Chipotle Lime Spicy Beer Can Chicken

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo or a regular weeknight dinner with Chipotle Lime Spicy Beer Can Chicken! Slather a whole chicken with homemade spicy Chipotle Lime Butter, then roast atop a beer can for additional flavor and moisture. When done, rest the golden brown chicken, then slice and serve. Moist and flavorful, this whole chicken pairs perfectly with a favorite beer, rice, guacamole and more! Let’s make Chipotle Lime Spicy Beer Can Chicken tonight!

I have a confession for y’all this morning, and it’s a little shocking…

I don’t like roasting whole birds.

There, I said it.

While I’ve never had issues with raw meat the way some of my friends have… roasting a whole bird takes time, patience and love.

And yeah, the skin kind of freaked me out the first time I did it, but I view it as a mind-over-matter type deal.

Contrary what I’ve probably led you to believe, I’m not a Susie Homemaker who enjoys being in the kitchen all day and night. And I certainly don’t roast a whole bird weekly, let alone nightly, even though I’m sure my husband and our daughter would adore it.

Our weeknight meals are of the faster variety because my other time spent in the kitchen is developing fun, tasty recipes for TSP.

And while there’s some crossover, I can’t bring myself to serve my family cocktails or desserts for dinner.

😉

However, today, we’ve got that crossover.

And if there was a way for me to slather all the things in this delightful chipotle lime butter, I totally would.

Heck, it’s even worth roasting a whole bird because the final product is wonderfully flavorful, a little spicy and perfect for the family, whether it’s a weeknight dinner or you’re making the main dish for a Cinco de Mayo celebration.

Essential Tools/Products

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• Roasting pan with the rack removed.
• Meat thermometer.
• Tongs.
• Food processor (for making the chipotle in adobo smooooth!) OR glass bowls.
• Koozies for beer while you cook.

Get the Look!

• Threshold Porcelain Rectangular Platter in White.
• Corningware CW Color 4-piece set.

Now who’s ready for some CHICKEN?

This recipe is a little bit of a labor of love, but it’s utterly delicious, too.

Chipotle Lime Spicy Beer Can Chicken

Erin Parker, The Speckled Palate

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo or a regular weeknight dinner with Chipotle Lime Spicy Beer Can Chicken! Slather a whole chicken with homemade spicy Chipotle Lime Butter, then roast atop a beer can for additional flavor and moisture. When done, rest the golden brown chicken, then slice and serve. Moist and flavorful, this whole chicken pairs perfectly with a favorite beer, rice, guacamole and more! Let's make Chipotle Lime Spicy Beer Can Chicken tonight!

4.84 from 6 votes

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Servings 1 whole chicken

Calories 992 kcal

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins

Ingredients

  

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Chipotle Lime Butter

• 3 chipotles en adobo finely diced
• 2 tablespoons adobo sauce
• 1 lime juiced
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter softened
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Chipotle Lime Spicy Beer Can Chicken

• 5 lb. whole chicken patted dry
• 12 oz. Mexican lager any drinkable beer will do here!
• 1 lime halved

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Instructions

 

Prepare the Chipotle Lime Butter

• In a glass bowl or the basin of a food processor, combine the chipotles en adobo, the adobo sauce, the lime juice, garlic powder, kosher salt and black pepper. Mix/blend until smooth.
• (If you don’t mind biting into some of the chipotle pieces while eating, chop and mix the butter by hand. If you’d rather it all be blended together, toss it in the food processor. Either way works!)
• Fold in the softened butter, stirring until everything is incorporated, then set aside.

Prepare the Chicken

• Preheat the oven to 425°F. 
• Pour ¼ of the beer into the bottom of a high-rimmed baking dish or roasting pan (without the rack.)
• Carefully lift the skin of the chicken, and rub the chipotle lime butter all over the breasts beneath it. Push the butter as far beneath the skin as you can.
• Once the butter is beneath the skin of the chicken, slather the remaining butter on the outside of the chicken, tucking its wings in as best you can so they cook evenly.
• Gently place the chicken on top of the can of beer, and slide it down so the chicken fits snugly on top of the can of beer.
• Slice a lime in half and maneuver both halves into the top cavity of the chicken.
• Roast the chicken for 1 hour and 15 minutes.
• When finished, the chicken should be golden brown. Use a meat thermometer to ensure that the internal temperature is 165°F.
• If the temperature is correct, carefully remove the pan from the oven and transfer to a safe surface. Cover the chicken with aluminum foil. Let it rest undisturbed for 20 minutes. (Now would be a perfect time to make your side dishes or put the finishing touches on them!)
• Once the chicken has rested, carefully lift it off of the beer can (which will still be hot!) using a pair or two of kitchen tongs.
• Discard the beer can, then slice and serve the chicken.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 992kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 104gFat: 58gSaturated Fat: 18gPolyunsaturated Fat: 34gCholesterol: 348mgSodium: 690mgFiber: 1g

Course Entrees

Cuisine TexMex

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How do you feel about roasting whole birds?