It is easy to grill beer can chicken and it makes a delightfully different way to prepare chicken on your barbecue.
The idea behind this method for grilling a chicken is to place an opened can of beer on the grill and place a whole chicken over an opened can of beer. Cover the grill and slow-cook the chicken over medium heat. The beer vaporizes from the heat and keeps the chicken moist. The chicken will pick up a slight beer flavor in the process. If you are not a beer lover, you can experiment with different liquids such as water, soda pop, fruit juice, wine, marinades or bouillon to add special flavors.
The problem with simply using a beer or soda can is that it can easily topple over on the grill and spoil your recipe. We therefore use a special beer can roasting rack. There a several of these on the market. Our favorite is the Beeroaster Beer Can Chicken Roaster Rack. This is a deluxe model that is made from stainless steel and has a built-in tray that is perfect for roasting vegetables and even includes prongs for roasting small to medium sized potatoes. It even includes a built-in container that skips the need for the beer can. You can find this deluxe model at Amazon.com, Chefs.com, or other stores that sell barbecue accessories.
Here is an easy recipe that always works well. Fill the center cup with water, beer or your favorite juice or marinade. Slide the chicken over the cup. Baste the chicken with melted butter, then season the chicken with your favorite chicken seasoning. Add a little water to the vegetable tray and add the vegetables. Medium sized red potatoes work very well on the potato prongs. For veggies, we use sliced bell peppers, sliced onions, cherry tomatoes and mushroom slices. You can even top off the veggies with some shrimp for an added treat. Slide the BeeRoaster unit into your pre-heated grill or oven. Grill for 1 and 1/2 hours at 375°, which is a medium heat range on your barbecue.
Do not use a blazing flame with this recipe. A chicken needs to be cooked thoroughly, which requires a smaller flame and a longer cooking time. If your flame is too hot, the chicken may burn or dry out.
This is one chicken recipe that is worthwhile. Prepare yourself for a very moist and unique-tasting chicken.