Beer Can Chicken

What is it?
A chicken which is roasted with a can of beer inside its cavity. This ensures the chicken is succulent and juicy. A true blue Aussie recipe!

Ingredients
1 Large Roasting Chicken (around 2kg)
3 Tbs Portuguese Sauce (Pirri Pirri Sauce or equivalent)
3 Tbs Greek Style Yogurt
1 Can of Beer, a 500ml can works best
1 Roasting Tray

Method
Three hours before cooking, in a large bowl, combine the Portuguese sauce with the yogurt. Lay the chicken breast side down in the mix and liberally massage the mixture over the skin and inner cavity of the chicken.

Return the chicken to the fridge to allow the marinade to penetrate into the meat. For best results, try and repeat massaging the mixture into the chicken every half hour, for the next three hours.

Preheat a hooded BBQ to 220 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile remove the chicken from the fridge. Place the baking tray on a level surface, open a can of beer and place it in the centre of the baking tray. Carefully lift the chicken out of the marinade and place over the beer can, ensuring 75% of the can has been inserted into the chicken's cavity. If done well, the chicken should stand unaided with the tips of the drumsticks just touching the surface of the baking tray.

Carefully place the baking tray into the centre of the BBQ and close the BBQ hood.

Bake in the BBQ at 220 degrees Celsius for 45 minutes (2.1kg Chicken). Check chicken at 10 minute intervals to ensure that the browning of the skin is even.

After 45 minutes, carefully remove the tray from the BBQ and allow the chicken to rest for 5 minutes before removing the can, carving and serving.

Succulent and juicy chicken