That is your signal to attempt beer can hen! This hen recipe makes probably the most fall-apart-tender, whole-roasted hen that’s additional juicy inside, crispy outdoors, and loopy filled with taste.
In case you’ve by no means heard of it, beer can hen is a complete roasted hen cooked on prime of an open beer can. I make it within the oven, and it comes out excellent 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 technique for cooking hen that’s additionally a little bit enjoyable, too. I’m formally on a mission to make this recipe with each type of beer!
Why This Beer Can Hen Recipe Works
- Oven-roasted. There are numerous recipes for beer can hen on the grill, however I wished one which I may get pleasure from year-round. So, this recipe makes a straightforward oven model that seems simply as scrumptious.
- Completely cooked. Beer can hen isn’t only for enjoyable; it’s additionally among the finest strategies for tasty, tremendous juicy, and persistently excellent 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 excellent for cookouts and even the vacations!
What You’ll Want
I hold 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 home made spice rub with brown sugar (or granulated sugar), garlic powder, onion powder, candy or smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. It’s much like my hen seasoning, with fewer components. Be happy to make use of your favourite mix.
- Complete Hen – Select a bone-in hen that’s massive sufficient to suit over a beer can. Should you 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 that it’s a beer that you just’d wish 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 incorrect beer to make use of when making beer can hen. It comes right down to what you want, as whichever beer you select will impart its flavors to the hen. I’d advocate one thing lighter and citrusy, like a beer, ale, pilsner, or IPA should you want a bit extra taste (my selection for this recipe). Darkish beers, like stouts and porters, are generally bitter and may overpower the hen.
Tips on how to Cook dinner Beer Can Hen within the Oven
This technique is kind of a revelation. I imply, I’ve made Prompt Pot complete hen and crock pot hen through the years, 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 prepare dinner a complete hen utilizing a beer can. Listed below 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 little bit 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. Rigorously 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 trying good and crispy outdoors and the within is cooked by means of. 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 technique 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 rigorously 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!
Suggestions and Variations
- Prep your oven. Ensure that your oven is massive sufficient to suit a complete hen standing upright. Chances are 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!
- Examine that the hen is finished. I take advantage of my meat thermometer to test 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 conserving hen tender and juicy.
- Make it spicy. Give your spice rub additional warmth with cayenne pepper or chili flakes, or attempt 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 will likely be related. It’s an effective way to get pleasure from beer can hen whereas conserving the recipe alcohol-free.
Regularly Requested Questions
Is it secure to prepare 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. Should you’re actually nervous about heating a steel can contained in the hen, merely pour the entire beer out into the baking dish as a substitute. This manner the hen can nonetheless prepare dinner within the steam. And should you’re severe about beer can hen, you may even purchase a beer can hen holder designed particularly for it!
Can I take advantage of any kind of beer?
Sure, any type of beer works on this recipe, even non-alcoholic beer. I want lighter beers like lagers and IPAs (see the Substances part earlier).
Can children 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 okay for youths to eat. Use your discretion, although. Should you’re involved, go forward and use a can of non-alcoholic beer as a substitute.
Serving Ideas
Beer can hen is considered one of my favourite issues to prepare dinner when we’ve associates over. It’s so fast to prep after which the oven does the remainder! Once 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.
Tips on how 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 should 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 prime. Slide the hen onto the beer can (it ought to match proper by means of the underside cavity of the chicken) 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 information is an estimate and offered as courtesy. Values might fluctuate in response to the components and instruments used. Please use your most popular dietary calculator for extra detailed information.
