Golden chicken pieces marinaded in lager and baked to a perfect crispy skin, so juicy and tender biting into them with an incredible garlicky flavour. This Crispy Beer Chicken with a Creamy Beer Mushroom Gravy IS SO GOOD!
The added garlic in the lager creates the perfect marinade and flavour combination with the beer. And for extra decadence — a creamy, mushroom beer gravy to top them off. Not necessary. But so good. Even if you’re not a beer fan…it makes an incredible creamy flavour to enjoy with your juicy chicken.
These are our typical Sunday roasts. And yes, this is another recipe that has been sitting in my to-post folder for so long, it was time for it to come me out and play. In time for your Sunday roasting plans, maybe? If that’s the case, then you’re welcome. The easiest marinade ever — if I should call it that.
HOW TO MAKE CRISPY BEER CHICKEN:
- Pour beer into a dish with chicken. (You can use any cut. We love drumsticks and thighs — but breasts and wings are equally as good).
- Add the crushed whole garlic cloves, stock powder and salt.
- Place in your refrigerator to marinade for as long as you can. (Having said that, I’ve made these last minute and marinaded them for 30 minutes many times over. Totally works, but a deeper flavour is created when you go for the 4-6 hours or overnight option. Just saying.) Drain them; fry them with their garlic clove best friends, while occasionally spooning the liquid they release over them.
Place them in the oven and roast until they look like this↓. Brush them over with the juices in the pan.
Make your creamy boozed-up gravy.
And serve.
Crispy Beer Chicken with a Creamy Beer Mushroom Gravy
Ingredients
Chicken in Beer:
- 4 chicken thigh cutlets , washed and patted dry
- 4 chicken drumsticks , washed and patted dry
- 1 x 330ml bottle lager (I used Corona)
- 4 whole garlic cloves , crushed (crush them lightly with the flat side of a knife and the heel of your hand) DO NOT mince them. (See images above).
- 1 tablespoon vegetable stock powder
- Salt to taste (about 1 tablespoon)
Drunken Creamy Mushroom Gravy:
- 2 shallot stems (or green onions), sliced thinly
- 1 cup sliced mushrooms
- Reserved beer marinade
- 3 tablespoons light/reduced fat butter (or spread of choice)
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1/2 cup (125ml) extra lager *(See Notes)
- 4 tablespoons reduced fat cooking cream
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- Salt to season
Instructions
Chicken:
- Place the chicken into a large dish. Pierce 1-inch slits through the chicken skin into the meat (about 1/2-inch deep. Pour in the beer; add the crushed garlic, stock powder and salt; turn the chicken skin side down; cover with foil and refrigerate for 4-6 hours or overnight for a deeper flavour. (Rotate the chicken once while marinading to ensure an even flavour when baking).
- When ready to cook; preheat your oven to 210°C | 410°F. Drain the beer marinade (reserving the liquid), and heat a cast iron skillet or oven proof pan *(See Notes) on medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of oil to the pan; and when it starts to smoke sear chicken, skin side down for about 4 minutes until the skin is golden and crisp, then flip and sear until golden.
- Transfer pan to the oven and continue to cook for a further 30 minutes, broiling for the last 5 minutes, until the chicken is completely cooked through.
Gravy:
- While the chicken is in the oven, fry the shallots and mushrooms in a separate hot pan with a drizzle of oil. When fragrant; add the reserved marinade and simmer on medium-high heat for 5 minutes. Set aside.
- In a smaller saucepan, melt the butter. Lower heat and whisk the flour through until lump free. Add the shallot and mushroom mixture along with the liquid, and stir until combined. Add the (extra) 1/2 cup of lager and cook until thickened, stirring occasionally.
- When gravy is thick, stir the cooking cream through along with the sugar. Season with salt to suit your tastes.
To Serve:
- Serve with creamy mashed potatoes, rice or steamed vegetables. Pour gravy over the chicken; or to retain crispiness, serve gravy onto the side of your serving plates. Sprinkle with finely chopped thyme or parsley.
Notes
**If you don't have an oven proof pan, simply transfer the chicken pieces from the frying pan you're using into an oven proof baking dish, and pour any left over juices from the pan onto the chicken.
LOVE BEER? TRY THESE RECIPES!
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Christoph says
Just found your blog and love it! This dish looks fantastic, can’t wait to make it. Great photos too!!!
Ellen says
I use the marinade that the raw chicken has been basting in to make the gravy? I’m a little nervous about this!
Tymeron Smith says
OH, that is going to be tasty-delicious! Enjoy!
karen says
same thoughts
Shelley says
Excellent! It turned out perfectly and the gravy was amazing!! I never had veggie stalk so i used chicken stock. I will definitely make this again
Emma says
What if I don”t have vegetable stock? Can I substitute with something?
Drinks&Coolers says
This looks fantastic and just what you need after a hard days work. I will be trying this tonight.
Elysse says
So I’m about to make this now! Looks so good and my Chicken has been marinating overnight. However my oven broiler is separate, on the bottom, and only sets to high or low. I don’t want to set it to high since I know it will burn. Should I set it to low or just put them in the regular oven? The broiler is small so the chicken would be a few inches from the burners.
Karina says
Hi Elysse. I would suggest a normal oven if your broiler is on the bottom. It may not crisp up on the tops but it will still be delicious!
Debbie says
Sorry to sound stupid but what is “cooking cream”?
Karina says
Hi Debbie. Cooking cream is normally called cooking cream, or you can use thickened cream or heavy cream.
Sue says
Just a quick question for you. What is vegetable powder?
Karina says
Hi Sue. It’s a stock powder like Vegeta 🙂
Chris says
This recipe looks amazing, and I’m planning to make this tonight. One question: when you place the chicken in the oven set on BROIL, do you place the pan up on the top shelf, as you would when broiling, say, garlic bread? Or do you place the pan on a rack in the middle of the oven? Sorry for the rookie question!
Karina says
Hi Chris! Not a rookie question at all! Place it on the middle shelf so it goes crispy and golden without burning 🙂 I hope you enjoy it!
Jill says
This was a wonderful recipe! Even my 2 year old twins ate it!
Karina says
Jill that’s wonderful! I’m so happy to hear that!
Jennifer says
This recipe was ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS!!!! The BEST chicken I have EVER had! Not only was it delicious, it was super easy! That gravy was so flavorful & out of this world! I made NO changes to the recipe and would strongly advise others to do the same! Thank you Thank you Thank you! Look forward to making other stuff from your recipe box in the near future…..LIKE TONIGHT! lol Happy Holidays to you Karina!