Root Beer Can Chicken

Beer Can chicken is a hugely popular dish. It is the process of cooking a chicken on top of a beer can. However, you can actually do this with a multitude of beverage and a perfect example of this is root beer. Since the important part in making beer can chicken is moisture, the root beer works just the same and is slightly more family friendly and sweeter. I love making a great savory rub for the outside of the chicken to help embrace the flavors already in the root beer!

Serves 4-6
Full time 2 hours

You will need:

1 can root beer, drink half and keep remaining half in the can
4-5 pound chicken, cleaned of any giblets or parts inside
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp butter
1 tbsp garlic powder
1 tbsp onion powder
1/2 tbsp salt
1/2 tbsp ground black pepper
1 tsp allspice

Let us begin:

Preheat oven to 350, removing one rack and dropping other rack to the lowest point possible.

Grab your chicken and give it a nice pat down with some paper towels to ensure the outside is completely dried.

Look at the "bottom" opening, if you have excess skin or fat you need to remove it. Just simply cut it off.

 

Grab the root beer can and stand it into the center of a smaller baking dish, I like to remove the metal tab.

Slide chicken onto the root beer can and ensure it fits in the baking dish and nothing hangs over the sides.

Remove chicken and can from dish and set onto a towel lined surface.

Rub the chicken completely down with the olive oil, make sure you get under legs and wings.

In a small bowl combine brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and allspice.

Coat oiled chicken with the dry rub and return to baking dish.

Place chicken into the preheated oven with the butter in the dish.

Roast 1 to 1 1/2 hours depending on chicken size until chicken test 180 degrees.

Carefully remove from oven and set on cutting board

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Slide chicken straight up to remove can, some liquid may still be in the can, so be careful.

Once can is removed you can slice and serve, enjoy!