Cajun Smoked Beer Can Chicken Recipes

Steps:

• Remove neck and giblets from chicken and discard. Rinse chicken inside and out, and pat dry with paper towels. Rub chicken lightly with oil then rub inside and out with salt, pepper and dry rub. Set aside.
• Open beer can and take several gulps (make them big gulps so that the can is half full). Place beer can on a solid surface. Grabbing a chicken leg in each hand, plunk the bird cavity over the beer can. Transfer the bird-on-a-can to your grill and place in the center of the grate, balancing the bird on its 2 legs and the can like a tripod.
• Cook the chicken over medium-high, indirect heat (i.e. no coals or burners on directly under the bird), with the grill cover on, for approximately 1 1/4 hours or until the internal temperature registers 165 degrees F in the breast area and 180 degrees F in the thigh, or until the thigh juice runs clear when stabbed with a sharp knife. Remove from grill and let rest for 10 minutes before carving.

Steps:

• Directions:
• 1. Whisk all injection ingredients together.
• 2. Using a kitchen syringe, inject the liquid into various spots on the chicken. Try to be even as possible, injecting about 1/2 of the mixture into the breasts, and the other 1/2 throughout the rest of the chicken.
• 3. Rub the chicken down with olive oil, and apply an even layer of Tony's Cajun Seasoning to the bird.
• 4. Drink half of the beer, widen the opening at the top of the can, then put the garlic and onion in the can.
• 5. Place the bird on the can. It should sit up by itself. You may have to prop the legs forward to make it sit up.
• 6. Preheat your smoker to about 250 F degrees. I use hickory for chicken; charcoal works well too.
• 7. Mix the mop ingredients in the spray bottle and shake before each use.
• 8. Put the chicken on the smoker and spray the chicken with the mop about every 30 minutes to keep it moist.
• 8. Smoke the chicken for 3-4 hours, or until the internal temperature of the thickest meat reaches 175 F Degrees.

Steps:

• Make the brine: Combine the beer, brown sugar, salt, orange zest, orange juice and cardamom pods in a bowl; stir until the sugar and salt dissolve.
• Put the chicken in a gallon-size resealable plastic bag and add the brine; seal and refrigerate 2 hours.
• Prepare the grill: For a charcoal grill, pile 3 to 4 pounds briquettes in the grill; ignite and let burn until the coals are ashy. For a gas grill, preheat to high.
• Prepare the chicken: Remove from the brine and pat dry; reserve the orange zest and cardamom. Rub the olive oil all over the skin. Loosen the skin on the breasts and legs with your fingers; rub 1 garlic clove under and over the skin. Combine the brown sugar, coriander, cumin, paprika, allspice, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and a few grinds of pepper; rub under and over the skin of the chicken and inside the cavity.
• Pour half of the remaining beer can into a disposable 8-inch-square pan. Add the reserved orange zest to the pan. Poke 3 or 4 holes into the top sides of the beer can using a paring knife. Add the remaining 3 smashed garlic cloves and the reserved cardamom pods to the can.
• For a charcoal grill, bank the coals to both sides in two piles; nestle the pan with the beer between the coals and replace the top grill grate. For a gas grill, reduce the heat to medium on one side and turn off the burners on the other; place the pan under the grate on the unlit side.
• Set the chicken over the beer can, inserting the can into the cavity so 1 inch of the can is exposed. Set on the grill grates over the drip pan so the chicken balances on the can and legs like a tripod. Cover the grill and cook until the chicken is golden brown and a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh registers 165 degrees F. If using charcoal, this will take about 1 hour 20 minutes; add a handful of briquettes to each bank of coals every 30 minutes to maintain the heat. If using gas, it will take about 1 hour 5 minutes; carefully rotate the chicken halfway through.
• Remove the chicken from the grill, discard the can and transfer to a cutting board; let rest 10 minutes before carving.

Steps:

• Prepare a kettle grill with charcoal off to one side for indirect grilling and add the soaked apple wood or mesquite wood chips over the coals. Remove the neck and giblets and pat the chicken dry with paper towels. Brush chicken all over with oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper and 3 tablespoons dry rub. Set aside.
• Open the beer can, pour out about 1/2 cup of the beer into a cup and drink it (or pour it over the wood chips). Make an extra hole in the top of the can with a church-key can opener. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon dry rub to the beer can (it might fizz up a little bit at the top, but don't worry, that is normal), the garlic and rosemary.
• Hold the chicken above the can of beer and slide the chicken over the can. Fold the wings back behind the chicken. Make sure the legs are in front of the can, supporting the chicken. Place the chicken inside a disposable pan.
• Place the pan on the grates of the grill on the opposite side of the charcoals, put lid on and cook the chicken until golden brown and the internal temperature registers 160 degrees F in the breast area and 175 degrees F in the thigh area on an instant-read thermometer, 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Remove from the grill (be careful not to spill the contents of the beer can as it will be very hot) and let rest for 10 minutes before carving.
• Use a pair of locking tongs and grab the bottom of the beer can to remove from the chicken cavity. Place on a platter or cutting board to rest and cool. Carve and serve.

Steps:

• Wash chicken and remove excess fat. Season the chicken inside and out with the crab boil seasoning. Insert the half can of beer inside the cavity of the chicken. Prop the chicken up on the grill. Grill for 1 to 1 1/2 hours withthe grill lid closed.

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, add the brown sugar, onion powder, garlic powder, mustard powder, smoked paprika, pepper, tarragon, and salt and stir to combine. Use half of the spice rub to season the entire chicken. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to overnight.
• Preheat the grill to 350°F (190°C).
• Remove the chicken from the fridge and season with the remaining spice rub. our out half the can of beer. Place the half-filled can in the chicken cavity and stand it upright.
• Grill the chicken over indirect heat for 30-40 minutes. Baste the chicken with barbecue sauce and cook for another 10-15 minutes, until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (75°C).
• Remove chicken from the grill and let rest for 15 minutes before carving.
• Enjoy!

Steps:

• Set up your grill for indirect cooking.
• On a charcoal grill, this means spreading the coals around the outer edges, but not directly below the food.
• On a gas grill the outer burners are lit, but not the middle one.
• Once the grill is covered (which it should always be for indirect grilling) the circulating heat works like a convection oven, so there is no need to turn the food.
• Remove neck and giblets.
• Discard.
• Rinse chicken inside and out; pat dry with paper towels.
• Rub chicken lightly with oil, then rub inside and out with salt, pepper and dry rub.
• Set aside.
• Open beer can and take several gulps (make them big gulps so that the can is half full).
• Place beer can on a solid surface.
• Grabbing a chicken leg in each hand, plunk the bird cavity over the beer can.
• Transfer the bird-on-a-can to your grill and place in the center of the grate, balancing the bird on its two legs and the can like a tripod.
• Cook chicken over high indirect heat, with the grill cover on for approximately 1 1/4 hours or until the internal temperature registers 165°F in the breast area and 180°F in the thigh, or until the thigh juice runs clear when stabbed with a sharp knife.
• Remove from grill and let rest for 10 minutes before carving.

Steps:

• Combine all the dry rub ingredients in a bowl and mix.
• Prepare the marinade by placing the chicken stock, brandy, lemon juice, butter and 1 tablespoon of the dry rub into a small saucepan and warm gently until the butter melts then cool to room temperature.
• Remove giblets from chicken along with any fat from inside the cavities, rinse then pat dry.
• Season the inside cavity with 2 tablespoons of the dry rub, and rub in 3 tablespoons of the rub all over the outside of the chicken.
• Using a syringe style flavor injector, inject the marinade sauce into the breast, thighs and drumsticks until plump. Brush the outside of the bird with some of the melted butter and let it sit in the fridge to marinade for 3 hours.
• After the chicken has been marinading for 2½ hours, prepare the wood chips for smoking by pouring half of the beer over them in a bowl and let them soak for a half hour. Use a sharp can opener to punch a couple more holes in the top of the beer can and set aside.
• Prepare the barbeque for indirect cooking by placing a drip pan underneath the grate on one side and removing the grate from the other side, then turn on only the burner opposite of the drip pan to high heat.
• Squeeze the excess beer from the wood chips and make a smoking pouch with tinfoil (wrap in foil then poke holes with a fork), or smoking tray or tube.
• Place wood chips directly over the burner that is on, close the lid and wait for smoke to appear. Once smoke appears, reduce to medium heat.
• Hold chicken upright with body cavity down and lower onto the beer can then place onto the cool side of the grill over the drip pan and pull legs forward to form a stable tripod so it can stand upright on its own.
• Brush with melted butter and continue to cook at 220°F with the lid down, basting every 45 minutes or so with the melted butter. If the chicken gets too brown on the outside before it is done, cover with tinfoil.
• Remove chicken from the grill once it reaches an internal temperature of 180°F, about 2½ hours, cover with tinfoil and let rest for 10 minutes.