Beer Can Chicken makes incredibly flavorful, juicy, and moist chicken on the barbecue.
Beer Can Chicken is an easy recipe that makes incredibly flavorful, juicy, and moist chicken on the barbecue. A summer barbecue favorite.
Summer has finally arrived and it is time to start trying all those barbecue recipes you've been saving. Beer Can Chicken is a recipe you'll try and make time and time again. I love this recipe for having guests over for a backyard barbecue because you aren't stuck in front of the grill while everyone else is enjoying themselves.
Typically referred to as beer can chicken, but if you are from Saskatchewan we call it Beer Butt Chicken. No beer, no problem, you can use any kind of soda. Root beer tastes great as well as a variety of different kinds of chicken rubs.
What to serve with chicken?
How to Make Beer Can Chicken
- Mix up your favorite chicken rub. I like using thyme, smoked paprika, garlic powder, sage, salt and pepper. If you like spicy, add some red pepper flakes.
- Brush chicken with olive oil. This helps spices stick as well as giving the chicken that great crisp skin.
- Pour about half of the beer out of the can (of course you drink this). Add any leftover spices and onion to the can.
- Insert beer can into roaster rack ad place chicken on top.
- Place roaster on an old baking sheet covered with foil wrap or large foil bake pan.
- Cooking time will vary depending on the size of your chicken. A 3 lb chicken will take about 1 hour. Roast until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165ºF.
Beer Can Chicken
Beer Can Chicken makes incredibly flavorful, juicy, and moist chicken on the barbecue.
Ingredients
- 3-4 lb chicken whole
- 1 can favourite beer
- 1 medium onion
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tsp thyme
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp sage
- 1 tsp fresh ground pepper
- 1 tsp kosher salt
Instructions
- Preheat barbeque.
- Coat chicken with olive oil.
- Mix together all the spices
- Rub ½ of spice mixture all over chicken, inside as well.
- Drink about ½ of the can of beer, then put other ½ of spice mix into beer can.
- Put chopped onion into beer can.
- Place beer can into roasting rack, then push chicken butt ½ way down beer can.
- Place chicken rack on old cookie sheet covered with foil.
- Roast on barbeque, medium heat, until chicken reaches internal temperature of 165ºF. About 1 hour depending on the size of chicken.
Notes
If you prefer you can use soda instead of beer. Root beer tastes great.
Nutrition
Serving: 6gCalories: 57kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 1gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 391mgPotassium: 50mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 196IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 9mgIron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
griffinsgrub
Love doing beer can chickens, although it has been awhile. Yours looks amazing.
A tip, take it for what its worth, but try seperating the skin from the breast (carefully, you don't want to tear it) and then adding some of your spice under the skin directly onto the breast. Gives it just a little extra flavor.
Laureen
I will have to try that, beer can chicken certainly is a guaranteed recipe for great tasting chicken.
Me And My Sweets
I've never tried to make chicken this way before. Looks delicious!!
Laureen
Be sure to try it, you will not believe the flavor and tenderness
Anonymous
Does the beer flavour the chicken? Via evaporation I guess? But I think it would be subtle as the beer actually never touched the chicken.
Laureen
The beer taste is very subtle, the flavours that come through are from the various spices used and the onion.The beer is the key to making incredibly moist chicken.
Cassie Desautels
Can this be done in the oven?
Laureen King
Cassie, I have never done it in the oven, but I don't think if would work well as the dripping would probably smoke up and it just doesn't cook the same as a barbeque.
Anonymous
i've done it in the oven..works very well
Laureen King
Just wondering for those that have tried this in the oven, does it make a mess ??
Tara
Yum, I love beer can chicken!!!
[email protected]
It does work in the oven very nicely. I've done it this way many, many times. Just remember to put the beer can or the chicken holder in a pan to catch the drippings. I have used a cast iron skillet to hold the bird; just turn the bird periodically to brown all sides.
Laureen King
thanks for answering that question queenbe123, much appreciated 🙂
Frank in NOLA
Make sure you add about 4oz of Tabasco sauce to the beer. After cooking, remove can and pour contents into pan and allow cut out chicken to soak for extra flavor.
Laureen King
Great idea Frank, thanks
Phil m
Tried this last night for the first time, absolutely amazing! I also added wood chips in a smoker box on the grill during the cook. Will definitely be using this recipe in the future.
Laureen King
Phil, Wood chips would add some great flavour! thank you.