Beer Can Hen | Diethood
That is your signal to strive beer can hen! This hen recipe makes probably the most fall-apart-tender, whole-roasted hen that’s further juicy inside, crispy outdoors, and loopy stuffed with taste.
In case you’ve by no means heard of it, beer can hen is a complete roasted hen cooked on high of an open beer can. I make it within the oven, and it comes out good each time!
This beer can hen recipe makes the BEST hen. Perhaps ever. Principally, you’re taking a complete hen, rub it down with savory spices, and bake it over an open can of beer. Because the hen roasts and the beer heats up within the oven, the steam goes straight from the can into the hen, for optimum juiciness and taste. It’s a game-changing methodology for cooking hen that’s additionally a bit of enjoyable, too. I’m formally on a mission to make this recipe with each sort of beer!
Why This Beer Can Hen Recipe Works
- Oven-roasted. There are a number of recipes for beer can hen on the grill, however I needed one which I may take pleasure in year-round. So, this recipe makes a simple oven model that seems simply as scrumptious.
- Completely cooked. Beer can hen isn’t only for enjoyable; it’s additionally top-of-the-line strategies for tasty, tremendous juicy, and persistently good whole-roasted hen that I’ve tried. Cooking with beer retains the hen moist on the within whereas the warmth of the oven crisps up the pores and skin outdoors.
- Nice for entertaining. As soon as the hen is within the oven, there’s little or no hands-on time wanted. This recipe is fast to prep, too, and it makes greater than sufficient to feed a crowd. It’s good for cookouts and even the vacations!
What You’ll Want
I maintain this recipe easy with only a few straightforward seasonings within the spice rub, then all you want is the hen and a can of beer! See beneath for some notes on the components. Scroll to the recipe card for a printable checklist together with the total recipe particulars.
- Spices – I make a do-it-yourself spice rub with brown sugar (or granulated sugar), garlic powder, onion powder, candy or smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. It’s just like my hen seasoning, with fewer components. Be at liberty to make use of your favourite mix.
- Entire Hen – Select a bone-in hen that’s giant sufficient to suit over a beer can. For those who go to the butcher you may ask to have the giblets eliminated, in any other case you may take away them your self.
- Olive Oil – Or one other cooking oil, like avocado oil.
- Can of Beer – Ensure it’s a beer that you just’d prefer to drink, as the flavour will infuse into the hen (see beneath).
The Finest Type of Beer for Beer Can Hen
There’s actually no fallacious beer to make use of when making beer can hen. It comes all the way down to what you want, as whichever beer you select will impart its flavors to the hen. I’d suggest one thing lighter and citrusy, like a beer, ale, pilsner, or IPA in the event you favor a bit extra taste (my alternative for this recipe). Darkish beers, like stouts and porters, are generally bitter and would possibly overpower the hen.
The right way to Cook dinner Beer Can Hen within the Oven
This methodology is type of a revelation. I imply, I’ve made Immediate Pot complete hen and crock pot hen over time, however I by no means thought I’d see my favourite IPA within the playing cards! I used to be blown away by how straightforward it’s to cook dinner a complete hen utilizing a beer can. Listed here are the steps:
- Season the hen. First, combine the components for the spice rub. Use your arms to rub the spices all around the hen together with a bit of olive oil.
- Put together to roast. Crack open your beer can and pour about ⅓ out into the underside of a roasting pan. Subsequent, place the beer can within the middle of the pan. Fastidiously slide the open hen cavity over the can in order that the hen sits upright within the roasting pan.
- Roast. Let your hen roast within the oven at 425ºF for 1 hour and 25 minutes till it’s wanting good and crispy outdoors and the within is cooked via. Relaxation the hen for 10 minutes or so afterward in order that the juices redistribute.
Eradicating the Beer Can
Questioning what to do subsequent? That is my straightforward methodology to take away the can from the beer can hen:
- As soon as the hen is roasted and rested, slide a spatula beneath the can and use a set of tongs to know the hen. Transfer the entire hen to a chopping board subsequent to the sink.
- Scootch/slide the hen proper to the sting of the board, in order that the cavity with the can hangs over the sink.
- Subsequent, use the tongs to fastidiously pull the can free from the cavity whereas the remainder of the hen stays on the chopping board. Discard the can, and your hen is able to carve and serve. Simple peasy!
Ideas and Variations
- Prep your oven. Be sure that your oven is giant sufficient to suit a complete hen standing upright. It’s possible you’ll want to maneuver the highest racks to create space.
- Line the roasting pan. Lining the pan with foil makes clean-up a lot simpler!
- Test that the hen is finished. I take advantage of my meat thermometer to verify that the inner temperature reaches 165ºF on the thickest a part of the hen, between the wing and the thigh.
- Relaxation the hen. Don’t skip this step! Resting the hen for 10-Quarter-hour after roasting lets the juices redistribute all through the meat earlier than you slice into it. It’s the important thing to preserving hen tender and juicy.
- Make it spicy. Give your spice rub further warmth with cayenne pepper or chili flakes, or strive a mix with extra kick, like jerk seasoning.
- Use non-alcoholic beer. You may make beer can hen with non-alcoholic beer, and the flavors shall be related. It’s an effective way to take pleasure in beer can hen whereas preserving the recipe alcohol-free.
Ceaselessly Requested Questions
Is it protected to cook dinner hen utilizing a beer can?
I’ve by no means had a difficulty with the fabric of the can affecting the hen whereas it roasts. For those who’re actually fearful about heating a steel can contained in the hen, merely pour the entire beer out into the baking dish as an alternative. This fashion the hen can nonetheless cook dinner within the steam. And in the event you’re critical about beer can hen, you may even purchase a beer can hen holder designed particularly for it!
Can I take advantage of any sort of beer?
Sure, any sort of beer works on this recipe, even non-alcoholic beer. I favor lighter beers like lagers and IPAs (see the Substances part earlier).
Can youngsters eat beer can hen?
Because it’s actually the steam and never the precise beer coming into contact with the hen, beer can hen is ok for youths to eat. Use your discretion, although. For those who’re involved, go forward and use a can of non-alcoholic beer as an alternative.
Serving Strategies
Beer can hen is one in every of my favourite issues to cook dinner when we have now buddies over. It’s so fast to prep after which the oven does the remainder! After I entertain, I like equally straightforward sides like these oven-baked fries (or air fryer French fries) and an enormous, sharing-style salad like a chef salad or Cobb salad.
This juicy hen additionally goes nice with pasta salad or potato salad in the summertime, or we’ll serve it with grilled greens like zucchini or asparagus.
The right way to Retailer and Reheat Hen
- Refrigerate. After the hen is carved and cooled, retailer any leftovers in an hermetic container within the fridge. The hen lasts for as much as 4 days and you need to use it in all types of tasty methods, from hen wraps to salads, or sliced up over pasta.
- Reheat. To reheat leftover hen, heat it within the oven or the microwave till it’s sizzling all through.
- Freeze. Freeze the hen for as much as 3 months and thaw it within the fridge earlier than reheating.
Extra Roast Hen Recipes
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Prep. Preheat the oven to 425°F and line a roasting pan with aluminum foil for simpler cleanup.
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Make the rub. Whisk collectively the brown sugar, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika. Put aside.
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Season the hen. Rub the hen throughout with olive oil after which rub it throughout with the spice rub.
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Get able to roast. Pour 1/3 of the beer into the underside of the roasting pan and place the beer can (with the remaining beer nonetheless inside) upright on high. Slide the hen onto the beer can (it ought to match proper via the underside cavity of the chook) so it sits upright on the beer can within the roasting pan.
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Roast. Roast the hen for 1 hour 25 minutes or till the pores and skin is crispy and a meat thermometer inserted between the wing and the thigh reads 165°F.
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Relaxation. Take away the hen from the oven and let it relaxation for 10 minutes earlier than slicing and serving.
Serving: 8ounces | Energy: 506kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 35g | Fats: 35g | Saturated Fats: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 7g | Monounsaturated Fats: 16g | Trans Fats: 0.2g | Ldl cholesterol: 136mg | Sodium: 2459mg | Potassium: 431mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 834IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 2mg
Dietary data is an estimate and supplied as courtesy. Values might fluctuate in keeping with the components and instruments used. Please use your most popular dietary calculator for extra detailed data.
