Beer Can Chicken
"A great beer can chicken recipe. The Memphis rub really makes it good. Directions include instructions for both gas and charcoal grills. From Bon Appetit."
Ingredients
-
-
-
- MEMPHIS RUB
-
-
-
-
Nutritional
- Serving Size: 1 (674.7 g)
- Calories 623.3
- Total Fat - 12.8 g
- Saturated Fat - 3.2 g
- Cholesterol - 1360.8 mg
- Sodium - 2158.7 mg
- Total Carbohydrate - 15 g
- Dietary Fiber - 3 g
- Sugars - 7.1 g
- Protein - 101.9 g
- Calcium - 95.4 mg
- Iron - 16 mg
- Vitamin C - 21.9 mg
- Thiamin - 0.2 mg
Step by Step Method
Step 1
Remove and discard the fat just inside the body cavities of the chicken.
Step 2
Remove the package of giblets, and set aside for another use.
Step 3
Rinse the chicken, inside and out, under cold running water, then drain and blot dry, inside and out, with paper towels.
Step 4
Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of the rub inside the body and neck cavities, then rub another 1 tablespoon all over the skin of the bird.
Step 5
If you wish, rub another 1/2 tablespoon of the mixture between the flesh and the skin.
Step 6
Cover and refrigerate the chicken while you preheat the grill.
Step 7
Set up the grill for indirect grilling placing a drip pan in the center. If using a charcoal grill, preheat it to medium.
Step 8
If using a gas grill, place all the wood chips in the smoker box and preheat the grill to high; then, when smoke appears, lower the heat to medium.
Step 9
Pop the tab on the beer can.
Step 10
Using a "church key" style can opener, make 6 or 7 holes in the top of the can.
Step 11
Pour out the top inch of beer, then spoon the remaining dry rub through the holes into the beer.
Step 12
Holding the chicken upright, with the opening of the body cavity down, insert the beer can into the cavity. (Caution: the beer fizzes when you add the rub!).
Step 13
When ready to cook, if using charcoal, toss half the wood chips on the coals.
Step 14
Oil the grill grate.
Step 15
Stand the chicken up in the center of the hot grate, over the drip pan.
Step 16
Spread out the legs to form a sort of tripod, to support the bird.
Step 17
Cover the grill and cook the chicken until fall-off-the-bone tender, 2 hours.
Step 18
If using charcoal, add 10 to 12 fresh coals per side and the remaining wood chips after 1 hour.
Step 19
Using tongs, lift the bird to a cutting board or platter, holding the metal spatula underneath the beer can for support. (Have the board or platter right next to the bird to make the move shorter. Be careful not to spill hot beer on yourself.)
Step 20
Let stand for 5 minutes before carving the meat off the upright carcass. (Toss the beer can out along with the carcass.)
MEMPHIS RUB
Step 21
Combine all the ingredients in a jar, twist the lid on airtight, and shake to mix.
Step 22
Store away from heat or light for up to six months.
Step 23
Makes about 1/2 cup. Enough for 4 to 6 racks of ribs or 1 whole chicken.
Indirect grilling on a Charcoal Grill
Step 24
To set up you grill for indirect grilling, light the coals.
Step 25
When they are blazing red, use tongs to transfer them to opposite sides of the grill, arranging them in two piles.
Step 26
Some grills have special half-moon-shaped baskets to hold the coals at the sides; others have wire fences that hook onto the bottom gate.
Step 27
Let the coals burn until they are covered with a thin layer of gray ash.
Step 28
Set the drip pan in the center of the grill, between the mounds of coals.
Step 29
Place the food on the grate over the drip pan, and cover the grill.
Step 30
You'll need to add about 10 to 12 fresh briquettes to each side after an hour of cooking.
Step 31
If you want to add a smoke flavor, add 1 to 2 cups of presoaked wood chips, or 2 to 4 chunks, to the coals just before you start to cook, and again whenever you replenish the coals.
Tips
No special items needed.