Wine-Steamed Beer Can Chicken

Steaming in a can beneath the chicken, wine infuses the meat with delicious flavors.

• Ready In: 1 hr 25 mins
• Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 1 (4 -4 1/2lb)  fresh roasting chickens
• 1  tablespoon olive oil
• 1  garlic clove, minced (more if you desire)
• 1  tablespoon fresh thyme leave, minced
• 1⁄4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1⁄4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• 3⁄4 cup  dry  Chardonnay wine or 3⁄4  sauvignon blanc wine

Directions

1. Remove giblets from chicken; discard.
2. Rinse chicken inside and out; pat dry.
3. Cut off and discard excess skin and fat around body cavity.
4. In a small bowl, mix olive oil, garlic, thyme, salt, pepper.
5. With your fingers, gently loosen skin over breast, being careful not to tear skin.
6. Gently rub thyme mixture evenly over breast meat beneath skin.
7. Prepare barbecue grill and preheat for indirect-heat cooking.
8. Rinse can (12-ounce soda or beer can) and shake dry.
9. Pour wine into can, then carefully lower chicken over can until can is inside body cavity; Gently pull legs forward so chicken stands upright on can.
10. Carefully set chicken and can, in this upright position, on center of grill (not over direct heat); cover charcoal grill and open vents; close lid on gas grill.
11. Cook until and instant-read meat thermometer inserted through thickest part of breast to bone reaches 160*, about 1 hour.
12. Using oven mitts, carefully remove chicken with can from grill, keeping it upright.
13. Let chicken stand on can for 15 minutes, then, holding a towel around the can to steady it and protect your hands, with a large carving fork, carefully remove chicken from can to a carving platter or carving board.
14. Carve chicken and serve, adding salt and pepper to taste.