Sprite Chicken! Yep you heard it right, it’s a bit like beer can chicken which was made on the channel a super long time ago (like 6 Years or so!) and just produces the most juicy, tender and tasty chicken no matter what drink you use really. You could really mix things up and experiment, it is also made relatively quickly – 90 minutes plus rest time for a medium chicken and then of course you can make whatever you like with it!
The steps are very simple, pre-heat the oven to gas mark 4 or equivalent – (see temperature conversion chart) and make sure there is enough room in the oven for the chicken to be stood upright – that’s how it will cook, rather than lying down.
In a mixing bowl combine the butter, sugar, paprika, sprinkle of salt & pepper along with the juice of a lime and lemon, mix well to combine.
Remove any string from the chicken and sit the chicken on top of the half drank can of sprite with the neck facing up on a lipped baking tray, this should sit nice and comfortable on the tray ensure it is snug before proceeding. Pull away any skin covering the neck and wedge half a lemon inside of it, then cover with the skin.
Next grab the butter mixture and coat well with a good brush of it using a pastry brush you will have some leftover which is good. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes, at this point top up with the butter mixture coating both sides of the chicken and bake again.
Repeat basting the chicken both in the butter mixture and pan juices and rotating the chicken where necessary to ensure even colour until it has been baked for just over 90 minutes or looking golden browned and charred.
Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 20 minutes, which will allow the can to cool down too so you can remove it and the lemon from the neck. Carve up and serve, it’s delicious!