BBQ Beer Butt Chicken

Exactly what it says on the tin!...  Chicken  with a can of beer up it's butt!! :D You can actually use a can of whatever drink you like! I did 2 chickens, one with a can of Pepsi and the other Lager... Both with great results! Sat upright on the can whilst it cooks, the contents of the can evaporate, keeping the meat lovely and moist and at the same time imparting the flavour of the drink into it! Soooo good!

Here's how to...

Ingredients 

A medium/large chicken

A can of whatever drink you like, don't be afraid to go bold with flavour

Herbs to compliment the drink if you like- I used a small bunch of thyme in with the lager but you can use whatever you like!

2 tbsp olive oil

Salt and pepper

Method

1. Get the BBQ lit and at a good cooking temperature of around 170C. Have the coals around the edge of the BBQ so the chickens can go in the middle and cook from the indirect heat. You can put a foil tray of flavoured wood chips to create smoke too if you like! I would also recommend cooking some fatty sausages or belly pork around the edge of the BBQ at the same time too, this will help maintain the heat and get some smoke going from the splashes of fat, which will help flavour the chicken further! 

2. Crack open your can, pour out the top third of the liquid, and pop in the herbs if required.

3. Prepare the chicken by rubbing olive oil and a good helping of salt and pepper into the skin with your hands. If using herbs, give these a good rubbing over the skin too. This will help crisp up the skin and give it a delicious flavour.

4. Now for the gruesome part... With the help of a friend to hold the can still and upright, hold the chicken wings up, legs down and lower the chicken onto the can, pushing the can into the empty cavity through its bottom! The chicken will now sit upright on the can! 

5. Park them on the BBQ and let the magic happen for around 50minutes.

6. Cut into the thigh to check the juices run clear and it's cooked through. Remove from the BBQ and rest for 10 minutes before holding the base of the can and lifting off the chicken. Most of the liquid will be gone but perhaps not all, take care to keep it upright just incase, to avoid spillages! 

7. Carve up into portions as you wish and tuck in!