Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Midnight Surprise Beer-Butt Chicken Attack!

Yes. It's midnight and I have nothing better to do than to share some beer-butt chicken with you.

Warning: if you're a vegetarian, you may want to look away. Contains nude pictures of chickens.

The first time I made beer-butt chicken, we were in the middle of nowhere Colorado, in a rented cabin with no running water. If you try to make beer-butt chicken with no running water, it's difficult because of the whole salmonella thing. BUT if you make beer-butt chicken in a kitchen that has running water, you will have no problems at all. It's easy! and fun! and tasty!

P.S. If you are allergic to beer (gosh forbid) or do not like beer, you can also make this with cola.

Stuff you will need*:

1 whole chicken (about 4 lbs)
1 teaspoon of oregano
1 teaspoon of garlic powder
1 teaspoon of paprika
1 teaspoon of dried sage or rosemary or thyme (whatever you have on hand)
1 teaspoon of sea salt
1 teaspoon of ground black pepper
a lemon
a few cloves of garlic - peeled and cut into slices
a small piece of ginger
a can of beer or cola

* Really, all you need is the chicken and a can of beer or cola. You can use whatever spices you have a hankering for. I've made this recipe about a dozen times now and it's always different. When my rosemary is thriving, I use rosemary. Lately, I've been on a brown sugar + cayenne kick. What I do is rub the bird with olive oil and lots and lots of garlic (powdered or fresh minced). Then I do about a 1/2c of brown sugar and 1T or 2 of cayenne (cayenne is spicy, so beware). You know what is also fun to do? Brush the bird with honey near the end.

Directions: 

Remove the chicken from its package and give him a rinse under cold water. Don't forget to clean inside his cavities. Pat him dry with paper towels (and no, I don't know why I'm calling my chicken a him).

Mix the oregano, garlic powder, paprika, sea salt, ground black pepper, and dried sage, rosemary, or thyme together.

Cut the lemon in half and lightly rub it on the chicken - make sure to get under the skin, too (use your knife to help loosen the skin from the meat). Then, rub your mix of spices on the outside of the chicken, the inside of the chicken, and under the skin. Add more fresh ground pepper if you like that sort of thing.

Using a knife, carefully poke a couple slits in the chicken's breast, thighs, and drumsticks. Insert the slices of garlic into the slits. Wash your hands.

Open up the can of beer or cola and drink 1/4 of it. Cut a couple slices of ginger and garlic and put it in the can. Carefully stick the can up the chicken's butt. He should sit up on it easily, like this:























If you're having trouble balancing him, use his legs! While you're doing all this, get your beau, best friend, mom, grandpa, etc. to help you heat up the grill. When the grill is ready, carefully place him over medium-high, indirect heat (i.e. no coals or burners on directly under the bird). Cook the chicken with the grill cover on, for about an hour to an hour and a half. Check him at the hour mark. The internal temperature should be 165 degrees F in the thigh (juice should run clear when stabbed with a sharp knife). Really, really carefully remove him from the grill. Let him rest for 10 minutes before carving. Don't forget to remove the can before cutting - and be careful! The can will be super hot.

I've also done this in the OVEN! But you'll need a meat thermometer. 350 degrees until the temperature reads 165 degrees F in the thickest part of the thigh (about 1 hr to 1 hr 30 mins). Make sure to put the chicken in a roasting pan to catch the juices (tip: pour a can of baked beans around the beer or soda can [i.e. under the chicken, in the roasting pan]. chicken juices will drip down as everything cooks. makes a tasty (albeit greasy) side dish)
























Okay. Good night.

3 comments:

Julie Musil said...

The before pictures looks disgusting, but the finished product looks amazing! Never heard of butt chicken, but I just might have to try it!

Sharon K. Mayhew said...

Okay..if I ate meat I think I'd like it...

Christine said...

@Julie
The beer or cola keeps the chicken really moist and if you add herbs to the liquid, it sort of steams the chicken with whatever flavor you chose. The naked, raw chicken sitting on a can is actually kind of funny in real life - not really disgusting. If you do try it, let me know how it turns out! :-)

@Sharon
Hi! What do you like to eat? Maybe I can find a fun recipe for you and somehow relate it back to writing ... LOL!