At the beginning of the Summer, I got it into my head that I wanted to do some experimentation with cooking Beer Can Chicken on the grill and eventually come up with the best beer can chicken recipe on the Internet and after a few months I’ve succeeded in doing just that. Now if you’re confused by the headline of ‘beer can chicken without beer from a can’ I’ll go ahead and explain that right away: after some experimentation, I found that the best possible beer for beer can chicken in terms of infusing the bird with flavor is the Guinness Blonde American Lager but the issue here is that it is mostly manufactured in bottles.
So, my first obstacle was to find an apparatus that allows for me to cook beer can chicken on the grill without using the beer can itself. And I guess I could’ve just drunk another can and then poured the Guinness Blonde American Lager into a random empty can but I found an amazing apparatus on Amazon for super cheap that 1) comes with a stainless steel can which fits perfectly inside of the chicken and 2) also comes with a drip try and stand to protect all the juices which can later be made into gravy. Here’s that item, it’s made by the man who made Beer Can Chicken world famous AND you can pick one up for just $19.99 on Amazon:
The basic recipe I used came from the Food Network, but the flavor is all in the details, so for the meat rub I used the infamous Rufus Teague rub and for beer I obviously went with the Guinness American Lager. Below I’ve included photographs of every step in cooking the best beer can chicken around but before we get to that here’s the recipe via FoodNetwork.com:
Ingredients:
1 (4-pound) whole chicken
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 tablespoons salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
3 tablespoons of your favorite dry spice rub
1 can beerDirections:
Watch how to make this recipe.
Remove neck and giblets from chicken and discard. Rinse chicken inside and out, and pat dry with paper towels. Rub chicken lightly with oil then rub inside and out with salt, pepper and dry rub. Set aside.
Open beer can and take several gulps (make them big gulps so that the can is half full). Place beer can on a solid surface. Grabbing a chicken leg in each hand, plunk the bird cavity over the beer can. Transfer the bird-on-a-can to your grill and place in the center of the grate, balancing the bird on its 2 legs and the can like a tripod.
Cook the chicken over medium-high, indirect heat (i.e. no coals or burners on directly under the bird), with the grill cover on, for approximately 1 1/4 hours or until the internal temperature registers 165 degrees F in the breast area and 180 degrees F in the thigh, or until the thigh juice runs clear when stabbed with a sharp knife. Remove from grill and let rest for 10 minutes before carving.
Recipe courtesy of Bob Blumer
You’ll also need some grilling gloves to take the Beer-Can chicken Rack off the grill, so if you don’t have a pair of those you can find them HERE ON AMAZON.
If you want to purchase the items to cook your beer can chicken exactly as I did here are the random items you’ll need:
— Steven Raichlen Best of Barbecue Beer-Can Chicken Rack with Canister and Drip Pan: $19.99 on Amazon
— Rufus Teague Meat Rub: $3.76 on Amazon (or $14.49 for a 2-Pack of the Meat Rub and Spicy Meat Rub if you want to add some more kick)
— Guinness American Blonde Lager: more info on this beer can be found on Guinness.com
Now here is that recipe in action, from the preparation of the bird on through the grilling, carving, and even the side of homemade gravy (and a few grilled portabello mushrooms on the side as well, marinated in balsamic vinegar):
Again, I’m willing to go on record and claim that this is the BEST BEER CAN CHICKEN RECIPE ON THE INTERNET, and if you want to purchase the items to cook your own beer can chicken exactly as I did here are the random items you’ll need:
— Steven Raichlen Best of Barbecue Beer-Can Chicken Rack with Canister and Drip Pan: $19.99 on Amazon
— Rufus Teague Meat Rub: $3.76 on Amazon (or $14.49 for a 2-Pack of the Meat Rub and Spicy Meat Rub if you want to add some more kick)
— Guinness American Blonde Lager: more info on this beer can be found on Guinness.com
If you’ve got any feedback on this and/or want to see some other grill recipes featured here on BroBible just drop me a line in the comments and I’ll work on getting those up here on the site!
(h/t to the Food Network and Bob Blumer on the nuts and bolts of the recipe)
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