Follow our easy instructions for perfectly cooked chicken on the BBQ
Beer can chicken is one of the classic BBQ dishes with the steam from the beer infusing the flesh with a delicious moistness. You can insert the chicken over an opened can of beer or you can use a dedicated poultry roaster where you fill the inner well with beer. If you don't drink or don't want the flavour of beer you can use stock or a can of fruit to drink, apple or elderflower would work particularly well.
Ingredients:
- whole chicken
- beer
- rapeseed oil (or any vegetable oil)
- Traeger Sweet BBQ rub (or any other BBQ poultry rub)
- 2 cloves garlic
- sprig fresh rosemary
Equipment:
- Traeger poultry throne (or any other BBQ poultry roaster)
Half fill the centre of the throne with the beer or alternative liquid and add the rosemary and crushed garlic. The beer boils, which is why you don’t fill the pot to the top, and infuses the chicken with flavour and also keeps the meat moist. If you don’t want to use beer you could use white wine, vegetable stock or water with added mixed herbs.
Place the chicken onto the throne and rub with the rapeseed oil, then cover generously with the Sweet Rub.
Pre-heat the grill to 200C (392F), remove the middle shelf and place the chicken in the centre.
Insert the probe into the thickest part; make sure it is not against the bone or into the cavity otherwise it will give a false reading. Link to the Timberline app and your phone will send you an alert when the bird has reached the required temperature.
Take the chicken off when it reaches 75C (167F) as this is the safe temperature for chicken; remember the slogan ’75 staying alive’. If you leave it any longer the flesh will start to dry out.
Leave it to rest under a couple of sheets of tinfoil and clean tea-towels before carving.
Cooking the chicken outside using the throne ensures a tasty, tender really moist bird as it receives moisture not only from the beer but the grill also draws in the moist outside air. If you don't want to use the throne you can place the chicken directly over the open can of beer.
