Beer & Bacon Grilled Chicken Recipe

I love to grill in the summer, and I have this amazing Webber poultry roaster that makes grilling a whole chicken a breeze. I often use the center portion for wine, but my husband and I came up with this beer and bacon chicken together and I wanted to share it with you all because it's awesome.

I love coming up with recipes with my husband. When we are able to work together in the name of cooking, it's just a crystal clear moment of relationship brilliance for me. First of all, I have issues with sharing my kitchen space, so any time I can open my kitchen to someone else, it means I am in a goooooooood place. Second, cooking with someone else takes teamwork. I love my husband and I as a team. We work together well.

So anyway, he's got this new method for grilling which is just fabulous. He uses indirect heat to grill and everything he indirectly grills comes out juicy and yumtastic. He gets the coals ready and then moves them to either side of the grill, and then cooks the meat in the middle of the grill with the top of the grill on. It takes a little longer, but it's worth the wait.

Pour the beer into the slot and the put the piece to hold the chicken in place back on top. 

Oops, I spilled a little, but it's no biggie. 

I have put my chicken in place on the roaster and I am ready to slather in bacon fat. Yep, that's right, I am using bacon fat not whole bacon. I love chicken this way. It's delicious and a good way to get your bacon fix on a budget. I save my fat for moments just like this! 

I like to shove a little lot of bacon fat into the cavity of the chicken. 

Salt and pepper it up. 

Take it outside while the live chickens aren't looking..... 

And then have your hubby add some fresh herbs from the garden! 

We added a little basil and sage. 

And my husband insisted on putting a bunch in the chicken pits! It made me laugh. 

Now put your chicken in the center of your grill, and grill that sucker over indirect heat for about 2 hours, rotating every 25 minutes or so. 

Now look at her! DELISH! 

This chicken was juicy, yummy, and fell off the bone!! 

Barely a cut needed on this bird! And there was LOTS of great juice to pour over, or make gravy with! 

Bacon fat + beer = chicken heaven! 

Beer & Bacon Grilled Chicken 

Time: 2 hours | Makes 1 Chicken | Difficulty: Medium

You Will Need:

1 whole chicken

Can of beer

Bacon fat 

Fresh basil

Fresh Sage

Salt and pepper 

Webber Poultry Roaster or other creative means of doing this thing. 

A charcoal grill 

Method: 

Prepare the charcoal and when it's ready, move the coals to either side of the grill so that you can cook the chicken over indirect heat. 

Meanwhile, rinse your chicken and pat it with paper towels to dry. Set aside.

Pour beer into the poultry roaster and then replace the piece that holds the chicken. Place the chicken on top of the poultry griller. 

Using your hands, get a big old dollop of bacon fat and slather the chicken in it. Put a little extra fat inside the chicken's cavity. 

Salt and pepper the chicken. Add some your fresh herbs, tearing them with your hands. 

Place the chicken in the center of the grill and allow it to cook for about 2 hours. Turn the chicken one quarter turn every 25 minutes or so. 

Enjoy with rice and a salad.