Beer Can Chicken with Red Onion BBQ Sauce

This Beer Can Chicken with Red Onion BBQ Sauce is what James calls a "proper" dish. Cooking the chicken with this beer can method ensures it is moist and the sauce is sweet and is packed with flavour. It is brilliant for sharing and perfect for sunny days.

Ingredients

  • 2 large chickens
  • 1 small bunch of thyme
  • 1 small bunch of marjoram
  • 2 cans beer
For the bbq sauce:
  • 3 red onions, peeled and sliced
  • 250ml tomato ketchup
  • 25ml white wine vinegar
  • 1 shallot, peeled and diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 100g soft brown sugar
  • 100ml maple syrup
  • 100ml soy sauce
  • 6 – 8 sprigs of thyme chopped
  • 6 – 8 sprigs of oregano, chopped
To serve:
  • 4 large jacket potatoes
  • 25 ml olive oil

Method

Heat a BBQ with a lid until hot and the coals are white.

Slash the chickens’ skins across the breasts and legs, remove the wish bones and fill the cavities with herbs.

Place each chicken over the opened beer cans and pop on the BBQ.

Wrap the potatoes in foil, drizzle in oil and place alongside.

Shut the lid and cook for 45 minutes to an hour, until the potatoes and chickens are cooked through.

To make the sauce put all the ingredients into a pan, bring to the boil then simmer for 5 minutes.

To serve, carefully remove the cans from the chickens, place onto a platter, spoon over the sauce and serve with the potatoes.

Ingredients

  • 2 large chickens
  • 1 small bunch of thyme
  • 1 small bunch of marjoram
  • 2 cans beer
For the bbq sauce:
  • 3 red onions, peeled and sliced
  • 250ml tomato ketchup
  • 25ml white wine vinegar
  • 1 shallot, peeled and diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 100g soft brown sugar
  • 100ml maple syrup
  • 100ml soy sauce
  • 6 – 8 sprigs of thyme chopped
  • 6 – 8 sprigs of oregano, chopped
To serve:
  • 4 large jacket potatoes
  • 25 ml olive oil

Method

Heat a BBQ with a lid until hot and the coals are white.

Slash the chickens’ skins across the breasts and legs, remove the wish bones and fill the cavities with herbs.

Place each chicken over the opened beer cans and pop on the BBQ.

Wrap the potatoes in foil, drizzle in oil and place alongside.

Shut the lid and cook for 45 minutes to an hour, until the potatoes and chickens are cooked through.

To make the sauce put all the ingredients into a pan, bring to the boil then simmer for 5 minutes.

To serve, carefully remove the cans from the chickens, place onto a platter, spoon over the sauce and serve with the potatoes.