Main dishes

Beer Can-Barbecue Chicken

photo by:kraft

Juicy golden-brown grilled chicken with tender, crispy skin is the stuff of summer barbecue lore. Our recipe makes it a cinch. If you're lucky, there might even be leftovers.

time

prep:

15 min

total:

1 hr 30 min

servings

total:

6 servings

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What You Need

tsp. garlic powder

tsp. onion powder

1/2

tsp. paprika

1/2

tsp. black pepper

1/4

tsp. dried thyme leaves

whole chicken (4 lb.)

can (12 oz.) beer

1/2

cup KRAFT Honey Barbecue Sauce

Make It

HEAT grill for indirect grilling: Light one side of grill, leaving other side unlit. Close lid; heat grill to 375ºF.

MIX first 5 ingredients; rub onto chicken.

OPEN beer can; discard half the beer. Place can on work surface; lower chicken over can, inserting can into tail end of chicken. Stand chicken on grate over unlit area, using the legs to help the chicken stand upright; cover. (Can should remain in chicken on grill.)

GRILL chicken 1 hour; brush with 1/4 cup sauce. Grill, uncovered, 15 min. or until chicken is done (165ºF), monitoring for consistent grill temperature and brushing chicken frequently with remaining sauce. Remove from grill; cover loosely with foil. Let stand 10 min. before removing chicken from can and carving chicken. Discard any beer remaining in can.

Kraft Kitchens Tips

Serving Suggestion

Balance this special-occasion entree with smart side dishes. For example, choose a mixed green salad and hot steamed vegetables.

Substitute

Prepare using BULL'S-EYE Original Barbecue Sauce.

How to Grill with Indirect Heat

When grilling over indirect heat, the food is not cooked directly over the heat source. The covered grill then acts like an oven, so there is no need to turn the food. Use this grilling method for foods that require at least 25 min. of grilling time or foods that are so delicate that direct exposure to the heat source would dry them out, such as roasts, whole chickens, thick steaks, ribs or delicate fish fillets.

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Shartalyn

posted:1/7/2013

My go-to recipe for Beer Can Chicken. I also like to try different rubs on the outside of the skin to change up the flavor.

JoAnn1260

posted:5/29/2012

Very tender and moist.

denise7388

posted:5/26/2012

this was by far the moistest chicken i have ever had! we had different sauces on the side so everyone could tailor it to their taste

kcamrac

posted:5/25/2012

soooo tender

debra12813

posted:4/29/2012

awesome chicken recipe for guest as well as for everyday outdoor cooking.

mamaboo88

posted:1/14/2012

Very bland. Needs lots of more spice and more bbq sauce. I would keep this recipe as a base but add to it.

ladyplumb

posted:10/2/2011

Moist on inside but crispy on the outside. It had a great flavor and family loved it.

gnometomes

posted:7/1/2011

Love this recipe. For even more flavor, add some of the spices to the beer as well as rubbing on the outside of the chicken.

queenie601

posted:6/14/2011

This was the best Roast Chicken Ever,but I didnt use the Barbecue sauce. Kathy

a cook

posted:6/14/2011

Excellent recipe. I make two "modifications" though. 1) I use a can holder (available at any store that sells bar bq supplies. It provides more support to the chicken, and won't tip over when basting or rotating the meat. 2) I "plug" the top opening (neck part) with a small apple or potato to seal in the flavor.