Beer Can Chicken

Today was my first attempt of beer can chicken. It's a unique way to roast a whole chicken on your grill and beer keeps the chicken nice and flavorful. I usually roast a whole chicken in the oven and stuff the inside with garlic cloves but I decided to try something different today.

Ingredients:
A whole chicken (about 4 lbs)
Garlic cloves
Lemon
Basil
1 can of beer
Butter or olive oil
Your favorite rub or chicken seasoning

Rinse and pat dry your chicken. (If you leave the skin wet it will not crisp.) Season the chicken with salt or your favorite rub. Open a can of beer so the opening is completely open, take 2 large gulps so you are left with about 1/2 a can. Throw in garlic, lemon, basil or whatever flavors you like infused into your chicken. Brush on butter or olive oil on the chicken.

Preheat the grill (gas) to about 350 degrees. Carefully insert the beer can into the butt of the chicken and stand it upright using the chicken legs as part of the tripod holding it up. Make sure the wings are tucked in since they cook very fast. Cook with the grill covered for about 1.5 hours or when internal temperature is at least 175f degrees.

When chicken done carefully remove the hot beer can and let it rest for 5 minutes before cutting. Amazon and other retailers sell special kits for beer can chicken. I'm using one I bought at Macy's with a vegetable grill pan attached to it. This makes it convenient to cook veggies along with the chicken and the can is attached to the pan so it prevents the whole chicken from tipping.

So my verdict after 2 hours of prepping and cooking, I think I will stick to my oven method. Cooking the chicken on the grill wastes a lot of propane. If you have a charcoal grill is may be better and will get that nice smoked taste. Maybe next time I will add some wood chips.