick chicken thighs reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Champion Beer Can Chicken On The Grill
This Champion Beer Can Chicken recipe is the stuff that legends are made of. Our famous Chicken & Poultry Seasoning is rubbed all over the bird which is then cooked on a chicken throne filled with beer and barbecue sauce. The result is a delicious, tender, and moist chicken the whole family will love.
What Kind Of Beer Is Best For Beer Can Chicken
Theres no need to be all fancy and money-wasting here, using your favorite craft beer. Although your beer butt chicken will most certainly still turn out wonderful if you do.
Weve been using Blakes lawn mowing beer. We keep it cold in our second fridge every summer, solely for the purpose of having a light beer to quench Blakes thirst after mowing the yard.
A bonus with this particular beer, is that it has a tall, skinny can. There are other lawn mowing beers that feature this kind of can, too. I like how the taller can sits inside the beer can chicken holder, helping to prop the chicken up just a bit higher.
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Chicken On A Can Of Beer
Beer can chicken is one of my favorite things to cook when hosting a cookout for friends and family. Super quick and easy to prep and the smell of it cooking on the grill is hard to resist!
A whole chicken is placed over a can of beer during cooking on the grill which means it cooks more evenly and the steam from the beer makes the meat so succulent.
This is always a sure fire crowd pleaser at a BBQ, or cook it up for a fuss free family dinner.
Be sure to try my Crockpot Whole Chicken and Air Fryer Whole Chicken too!
Grilled Beer Can Chicken
The great thing about this chicken is that you can also grill it and it will turn out just as delicious and amazing.
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Here Are The Things You Need To Know About Making Beer Can Chicken:
YOU GOT THIS!
Im putting up this photo of the ingredients like I always do, but I already know you literally got this! Chicken, oil, a spice rub and maybe some fresh herbs, this recipe proves fabulous taste can happen with just a few key ingredients.
CHICKEN
A big part of the success of this recipe will go to the way we cook the chicken, yet we cant overlook the importance of the bird itself. I really want you to source a plump chicken thats certified organic and naturally raised. Youll want a bird thats grown cage free, drug free, raised on GMO-free, organically grown grains and feed. We maintain, you will taste a difference these chickens are way more flavourful.
RUB
Grab some extra virgin olive oil, kosher salt and your favourite spice rub thats it. Theres nothing groundbreaking in the rub portion of this recipe except for application. Its a 2-for-1 special a tablespoon of the spice rub gets worked into the cavity of the bird with the kosher salt, while the outside of the bird gets oiled and rubbed with the remaining tablespoons of the spices. This ensures the bird is well-seasoned.
HERBS
Weve included a little bouquet of fresh herbs for two reasons. First, we had them at hand, growing in the garden. Second, they add yet another level of flavour and enticing aromas when placed in the cavity of the chicken. If you have fresh herbs handy, use them.
CAN DOOR
The Juiciest And Most Delicious Chicken You Will Ever Make
Chicken is one of the most popular proteins because it is so easy to make, affordable, and versatile. Chicken is great for day-to-day or you can make a more intricate meal for a special occasion.
Chicken is high in protein and extremely low in carbs, which is exactly what you want. Not only that, but it is much more affordable on average than beef, pork, or even turkey.
The combination of seasonings and spices in this recipe makes it extremely flavorful, and the cooking method ensures that each bite will be dripping with juices.
If youre tired of grilled chicken that misses the mark and ends up dry and overdone, check out the recipe below to change how you look at simple poultry.
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How To Use Leftover Beer Can Chicken
You know me. I live for leftovers. I think theyre the biggest gift to our busy schedules. You might even want to consider grilling TWO chickens at the same time, for even more leftovers love!
The chicken breasts are the easiest pieces to slice and save for later.
Here are some suggestions for using the leftover chicken:
- Soup: Oh how I love a good bowl of soup! Try my Thai Chicken Soup, Creamy Chicken Wild Rice Soup, or this super fun End of Summer Chicken Chili thats loaded with garden harvest goodness. If your family likes pasta and cheese, try my Lemon Chicken Tortellini Soup.
- Salad: Blake and the girls go crazZzZzy for Chinese Chicken Salad. This Chopped Chicken and Couscous Salad with Sweet Basil Dressing is also wonderful. Or top some fresh greens with slices of leftover grilled chicken and drizzle over the top this beautiful Herby Lemon Vinaigrette or my grandmas Fresh Ginger Dressing .
- Mexican: This recipe for Autumn-Spiced Cheddar Chicken Tacos with Apples always gets great reviews. And my sisters Taco Salad with Creamy Taco Dressing and Doritos is on our menu ALOT just swap out the ground beef or turkey for leftover chicken. Or do like our girls do, and make cheesy chicken quesadillas!
- Total comfort: Have you tried this cheesy Chicken Cheesesteak Baked Ziti yet? Its loaded with flavor, so darn good!
Grilled Beer Can Chicken Recipe
Want to take your chicken from drab to fab? If so, keep reading! This recipe for grilled beer can chicken is the perfect addition to a game-day lineup, but it would be equally great to serve to the family at dinner . From the perfect spice blend to coat the chicken to a decadent mix of butter and beer, this chicken gets so tender, juicy, and flavorful as it cooks on the grill.
Recipe developer Stephanie Rapone is the brains behind this fun and easy dish you’ll want to make repeatedly. “I love how easy this recipe is to make, and that I can make it on the grill on really hot days without it being a typical “grilled” meal,” Rapone says. And, this recipe is suitable for a rookie. “This is a great recipe for a beginner,” she adds. “I know making a whole chicken can be intimidating, but the moisture from the beer, as well as having it get that steam in the first 30 minutes, really keeps it moist and delicious.”
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Place Chicken On The Grill
Rapone suggests inserting a thermometer into the chicken at this time to keep more accurate track of the temperature of the chicken while it is on the grill.
Turn off the flame on one side of the grill but keep the other sections going to keep the grill hot. Rapone says she usually shuts off the middle burner and leaves the two sides on. Then, place the chicken on the grill and add some water on the rimmed baking sheet.
Gather The Ingredients For This Grilled Beer Can Chicken
Start by gathering all of the necessary ingredients. You will only need a few things, including a whole chicken, butter, paprika, brown sugar, ground thyme, kosher salt, and, of course, a can of beer. For this recipe, a simple lager or light ale works best.
Once you have those items, you can make this tender grilled beer can chicken.
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