The summer is the perfect time to fire up the grill and enjoy some delicious barbecued food. One of my all-time favorite BBQ recipes is Beer Can Chicken. To make this flavorful dish, you’ll need a whole chicken, your favorite spices, and a can of beer.

Rub the chicken all over with your favorite spices. I like to use chili powder, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dried thyme, and black pepper. Pop open a can of beer and pour out about half of it. Place the half-filled can in the center of a sheet pan.

Carefully balance the spiced chicken over the can so it stands upright. The can will help the chicken retain moisture as it cooks. Place the sheet pan in a preheated 350 F oven and roast for about 1 1⁄2 hours, until the chicken reaches 165 F in the thickest part of the thigh.

The beer and spices create a delicious gravy at the bottom of the pan that’s perfect for basting the chicken during the final minutes of cooking. Let the chicken rest for 10-15 minutes before carving and serving. The beer can chicken is always a hit at BBQs and picnics.

If you prefer grilling, BBQ ribs are always a crowd-pleaser. Select a rack of pork spare ribs or beef short ribs. Remove the thin membrane from the bone side of the ribs and season generously with your favorite rub. Let the ribs sit at room temperature while you preheat a gas or charcoal grill to medium-low heat.

Place the ribs bone-side down on the grill. Cover and cook for 2 to 3 hours until the meat is tender and pulls back from the bones by about 1⁄2 inch. Baste the ribs every 30 minutes with your favorite BBQ sauce during the final stages of cooking. The low and slow cooking method will result in ribs that are fall-off-the-bone tender.

For BBQ side dishes, grilled corn on the cob, coleslaw, potato salad and cornbread are always great options. And what’s a BBQ without a slice of homemade pie for dessert? Fruit pies, pecan pie or Mississippi Mud Pie pair perfectly with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Fire up the grill this summer and enjoy cooking flavorful BBQ recipes outdoors with friends and family.