Beer butt chicken is a fun way to make a moist and tender chicken. Oven baked and roasted it is one of the best ways to get a perfectly cooked bird every time.
Lower your oven rack and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Pat your whole chicken dry with a paper towel so that the seasonings stick better. Trim up the skin around the bottom opening and remove any organs inside if the chicken came with them.
Pour out ½ of the can of beer and then place the beer in the center of a 9x13 baking dish
Place the chicken on the beer can, and press down to securely tuck it up in there and make it sturdy. Adjust legs as needed.
In a small bowl mix together the seasonings. Rub them all of the chicken, getting under the wings and making it as coated as you can.
Using a sharp knife, puncture a hole in the skin between the thigh and breast and then tuck the tip of the wing into the hole. This keeps them from burning.
Bake in the oven for about 20 minutes per pound or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F on an instant read thermometer. A 5lb chicken would be about 1 hour and 40 minutes.
Remove from oven and let rest a good 10 minutes in the pan before trying to remove the beer can. It will be VERY hot.
Slice up your chicken and serve as desired. Enjoy.
Notes
Carefully remove the beer can from the chicken using tongs, while someone holds the chicken with a towel or pot holders to avoid spills.
Use a 9x13 baking dish to catch cooking juices, which is more effective than a sheet pan to prevent overflow.
To enhance the beer flavor, consider pouring half of the beer from the can into the baking dish with the chicken. This step is optional and can result in juicier chicken with a stronger beer taste.
Opt for a milder, less hoppy beer. Inexpensive beer generally works well, providing excellent results without overwhelming the dish, and it's cost-effective.
Lower the oven rack before inserting the chicken to prevent it from hitting the top of the oven. Do this before preheating the oven to ensure safety.
For a non-alcoholic alternative, you can use canned lemonade, root beer, Dr. Pepper, or cola. The baking process remains the same, and lemonade pairs well with fresh herbs inside the can.