Beer Can Chicken with Lemon and Italian Seasoning

By GmaJan12

Ingredients

• 1 whole small chicken (about 3 1/2 pounds rinsed, patted dry, giblets reserved for another use)
• 1 Tb. kosher salt
• 2 tsps. each: ground black pepper, Italian seasonings, paprika and finely grated lemon zest
• 1 tsp. granulated garlic or garlic powder
• 1 can dark beer, such as stout or ale

Preparation

Step 1

Mix salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, paprika, lemon zest and garlic. Pat chicken all over—including cavity—with seasoning mix. If time permits, let stand on a wire rack over a plate for 1 to 2 hours or refrigerate overnight.

When ready to grill, heat a gas grill igniting all burners on high for at least 10 minutes or build an indirect charcoal fire. Open beer; pour off (and enjoy!) 1/3 of it. If using a gas grill, turn off one of the burners; set chicken’s leg cavity on open beer can. If using a gas grill, set chicken on turned off portion of grill. If using a charcoal grill, set chicken on charcoal-less portion of grill. Cover and cook (maintaining a temperature of 400 or so degrees until chicken is impressively brown and cooked through (about 170 degrees in the leg/thigh), 50 minutes to 1 hour depending on grill temperature and chicken size. Remove from grill and let rest for 10 minutes. Carve