If you’re looking to impress a small group of people, Beer Can Chicken is the way to go. A perfectly roasted chicken sitting atop a can of your favorite beer is a sight to behold – a true showstopper!
For this beer can chicken recipe we consulted our trusted Big Green Egg Cookbook as well as their website and then we bought a vertical roaster from Blackhawk Hardware. The roaster holds the beer can and provides a much steadier base than a can alone would be. You’ll also need a drip pan and a spray bottle. We also used the ConvEGGtor for indirect cooking.
Get yourself a nice 5lbs-ish chicken, remove giblets and necks and either rub the chicken with your favorite store-bought chicken rub (we have a whole aisle full of grilling spices and sauces – hint hint!) or make your own. We adapted the rub recipe from the book and mixed:
Poultry Rub
1tsp brown sugar
1stp garlic powder
1tsp onion powder
1tsp chili powder
1/2tsp red pepper flakes (use less if you don’t like the heat)
1 tsp paprika
1tsp mustard seeds
1TBS salt
Rub the mixture into the chicken inside and out and let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes. In the mean time set up your Big Green Egg for indirect heat with the ConvEGGtor and preheat it to 375F.
Beer Can Chicken Tonic
Pour half of the beer, 1 cup apple juice, 2TBS olive oil, and 2TBS balsamic vinegar into the spray bottle. Place the half full beer can into the vertical roaster.
Grilling Beer Can Chicken
After 30 minutes, slide the chicken cavity on the beer can and put it on the Big Green Egg’s grid. Spray the chicken with the tonic and close the lid. Cook the chicken for 20 minutes and spray one more time after about 10 of those.
Using grilling gloves, lift the roaster with the chicken into the drip pan. Spritz on additional tonic several times during the next 60 or so minutes of cooking. We suggest starting to take the chicken’s temperature at 45 minutes. The reading in the thickest part of the thigh should be 170F.
After you’ve carefully removed the chicken from the Big Green Egg and the (very hot) beer can, spray it with the tonic one more time, cover it with foil and allow it to rest for 10 minutes. That’s always the hardest part for me, as the aroma has me drooling.
Enjoy!
