Grilled Beer Can Chicken Recipe

"Cooking times stated is for a 3-pound or a little more whole chicken cooked on an outdoor gas grill set to medium heat Adjust cooking time for a larger chicken, no matter what size the chicken is a meat thermometer inserted in the breast should read 180 degrees, temperature not time is your guarantee to perfectly cooked chicken! "

Original is 3-4 servings

Metric US

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Ingredients

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(3 pound) whole chicken
1 prepared recipe for Kittencal's Chicken Brine --- kittencals-chicken-brine
Oil, as needed
Seasoned salt (as desired but use sparingly or omit completely, the brine is salty enough)

Fresh ground black pepper (use amount desired)
Garlic powder (use amount desired)
1 can beer (tall or regular size can)

Nutritional

Serving Size: 1 (580.3 g)
Calories 509.7
Total Fat - 10.4 g
Saturated Fat - 3.3 g
Cholesterol - 1088.6 mg
Sodium - 337.5 mg
Total Carbohydrate - 10 g
Dietary Fiber - 0.1 g
Sugars - 5.7 g
Protein - 80.9 g
Calcium - 55.2 mg
Iron - 11.4 mg
Vitamin C - 16.8 mg
Thiamin - 0.1 mg

Step by Step Method

Step 1

Place the prepared brine in a large bowl. Add in the whole chicken turn to coat in the brine finish turning with breast side facing down. Refrigerate 8-24 hours turning the chicken breast side up halfway through brining time. When ready to grill rinse chicken thoroughly in cold water.

Step 2

Lightly brush the chicken with oil then season with spices. On a 2 burner barbecue, light one burner and set it to medium heat. Open the can of beer and pour out about 1/4 cup. Make three more holes in the top of the can.

Step 3

Remove the chicken from the brine then rinse in cold water. Slide the chicken with the legs pointing down onto the can (the ends of the drumsticks should touch the bottom of the can and the chicken should stay upright on the can). Put the chicken and can over the unlit burner and use the legs to help keep the chicken upright. Close the barbecue lid.

Step 4

Grill for 45 minutes then turn the chicken 180 degrees to ensure even heating. Close the lid and continue cooking for another 45 minutes or until a meat thermometer inserted in the breast reads 180F (83C).

Step 5

Remove the chicken and the can from the barbecue and put them on a plate so that the can remains upright then tent loosely with foil and let stand for 15 minutes. Gently lift the chicken off he can and put the chicken on a cutting board (I use a heat proof oven mit for this) NOTE; the can and liquid will be very hot so take care not to burn yourself. Throw out the can and liquid. Cut the chicken into portions and serve.