Beer Can Chicken is one of those summer time recipes that will become one of your BBQ favourites! Use your favourite can of beer or even soda to make this quick and simple chicken recipe.
Summer has finally arrived and it is time to start trying all those barbeque recipes you’ve been saving. This is one chicken recipe you’ll try and make time and time again. It makes the most incredibly moist, tender chicken. I love this recipe for having guests over for a backyard barbeque because you aren’t stuck in front of the grill while everyone else is enjoying cool cold drinks. Two great side dishes to serve with beer can chicken are Bacon Kale Potato Salad or refreshing Cucumber Watermelon Salad.
This recipe is usually called beer can chicken, but if you are from Saskatchewan you would refer to it as Beer Butt Chicken! In my hometown of Humboldt, Saskatchewan Pilsner beer is very popular and it is what I used in this recipe. If you don’t have beer, no worries, use any kind of soda, root beer tastes great, but any kind of soda will work.
Beer Can Chicken
Beer Can Chicken is one of those summer time recipes that will become one of your BBQ favourites!
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Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 6
Calories: 488kcal
Ingredients
- 3-4 lb chicken whole
- 1 can favourite beer
- 1 medium onion
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tsp thyme
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 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 1/2 of spice mixture all over chicken, inside as well.
- Drink about 1/2 of the can of beer, then put other 1/2 of spice mix into beer can.
- Put chopped onion into beer can.
- Put beer into chicken rack then push chicken butt 1/2 way down beer can. (see pic below)
- Place chicken rack on old cookie sheet covered with foil.
- Roast on barbeque, medium heat, until chicken reaches internal temperature of 185 degrees; about 1 hour depending on the size of chicken.
Notes
you can even use cola or root beer instead of beer!
Nutrition
Serving: 6g | Calories: 488kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 42g | Fat: 36g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 170mg | Sodium: 547mg | Potassium: 463mg | Vitamin A: 9.9% | Vitamin C: 6.6% | Calcium: 2.9% | Iron: 12.4%
Spice mix
Rub olive oil over chicken then cover with spice mix
Very important step: drink 1/2 of the beer, put any remaining spices into beer can.
Place 1/2 full beer can into holder, then push chicken down on top, roast until chicken reaches 185 degrees.
Enjoy some more great chicken recipes like this one from Healthy Kitchen 101 Oven Baked Chicken Breasts
griffinsgrub says
May 17, 2012 at 3:26 pmLove 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 says
May 18, 2012 at 1:41 amI will have to try that, beer can chicken certainly is a guaranteed recipe for great tasting chicken.
Me And My Sweets says
May 18, 2012 at 7:10 pmI’ve never tried to make chicken this way before. Looks delicious!!
Laureen says
May 18, 2012 at 9:20 pmBe sure to try it, you will not believe the flavor and tenderness
Anonymous says
May 20, 2012 at 11:24 amDoes 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 says
May 21, 2012 at 2:52 amThe 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 says
May 5, 2013 at 3:19 pmCan this be done in the oven?
Laureen King says
May 5, 2013 at 3:29 pmCassie, 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 says
June 1, 2013 at 6:52 pmi’ve done it in the oven..works very well
Laureen King says
June 1, 2013 at 10:34 pmJust wondering for those that have tried this in the oven, does it make a mess ??
Tara says
May 22, 2013 at 4:42 pmYum, I love beer can chicken!!!
queenbe123@gmail.com says
May 22, 2013 at 5:12 pmIt 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 says
May 22, 2013 at 6:20 pmthanks for answering that question queenbe123, much appreciated 🙂
Frank in NOLA says
May 25, 2015 at 11:12 amMake 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 says
May 25, 2015 at 11:32 amGreat idea Frank, thanks
Phil m says
June 4, 2015 at 8:33 amTried 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 says
June 4, 2015 at 8:43 amPhil, Wood chips would add some great flavour! thank you.