Lunch: Smoked Beer Can Chicken

This recipe includes superfoods such as:

Lemon

Health benefits of Smoked Beer Can Chicken

Lemons can help to prevent oxidative damage to the body, which women with PCOS are often susceptible to. Lemons are also rich in vitamin C, flavonoids, and other antioxidants. They can potentially support the immune system and have other health benefits. Lemons also have a low glycemic index, so they should not cause a rapid rise in blood sugar when consumed in natural form.

Ingredients

2 cups kosher salt
1/2 cup sugar
12 sprigs fresh thyme
3 bay leaves
2 tablespoons black peppercorns
1 lemon, quartered
1 Spanish onion, quartered
1 head garlic, halved horizontally
2 gallons water
2 gallons ice

Instructions

For the brine: Add the salt, sugar, thyme, bay leaves, peppercorns, lemon, onion, garlic and water to a stockpot. Bring to a simmer, then remove from the heat and add the ice to cool the brine down. Refrigerate until ready to use. For the rub: Combine the salt, garlic powder, onion powder, herbes de Provence and smoked paprika in a bowl. Mix to blend. Transfer to an air-tight container and store until ready to use. For the BBQ sauce: In a stainless steel saucepan, combine the apple juice concentrate, ketchup, vinegar, brown sugar, Worcestershire, bacon fat, mustard, salt, garlic powder, cinnamon, cinnamon sticks, star anise, bay leaves, clove and nutmeg. Bring to boil over high heat, stirring constantly. Simmer for 25 to 30 minutes, then strain. Cool in an ice-bath before refrigerating. For the beer can chicken: Rinse the chickens well, then place them in the brine and refrigerate for six hours. Remove the birds from the brine and pat dry, especially in the cavity. Place the birds on a rack set over a baking sheet and refrigerate, uncovered, for six hours. Next, rub the birds with the spice rub, inside and out, making sure to get into all the cracks and crevices. Pour off 6 ounces of beer from each of the cans. To each can add 4 ounces of the apple BBQ sauce, 2 ounces of the cranberry juice and 1/2 teaspoon of the herbes de Provence. Mount the birds atop each beer can and tuck the wing tips behind the breasts. Stand the mounted birds on a smoker rack and smoke over a mixture of hickory and applewood at 250 degrees F until the birds reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees F, about 3 to 4 hours. Allow the chickens to rest for 20 minutes before cutting into pieces. Serve the birds with the gravy from the beer cans on the side. ENJOY!!
NotesThis recipe was provided by a chef, restaurant or culinary professional and may have been scaled down from a bulk recipe. The Food Network Kitchens have not tested it for home use and therefore cannot make any representation as to the results.