Beer Can Chicken Using Dr. Pepper

[Dett]

Today is Father’s Day and I got the whole day to play around with my new CG Duo!

Here at the house, I bounced a few ideas around for eats today and the general consensus from the wife and daughter was hot dogs for lunch and chicken for dinner. So I made a quick run to Central Market and pickup up a fresh 4.5# roasting hen and a couple packs of Hebrew National hotdogs along with some other stuff. When I returned the wife reminded me she had already bought a jumbo pack of beef hotdogs from Costco; d’ho! Oh well, I guess you can’t have too many good hotdogs for summer cookouts.

For my chicken dish, I decided to make a variation on beer-can chicken using Dr. Pepper from Steven Raichlen. First the ingredients for the dry rub:
1x 4# roasting chicken (mine was 4.5#)
1x tbl mild chili powder
1x tsp salt (I used Crazy Salt)
1x tsp garlic salt
2x tbl brown sugar
1x tsp cumin
1/4x tsp red pepper (I substituted 1/2x tsp of Poultry Rub from Angelos – a local BBQ joint in Fort Worth)
2x tsp oil for rubbing the chicken prior to applying the dry rub


I also had a little helper; she's a great cook or so she says! I'm hoping she stays interested in cooking with her dad.


Next, I put together a BBQ sauce – again a suggested sauce from Steven R. The sauce includes:
1x tbl butter
1/4x cup minced onion ( I used a nice sweet Vidalia)
1x tbl spoon ginger
1x clove minced garlic
(sauté all that together till onions got clear – then add)
1x can Dr. Pepper
3/4x cup catsup
1/2x tsp lemon zest
2x tbl fresh lemon juice
2x tbl Worcestershire sauce
2x tbl steak sauce
1/2 tsp liquid smoke
Salt and pepper to taste (1/2 tsp of Crazy Salt )


Then it was back to prepping the chicken. I placed it on a large pizza pan and oil it up inside and out. Then I rubbed one tablespoon worth of my rub on the insides; then I used another three tablespoons of rub around the outside of the chicken. Then I loaded the beer can chicken holder up with approximately 3/4 cup of Dr. Pepper and the remaining dry rub ingredient. Next, I placed the chicken n the holder. I picked up this stainless steel holder at Academy for about $20.




At this point, it was time to feed the family. So I went to the fridge and found a monster-sized package of all beef franks from Costco. We are talking 12” long hotdogs here and there’s 18 or so in a package.


I hit them with a little bit of Montreal steak seasoning and then off to the grill they went. After ten minutes on the gas grill at medium low heat, we had some tasty dogs to chow down on!


Here's mine with a large roll, mustard and tabasco. :-)


Next the chicken went on the gas grill at 375 degree. I have an Acurite 648 with a single probe; which I set for internal temp target of 180 degree. It took about an hour and half for the bird to reach my target temp.


The skin was nicely browned but not burned. I checked both thighs and the breast for temps before removing it from the grill. This was first thermometer based grilling; I sure do like the way these probes take the guess work out of cooking! Also, I was very pleased that the CG Duo gas grill held a steady 375 degree F temp with only one burner on a moderately low setting. PS - Notice the foil package – that’s my mesquite chips for some smoky flavoring. It worked OK but it did not provide a very strong flavoring.


The chicken was done early so I wrapped it in foil and placed on warm in the oven for dinner later tonight. From a taste standpoint, the rub was nice; the cumen gave it a nice twist. I can live without the sauce next time. But the chicken itself was so tender and juicy that it nearly fell off the bone. This is a great way to roast a bird IMO. For sides we had red beans and rice along with fresh yellow cornbread.


All in all I’m quite pleased with my CG-Duo gas grill; this is my first gas grill and it seems to meet my expectations. So as far as I’m concerned, Father’s Day was a great success – I’ve broken in my new CG grill with two meals, I’ve cooked my first beer can chicken, I learned how to use probe thermometers, and I got to play with fire all day. Does life get any better than this?!?! And after a few minor modifications, the charcoal side is next on my agenda!

I look back on all the years my dad cranked out fantastic treats like briskets, ribs, sausages, steaks, chickens, game hens, etc. and I find myself thinking how I wasted my opportunity as a youth to learn from the best. I sure could use his advice but he passed away several years ago. Thanks to him I developed an appreciation for fine food and I know how good BBQ can be – that gives me a personal target to shoot for as I learn and grow my skills these days. So thanks again to all the folks at the Q Joint for the tips and the encouragement! This site is full of good information and great people.

[Vermin99]

Looks like you hit the ground running. Great first couple of cooks.

[PigCicles]

Atta boy Mark. Ya done good buster. Your little helper is awesome too. She'll be your greatest competition soon.

I'll be good this time and not talk bad about chicken to ya, but next time you're fair game .

Thanks for sharing your Duo experience. Great start with it.

[SmokyOkie]

I find myself thinking how I wasted my opportunity as a youth to learn from the best.

Great looking grub sir.

Hang around here, and you will find that while you miss your father, you still have the opportunity to learn from the best.

[TX Sandman]

You're off to a great start with that Duo, Mark. Great lookin' food, and thanks for the step-by-step breakdown. You're helper is cute.

Don't let Joe fool ya. he loves chicken and would have it every meal, if he could, even over ribs. It's his favorite.

[californiasmokin]

You ate good my friend!

[BigAL]

Great look'n meal! Very nice!

Love the little helper, that is a great pic.

[BYBBQ]

Cute lil' helper.

Looks like you put together a fantastic meal.

[peculiarmike]

The grub looks great!!! The Duo did good!

How was the Dr. Pepper???

[O B City]

I picked up this stainless steel holder at Academy for about $20.

Wow that's quite the rig. Mine is a couple of bent up coat hangers by comparison! How hard was it to clean? With mine I throw the can away