How to Make Roasted Soda Can Chicken - A Step-by-Step Guide

Roasted Soda Can Chicken is a flavorful and juicy way to cook a whole chicken. The method involves standing the bird upright on an open soda can and roasting it in the oven or on the grill. This technique results in incredibly tender meat and crispy, golden-brown skin.

The concept behind this recipe is simple: the soda can acts as a stand to support the chicken while it roasts. As the chicken cooks, the soda evaporates and infuses the bird with moisture and a hint of flavor, while als...

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Ingredients

  • 1 (4 pound) whole chicken
  • ¼ cup butter, melted
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • juice of 1 fresh lemon, divided
  • 1 (12 ounce) can lemon-lime soda (such as Sprite®)
  • 1 small whole onion, peeled
  • 1 squeezed lemon half

Information

  • Prep Time: 20 mins
  • Cook Time: 2 hrs
  • Additional Time: 10 mins
  • Total Time: 2 hrs 30 mins
  • Servings: 6
  • Yield: 1 roast chicken

  • 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.
  • 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

    501 cal.

    • Total Fat: 31g
    • Saturated Fat: 11g
    • Cholesterol: 150mg
    • Sodium: 188mg
    • Total Carbohydrate: 15g
    • Dietary Fiber: 1g
    • Total Sugars: 5g
    • Protein: 41g
    • Vitamin C: 20mg
    • Calcium: 44mg
    • Iron: 2mg
    • Potassium: 428mg