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If you're grilling chicken often, here are two great ways to put a spin on your next family dinner or barbecue.

Crisscross Chicken
To jazz up your boneless chicken breasts and give them an authentic hot-from-the-grill flair, try this fun method of adding a crisscross pattern to your breasts.

First unthaw and prepare your chicken as you normally would for the grill. Position the breast so that it is laying diagonally across the grill rack. Grill for 5 minutes, then turn the chicken in the opposite direction and grill for 5 minutes. When you flip the chicken to do the other side, make sure you have the chicken placed diagonally on the grill. Grill for 5 minutes, then turn the chicken in the opposite direction and grill for 5 minutes. Make sure the chicken is cooked thoroughly.

Beer Can Grilled Chicken
Another great way to make chicken—and it’s sure to be a hit—is beer butt chicken. There are many variations of this recipe.

Ingredients

• 1 can Budweiser beer (you can use any beer)
• 1 whole young chicken

Rub Mix:

• 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon onion powder
• 1 ½ teaspoons cayenne pepper
• 1 ½ teaspoons black pepper
• 1 ½ teaspoons white pepper
• 1 teaspoon salt

1. Thoroughly mix all spices. Drink or dispose of ¼ of the can of Bud. Put 1 ½ teaspoons of the spice mix in the beer can with the rest of the beer. Rub the rest of the spices on the outside and inside of the chicken.
2. Let the spiced chicken rest while you start your grill. This will let the spices soak into the meat. If you are using a gas grill, preheat to about 250 degrees Fahrenheit. If you are using charcoal, put the charcoal on one side of the grill. You will need to add more charcoal during the cooking process—about 12 pieces every hour.
3. Make a tin-foil “pan” on the cool side of the grill. Stand the spiced beer in the middle of the foil. Set the chicken on top of it (put the beer can in where the stuffing would normally go). Balance the chicken on the beer can and the legs, making a tripod. Close the grill lid. Grill for three hours. If you are using an open grill, you will need to add up to an extra hour of cooking time.
4. When finished grilling, remove the beer can from the chicken and place the chicken on a serving platter. Carve and serve with your favorite salad or grilled baked potatoes.