If you follow me on Instagram (which you should!), you know I made a beer can chicken this week and promised a recipe here before the weekend was through. I'm coming down to the wire on the weekend hours, so I figured I best get this puppy up on the blog!
I will start by saying that I have never cooked a chicken in my life. My husband is the primary meal maker in our house. I am a pretty good baker, and a very iffy chef. Lately, my husband has been encouraging me to branch out and learn more in the kitchen. A sort of embiggening of my comfort levels around foods.
The idea for the beer can chicken came from our buddy, Matt. I took it an ran. I have heard it said that you should never cook with a wine you wouldn't drink. Doesn't the same apply when it comes to beer? I mean, do you really want a Coors Light flavored chicken? I didn't think so.
I will start by saying that I have never cooked a chicken in my life. My husband is the primary meal maker in our house. I am a pretty good baker, and a very iffy chef. Lately, my husband has been encouraging me to branch out and learn more in the kitchen. A sort of embiggening of my comfort levels around foods.
The idea for the beer can chicken came from our buddy, Matt. I took it an ran. I have heard it said that you should never cook with a wine you wouldn't drink. Doesn't the same apply when it comes to beer? I mean, do you really want a Coors Light flavored chicken? I didn't think so.
The only can of beer I had in my fridge was Indeed Brewing's Midnight Ryder. Hmm... A Black IPA for a beer can chicken? I took to Google for advice. There wasn't much to be found until I dug deep and came across a recipe for a rub that looked perfect. This guy used 21st Amendment's Back in Black, so I guessed I was on the right track.
Here is the recipe, adapted by me, originally by Cork and Kegs.
Here is the recipe, adapted by me, originally by Cork and Kegs.
Ingredients
3 - 5 pound chicken
1 can of Indeed Midnight Ryder
1/4 cup of coarse salt
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup smoked paprika
2 tablespoons ground black pepper
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
1/2 tablespoon chipotle pepper (optional)
3 - 5 pound chicken
1 can of Indeed Midnight Ryder
1/4 cup of coarse salt
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup smoked paprika
2 tablespoons ground black pepper
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
1/2 tablespoon chipotle pepper (optional)
Method
1. Preheat your oven to 350. Unpackage and rinse your chicken well. Remove the giblets if you purchased one with the gutty whats still inside.
2. Use a paper towel to dry off the chicken and set aside.
3. Mix the list of spices together in a bowl to create your delicious spice rub.
4. Generously rub the spice mix all over the chicken. Be sure to get under the skin.
5. Crack open that Indeed Midnight Ryder and pour yourself half. This is yours for the remainder of the evening.
6. Pour about a handful of the spice mixture into the beer can. Insert the beer can into the chicken and place in a foil-lined baking pan.
7. Place the chicken in the oven. Enjoy your beer.
8. In about an hour, check your chicken for temperature. You're looking for about 165 degrees and clean running juices. If it needs more time, check back every 10-15 minutes until you've reached temperature. Remove from the oven and allow the chicken to rest for about 10 minutes.
9. Carefully remove the beer can from your chicken's behind. It is going to be superbly hot. Don't spill the beer. Don't drop the chicken. Get help with this if you need it.
10. Cut the chicken up and enjoy!
1. Preheat your oven to 350. Unpackage and rinse your chicken well. Remove the giblets if you purchased one with the gutty whats still inside.
2. Use a paper towel to dry off the chicken and set aside.
3. Mix the list of spices together in a bowl to create your delicious spice rub.
4. Generously rub the spice mix all over the chicken. Be sure to get under the skin.
5. Crack open that Indeed Midnight Ryder and pour yourself half. This is yours for the remainder of the evening.
6. Pour about a handful of the spice mixture into the beer can. Insert the beer can into the chicken and place in a foil-lined baking pan.
7. Place the chicken in the oven. Enjoy your beer.
8. In about an hour, check your chicken for temperature. You're looking for about 165 degrees and clean running juices. If it needs more time, check back every 10-15 minutes until you've reached temperature. Remove from the oven and allow the chicken to rest for about 10 minutes.
9. Carefully remove the beer can from your chicken's behind. It is going to be superbly hot. Don't spill the beer. Don't drop the chicken. Get help with this if you need it.
10. Cut the chicken up and enjoy!
I have to say, this was a win in all categories. It impressed my husband, it impressed Matt, it even impressed me. I made my very first chicken and, aside from the hack job I did on cutting the chicken into portions, I was very happy with the results.
The skin on the chicken was juicy and full of flavor. The meat was tender and smoky from the Black IPA. The spice was just right -- just enough to make itself known at the party. This is going into rotation in our house for sure.
Next time you think of boiling your brats in Bud Light, I hope you remember this. Imagine how much better it would be with the awesome flavors of your favorite craft beer, instead of that bland beer imposter. Now go forth and spread the good news: craft beer makes cooking better.
The skin on the chicken was juicy and full of flavor. The meat was tender and smoky from the Black IPA. The spice was just right -- just enough to make itself known at the party. This is going into rotation in our house for sure.
Next time you think of boiling your brats in Bud Light, I hope you remember this. Imagine how much better it would be with the awesome flavors of your favorite craft beer, instead of that bland beer imposter. Now go forth and spread the good news: craft beer makes cooking better.
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