Beer Can Chicken Recipe: Enjoy a Classic Southern Dish with Beer

Beer-can chicken is a popular dish from Southern U.S. cuisine. It is known for its unique cooking method, which involves placing a can of beer inside the chicken cavity. This technique helps keep the chicken moist and adds flavour. The recipe is simple and perfect for a barbecue or a family dinner.

• 1 recipe spice rub (or your own recipe)
• 2 bay leaves, crumbled
• 1 can (12 ounces / ~355 ml) of beer
• 3–4 pound (1.5–2 kg) chicken (dressed)

• Oven or grill
• Shallow heatproof pan
• Disposable drip pan (optional)

Procedure

1. Poke holes all over the chicken to let fat run out during cooking.
2. Rub the chicken thoroughly with spice rub: inside, outside, and under the skin as far as you can reach.
3. Set aside the chicken.
4. Remove upper racks from the oven.
5. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).
6. When the oven is preheated, take a healthy drink of the beer, leaving about 9–10 ounces.
7. Crumble bay leaves into the beer in the beer can.
8. Insert the beer can firmly into the chicken cavity.
9. Place the chicken upright in a shallow heatproof pan.
10. Bake the chicken upright for 1–1.5 hours until the thickest part reaches 165°F (73°C).
11. When removing the chicken from the oven, keep it upright.
12. Rest the chicken upright for 15 minutes before removing the beer can.

Nutritional Values

A disposable drip pan can save you a lot of cleanup and prevent flares on an outdoor grill. While this dish is great in an oven, it truly shines on a charcoal grill set to medium heat. The smoky flavour from grilling enhances the taste of this Southern classic. Enjoy your meal!