Beer and chicken are a perfect pairing, not simply when you’re at a sports bar. Beer often becomes the go-to choice for battering not only chicken but also fish and other fried foods. To pack your chicken with flavor, try basting it with beer and some herbs.

Whether you’re preparing fried chicken strips or onion rings, beer is an essential ingredient for the batter. Its carbonation provides a lightness and crispness to fried foods, enhancing their taste experience. So, why not incorporate those advantages and others when roasting or grilling chicken too? A slightly fancier version of beer-can chicken, the ale-infused bird stays juicy and cool due to basting and acquires the malty flavor of beer.

You can create a marinade by combining beer with olive oil and tossing in some herbs and spices. It’s not necessary to be a beer connoisseur to understand that no two beers are the same. They tend to have a sweetness, so balance your basting mixture with earthy herbs such as oregano, rosemary, or sage.

Read more: 12 Different Ways To Cook Chicken

Beer ranges from light and fruity to dark and bitter; it’s impossible to choose the absolute perfect herb for the drink. Instead, start with what you want to eat your chicken with and pick a type of beer. Something classic like baked chicken with a side of fries and an everyday salad with herby lemon vinaigrette requires a classic beer. A light, crisp lager like Miller Lite or Corona Extra works best with rich, savory herbs — think basil or marjoram.

For a dish that’s on the sweeter side, opt for fruit beers. Something sweet with hints of mango, orange blossom, or grapefruit works well with a tangy coleslaw or sauteed veggies. Choose herbs that enhance the bright flavor of the fruity beer. Zesty herbs like mint, thyme, or lavender are the perfect accompaniment to a mellow, fruity beer. If it’s something citrusy, like a lime-flavored beer, use cilantro and chives and shred the chicken to make leftover makeover shredded chicken tacos.

Enhance your favorite dark, caramelized stout with the woody flavors of rosemary, tarragon, and bay leaves. To play up those rich, bitter flavors, a dash of heady spices like cinnamon and nutmeg offer smoky hints of sweetness. Balance out this woodsy, roasted chicken with something light yet savory — this cheesy asparagus galette provides a hint of tang from the lemon, followed by an undertone of umami courtesy of the goat cheese.

Read the original article on Tasting Table.