World Harbors

You’ve heard of beer can chicken, right? You know, the recipe when you shove a can of beer up a chicken’s backside and grill it? Well, if you have a smoker, a few tools and World Harbors premade marinades, it’s even easier.

First, you need a smoker. I use a Masterbuilt Digital Electric Smoker. (You can read my smoker review here.) While you can simply use a beer can and perch your chicken on top, it’s so much easier to do some with a rack. I have two – Steven Raichlen Stainless-Steel Beer-Can Chicken Rack with Drip Pan and a KitchenAid BBQ Vertical Chicken Roaster. Both will hold the beer can in place so you don’t have to worry about the chicken getting knocked over.

Here’s what the chicken looks like on the racks (the two in the back). The one in the front is placed on top of the beer can, sans rack, and was propped up by one of the other chickens in our smoker.

Preparing your beer can chicken

The method I use is based on a recipe from the Legends of Texas Barbecue Cookbook. I have a lot of barbecue cookbooks, but this one’s my favorite especially since it was recommended by an English friend who learned how to smoke meat when he went to school in Austin.

I make my beer can chicken two ways – one with a dry rub, the other with a marinade.

Beer Can  Chicken with Dry Rub

Ingredients:

• 1 whole chicken, about 3 1/2 pounds
• 1/4 dry rub of your choice
• 1 can beer
• 3 cups World Harbors marinade

Directions:

1. Remove the giblets and rinse the chicken cavity.
2. Season the chicken inside and out with the rub. Press the rub on to the skin, too. Allow to sit for at least an hour on the counter top.
3. Open the beer and empty half of it into the smoker’s drip pan.
4. Refill the can with your favorite World Harbors marinade. I like Italian Grill, but Maine’s Own Lemon Pepper & Garlic is also a good choice.
5. Shove the can into the chicken cavity, and place on your beer can roaster if you’re using one.
6. Set up your smoker for indirect heat. Use wood chips, chunks or logs to set up a good level of smoke. (Electric smokers use pellets. I chose Jack Daniels Wood Pellets, but you can use hickory, apple, mesquite or other woods that go well with chicken.)
7. Maintain a smoker temperature of between 225 and 275 degrees F. (I set my smoker for 250 degrees.)
8. Set the chicken on the grill on the beer can base, and cook for three hours. If you don’t use a dripping pan full of beer and water to “steam” the chicken, baste with more World Harbors marinade every hour.
9. When the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F (about three to four hours), test for doneness by inserting a knife tip into the thickest part of the thigh. If the juices run clear, the chicken is done to medium. Note: the FDA recommends cooking to 185 degrees F. Many people find this overcooks and dries out the chicken, so use your best judgment.
10. Remove the chicken and let sit for 20 minutes to let the juices “set.” Slice and serve.

Marinated Beer Can Chicken

This recipe is the same as the dry rub one except for one difference – you marinade your chicken in a full bottle of World Harbors marinade overnight!

Ingredients:

• 1 whole chicken, about 3 1/2 pounds
• 1 bottle of World Harbors marinade
• 1 can beer

Directions:

1. Remove the giblets and rinse the chicken cavity.
2. Place chicken in a large zip lock bag.
3. Empty entire bottle of World Harbors marinade into bag over chicken. Carefully press extra air out of bag, seal, and place in the refrigerator overnight.
4. Open the beer and empty half of it into the smoker’s drip pan.
5. Remove chicken from the plastic baggie.
6. Carefully refill the can with World Harbors marinade from the bag.
7. Shove the can into the chicken cavity, and place on your beer can roaster if you’re using one.
8. Save leftover marinade for basting.
9. Set up your smoker for indirect heat. Use wood chips, chunks or logs to set up a good level of smoke. (Electric smokers use pellets. I chose Jack Daniels Wood Pellets, but you can use hickory, apple, mesquite or other woods that go well with chicken.
10. Maintain a smoker temperature of between 225 and 275 degrees F. (I set my smoker for 250 degrees.)
11. Set the chicken on the grill on the beer can base, and cook for three hours.
12. Put leftover marinade in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Use this to baste the chicken every hour if you don’t use a dripping pan full of beer and water to “steam” the chicken. Toss out any extra marinade when you’re finished cooking.
13. When the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F, test for doneness by inserting a knife tip into the thickest part of the thigh. If the juices run clear, the chicken is done to medium. Note that the FDA recommends cooking to 185 degrees F. Many people find this overcooks and dries out the chicken, so use your best judgment.
14. Remove the chicken and let sit for 20 minutes to let the juices set. Slice and serve.

Tip: Save the carcass and skin to make stock. There’s nothing better than smoky chicken stock in soups and turkey stuffing!

Save money and win with World Harbors

World Harbors is offering a $1 off coupon on Facebook. You can also enter World Harbors Golden Label Sweeps to win a once-in-a-lifetime vacation. Finally, don’t forget to sign up for Mizkan’s Splash for Cash e-newsletter for a chance to win up to $600. (Mizkan is World Harbors parent company.) Even if you don’t win, you’ll receive a terrific e-newsletter filled with with recipes and tips.

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Disclosure: Mizkan, the parent company of World Harbors, provided compensation for this post. All opinions are my own.

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Posted on August 6, 2012 in Featured,Recipes and tagged as chicken, grilling, Mizkan, World Harbors