Apple Cider Beer Can Chicken Recipe

1. Preheat your barbecue to 400°F (200°C) using one to two burners set to medium-high. Preferably using the two outside burners leaving one to two burners in the middle off. 
2. Check the chicken inside to make sure the neck and gizzards have been removed. Season the chicken thoroughly with rub. Fill the cup of the chicken roaster, keeping the remaining cider for later. Add the rosemary to the flavor cup. Position the chicken over the flavor cup and place it onto the barbecue over the burners that are not lit. 
3. Cook the chicken for 45 minutes to 2 hours (weather, outdoor temperature and size of chicken will affect this). Baste it with the butter every 15 to 20 minutes until the chicken is golden and cooked.
4. Use a meat thermometer to monitor the thigh temperature. You are aiming for 160°F to 165°F (71°C to 74°C) in the thigh. When the chicken reaches this temperature, remove it from the barbecue and the chicken roaster, allowing it to rest for 5 to 15 minutes while you make the gravy. 
5. To make the gravy, melt the butter in a saucepan over low heat, add the flour and stir to combine. Cook the butter-flour mix for a few minutes and then add the cider and chicken stock a little at a time until you have a good consistency. Not too runny, not too thick. Remove the gravy from the heat and stir in the sour cream. Taste, and season with salt and pepper as needed. If the gravy is too thick, add a little more liquid. Too thin, gently simmer until the desired thickness.
6. Serve the chicken with the gravy and your favorite seasonal sides like potatoes and greens.  

PRO TIP:
If you don’t have a chicken roaster, remove some of the cider from the can and add a couple sprigs of rosemary. Slide the chicken over the can instead. Remember to use caution when removing the chicken as the can may become stuck and is still full of hot cider. 

By adding a little sour cream to the gravy of your Apple Cider Beer Can Chicken you up the creaminess of the gravy and give it a great tang that pairs well on top of potatoes and veggies too. What do you think about beer can chicken? Share your best beer can barbecue chicken stories, recipes and photos on our social pages like Facebook and Instagram, using the hashtags #NapoleonEats and #FreestyleGrilling.

Happy Grilling!