Roasted Soda Can Chicken

18 Ratings
  • 5 Rating Star 10
  • 4 Rating Star 5
  • 3 Rating Star 2
  • 1 Rating Star 1
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A different take on the typical beer can chicken. I inject the butter-based rub under the skin for better flavor. The steam from the liquid makes this moist and tender.

By Heather
+ 2
+ 1
prep:
20 mins
cook:
2 hrs
total:
2 hrs 30 mins
additional:
10 mins
Servings:
6
Max Servings:
6
Nutrition Info
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Ingredients

Directions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Remove the giblets and rinse chicken inside and out with water. Pat dry with paper towels.

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  • Stir together butter, brown sugar, garlic, salt and pepper, and half the lemon juice in a bowl. Rub the mixture over the entire chicken, including the cavity and beneath the skin.

  • Discard 1/2 of soda, leaving the rest in the can, and pour the remaining lemon juice into the can. Place the can on a baking sheet, and set the chicken upright on the can, inserting it into the cavity of the chicken. Plug the neck opening of the chicken with the onion and a squeezed lemon half to retain steam.

  • Roast the chicken in the preheated oven for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, to a minimum internal temperature of 180 degrees F (80 degrees C). Remove the chicken from the oven, discard the soda can, and cover chicken with a doubled sheet of aluminum foil to rest in a warm area for 10 minutes before slicing.

Nutrition Facts

Per Serving:
501.31 calories; 41.32 g protein; 15.04 g carbohydrates; 30.53 g fat; 149.66 mg cholesterol; 187.99 mg sodium.Full Nutrition

Reviews (12)

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Most helpful positive review

ADZELL
04/04/2010
This chicken was super! I did not change much just made a few alterations. I added an extra clove of garlic let it sit in the fridge for about 2 hours after I rubbed it down so it could marinate a little & also added a little bit of cilantro to the lemon/soda can. Chicken turned out super moist & very very tasty. Will totally make again! REVISION FROM 2/2009 In response to the slightly obnoxious post below; I only had Sprite in a 2 liter so pulled a can out of my recycle bin (which would apparently be a Diet Pepsi can) washed it out and threw the sprite in there. Sorry I didn't clarify before but I didn't stop to think that people would 1) stare so hard and scrutinze a pic of roasted chicken and 2) actually feel the need to call someone out on a cooking website about it. Hope that clears things up for anyone who was confused!
Helpful
(90)

Most helpful critical review

Nate Balcom
07/12/2010
This wasn't very good. I tried it with root beer. It is really a lot better with a good rub and a half can of beer. IMHO
Helpful
(4)
18 Ratings
  • 5 Rating Star 10
  • 4 Rating Star 5
  • 3 Rating Star 2
  • 1 Rating Star 1
Reviews:
Most Helpful Most Positive Least Positive Newest
ADZELL
04/04/2010
This chicken was super! I did not change much just made a few alterations. I added an extra clove of garlic let it sit in the fridge for about 2 hours after I rubbed it down so it could marinate a little & also added a little bit of cilantro to the lemon/soda can. Chicken turned out super moist & very very tasty. Will totally make again! REVISION FROM 2/2009 In response to the slightly obnoxious post below; I only had Sprite in a 2 liter so pulled a can out of my recycle bin (which would apparently be a Diet Pepsi can) washed it out and threw the sprite in there. Sorry I didn't clarify before but I didn't stop to think that people would 1) stare so hard and scrutinze a pic of roasted chicken and 2) actually feel the need to call someone out on a cooking website about it. Hope that clears things up for anyone who was confused!
Helpful
(90)
Anonymous
12/30/2010
This is such a versatile recipe in that you can use multiple liquids to enhance the flavor. I have used various sodas beer fruit juices and broths. The trick is the can- it is the stand. So if you want a more savory chicken use beers for a sweeter chicken use juices and citrus sodas (mountain dew works well) and for less complex though flavorful chicken use broths. The super tiny juice cans work great for Cornish Hens.
Helpful
(35)
TLEIGHBAKER
06/05/2011
I used this recipe because I thought it was neat that you could roast it in the oven it was winter at the time and I had only had it on the grill made by my mother up until that point. It turned out awesome. I usually eyeball my ingredients but what I had done differently was I added a lemon juice (from a whole lemon) to the soda I used (I think ginger ale) to the can that it roasted on and I rubbed the other stuff underneath the skin. Either way it was a great recipe and I'm going to use it as a base for tonight although I'm going to use actual beer.
Helpful
(21)
Amanda
03/19/2009
This chicken was bland at best even when eaten with the skin. The meat came out moist so luckily we can use the leftover meat for other applications.
Helpful
(5)
Lucia Dargis
02/03/2015
I have made this recipe and used the brown sugar/butter/garlic/lemon rub even on turkey--INCREDIBLE. The color of the skin-looks like a magazine cover-tastes great. It kills me because I have always had the willpower until now not to eat the skin! I have made this many times. I use larger chickens so oven temperature is 350 and 20 minutes per pound. I have used different types of soda-both diet and regular and it doesn't make a difference. I usually use ginger ale but have used coke orange soda and beer and the results are always the same--outstanding! Here are some suggestions that I have done that my family likes. I use the "Citurs Brine" found on this site. I add garlic and onion to the soda can and stuff the cavity of the chicken with fresh herbs and additional garlic. I also like to put vegetables like celery carrots and fennel on the bottom of the pan and add either chicken broth or water--so I can make homemade gravy out of the drippings.
Helpful
(4)
Nate Balcom
07/12/2010
This wasn't very good. I tried it with root beer. It is really a lot better with a good rub and a half can of beer. IMHO
Helpful
(4)
Anonymous
05/13/2009
Nothing special
Helpful
(4)
SingleMomma
05/27/2013
This turned out great but I did add a bunch of other seasonings & I used Sprite Zero. Will definitely make this again and again.
Helpful
(3)
Karen
12/03/2012
The chicken tastes so juicy.. I love the crispy skin...worth the effort if you have the time
Helpful
(2)
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