Recipe

Beer Can Chicken With Memphis Rub Recipe

Add Step-by-Step Photos	Midgelet / All my dishes 1 year, 7 months ago It's that time of the year again. Remember this popular recipe? Great one ! Prep:20m Cook:120m Servings:4	Midgelet
	chicken grill barbecue beer poultry southern

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Fans

maywest

kidaria

chefboriqu

herby

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups mesquite wood chips

1 whole chicken 4 to 5 lbs

3 1/2 Tbs Memphis rub ( see recipe below )

1 can , 12 oz. beer

Memphis Rub ( makes 1/2 cup )

Mix all the following: Store and seal tightly

1/4 cup paprika

1 Tbs. brown sugar

1 Tbs. granulated sugar

2 tsp. salt

1 tsp celery salt

1 tsp fresh ground black pepper

1 to 3 tsp cayenne pepper

1 tsp dry mustard

1 tsp onion powder

1 tsp garlic powder

Directions

The recipe comes from a newspaper clipping and the cooking method sparked my curiosity.

The chicken steams in a closed grill for about two hours and is very moist and tender with a subtle smoky flavor ( no strong beer flavor at all ) and the skin comes out brown and crisp.

We would repeat this again.

Following is a synopsis of the original directions and then my further comments.

Instructions and tips::

If using a gas grill: remove upper warming rack ( so it doesn't knock chicken down when lid is closed ), set the grill for indirect ( low ) heat, place a foil pan directly beneath the chicken to catch the drippings, don't open and close the lid often .

Soak the wood chips in cold water for 1 hour and drain.

Rinse chicken ( remove any giblets etc. ) with cold water inside and out and pat dry.

Sprinkle the cavity of the chicken with 1 Tbs of the dry rub and rub the outside of the chicken well with another Tbs. of the rub

For gas grills place the wood in the smoker box and preheat to high .

When smoke appears, lower heat to medium.

For charcoal grill, bank coals to side of the grill and light.

Coals are ready when coated with a light gray ash color.

For both types of grills place a drip pan in center just below where chicken will be placed.

Now open the beer can and poke ( 6 or 7 ) holes in the top of the can.

Pour out the top inch of liquid and place in 1 Tbs. of the dry rub.

Holding chicken upright with body cavity pointed down, insert the upright can of beer into the chicken.

When ready to cook: for the charcoal grill, drain the wood chips and toss half over the coals.

Oil the grate and stand chicken up in center of hot grate over drip pan.

Spread out legs to support the chicken.

If using charcoal, add 10 to 12 fresh coals per side and the remaining wood chips after 1 hour of cooking.

It takes about 2 hours for the covered chicken to cook either gas or charcoal.

Using tongs lift chicken to cutting board, holding large metal spatula under the beer can for support.

Be careful not to spill the hot beer. Let chicken stand for 5 minutes before carving meat off the carcass.

Joan's Tips:

I used a 16 oz. can of beer which was taller and offered more support.

I covered the can ( sides not top ) with heavy duty aluminum foil because I worried about the color coming off the beer can into the chicken.

I cut off any hanging excess fat from the chicken.

I also used a smaller chicken, about 3 1/2 lbs. which cooked in 1 hour and 45 minutes.

The chicken on the tall can was quite stable.

I used the gas grill and low heat setting after the grill was preheated to high.

I placed a piece heavy duty foil ( on top of the grates ) with edges folded up to contain any drips and no other drip pan was used.

I used long tongs to remove the chicken off the beer can directly from the grill.

The chicken was very tender and lifted off easily .

I opened the grill cover about a total 4 times during cooking to briefly check.

To my surprise there was not a lot of drippings contained in the foil.

Everyone who tried the recipe loves it.

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Comments

mjcmcook 1 year, 7 months ago said:
HELLO...
I really like this recipe....!
I appreciate all the detail you put into the recipe
so that there will be no mistakes!...This shows to me that YOU really CARE about food and how it is prepared and enjoyed!
Thanks...your food friend....mjcmcook....

kidaria 1 year, 6 months ago said:
I always wanted to try bbqing chicken in a beer can. I am inspired to try this. Thanks so much!

albys1 1 year, 1 month ago said:
I have heard of this recipe and heard it was very good. I really appreciate your input of what you did to make this recipe. I can't wait to try it!

maywest 9 months, 2 weeks ago said:
I make beer can chicken all the time but this sounds like the origonal way i had it up north now with your help i can finally get the taste i was looking for thanks ...

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