Oven Barbecue Beer-Can Chicken

A variation on the grilled favorite, this oven version cooks in a fraction of the time. If you prefer grilling, place the bird over indirect heat for about two hours or until a thermometer registers 170°. The flavorful meat makes a tasty barbecue sandwich with pickle chips and onion slices.

Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 5 ounces meat and 1 tablespoon sauce)

Ingredients

• 1  (3 3/4-pound) whole roasting chicken
• 3  tablespoons  ketchup
• 3  tablespoons  chili sauce
• 2  teaspoons  Worcestershire sauce
• 1  teaspoon  chili powder
• 1  teaspoon  cider vinegar
• 1/4  teaspoon  freshly ground black pepper
• 1/8  teaspoon  salt
• 1  garlic clove, minced
• 1  (12-ounce) can beer
• 3  tablespoons  barbecue smoked seasoning (such as Hickory Liquid Smoke)

Preparation

Preheat oven to 375°.

Remove and discard giblets and neck from chicken; trim excess fat. Starting at neck cavity, loosen skin from breasts and drumsticks by inserting fingers, gently pushing between skin and meat.

Combine ketchup and next 7 ingredients (through garlic) in a bowl. Reserve 1/4 cup ketchup mixture; rub remaining ketchup mixture under loosened skin and over breasts and drumsticks. Lift wing tips up and over back; tuck under chicken.

Discard 1/2 cup beer. Add barbecue smoked seasoning to can. Holding chicken upright with the body cavity facing down, insert beer can into cavity. Place the chicken in a roasting pan, and spread legs out to form a tripod to support the chicken. Bake at 375° for 40 minutes.

Increase oven temperature to 450°, and bake an additional 30 minutes or until a thermometer inserted in the meaty part of thigh registers 170°. Lift chicken slightly using tongs; place spatula under can. Carefully lift chicken and can; place on a cutting board. Let stand 15 minutes. Gently lift chicken using tongs or insulated rubber gloves; carefully twist can and remove from cavity.

Remove skin from chicken; discard. Carve chicken, and serve with reserved 1/4 cup sauce.

Nutritional Information

Calories:

269 (32% from fat)

Fat:

9.6g (sat 2.6g,mono 3.6g,poly 2.2g)

Protein:

35.8g

Carbohydrate:

8g

Fiber:

0.4g

Cholesterol:

106mg

Iron:

2.1mg

Sodium:

700mg

Calcium:

26mg