Beer Can Chicken

Ingredients

• 1 whole chicken
• Topp Rub
• 1 tablespoon paprika
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 (12 ounce) can beer or soda (cola, lemon-lime, or root beer)
• 1 small potato or onion
• ¼ cup water

Directions

1. Thaw and clean a whole chicken, removing the giblets from the cavity. Rinse the chicken inside and out under cold water, drain, and blot dry with paper towels.
2. Generously apply a poultry rub or seasoning to the outer skin and inner cavity. If a rub isn’t available, use salt and pepper.
3. For the Topp Rub, mix paprika, salt, and brown sugar.
4. Using a 12 ounce can of your favorite beer or soda — cola, lemon-lime, or root beer — pour out about half the contents. Place the half-empty can inside the chicken, on a rack if you have one. Add the leftover rub spices into the can.
5. Place the chicken over the can (and rack). Stuff a small potato or onion into the neck cavity to seal in the vapors.
6. Place on a grill or in the oven, in a pan lined with foil with ¼ cup water.
7. Cook at 350 degrees for 1-2 hours, until the skin is dark golden and very crisp. A meat thermometer should reach 180 degrees in the thigh. The leg can be pulled out of the socket when the chicken is done.
8. Cut up and enjoy.