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    Home » Recipes » Recipes

    Beer Can Chicken recipe

    September 1, 2021 by Laureen King

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    Beer Can Chicken makes incredibly flavorful, juicy, and moist chicken on the barbecue. via @artandthekitch

    Beer Can Chicken is an incredible recipe for grilled chicken. This easy barbecue recipe makes chicken that is amazingly flavorful and moist.

    Barbecue roasted chicken inserted into a can of beer on a roaster rack.

    The beer steams the chicken, keeping the inside super moist while roasting, yet still achieving the desirable crispy skin on the outside. Beer Can Chicken is my all-time favorite recipe for grilling chicken. Perfect for backyard parties, no one is stuck tending to the BBQ while everyone else is visiting. You put the chicken on to roast and leave it until done.

    Barbecue roasted chicken inserted into a can of beer on a can roaster rack.

    My preference is to use beer in this recipe. In Saskatchewan we call this recipe Beer Butt Chicken and everyone uses their favorite brand of beer. You have to empty half of the can, so you might as well enjoy sipping the other half while preparing the chicken.

    What can I use instead of beer in this recipe?

    • Soda such as root beer, Coke or Pepsi make terrific substitutions.
    • Non alcoholic beer.
    • Wine
    • Chicken stock

    How to cook beer can chicken.

    • Use a beer can chicken holder. They can be found at most hardware or BBQ stores as well as online.
    • Some holders come with racks, if not place the beer can chicken holder on a foil lined cookie sheet.
    • Cook chicken on the grill over medium heat with grill lid closed.
    • Depending on the size of your chicken it will take 1 to 1 ½ hours. Using a meat thermometer the internal temperature should be 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
    Grilled chicken on beer can chicken roaster.

    What to serve with grilled chicken?

    Avocado Citrus Salad

    Santa Fe Salad

    Cucumber Watermelon Salad

    Bacon Kale Potato Salad

    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.
    Bottles of spices, thyme, garlic powder, sage , smoked paprika with salt and pepper mills.
    • Brush the chicken with olive oil. This helps the spice mix stick to the chicken and make the skin crispy.
    Whole raw chicken coated in spices.
    • Pour about half of the beer out of the can (of course you drink this). Put any leftover spice mix and chopped onion into the beer can.
    • Insert beer can into roaster rack and place chicken on top.
    Whole raw chicken coated with spices inserted into beer can on barbecue roasting rack.
    • 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.

    This post was originally published on June 27, 2015. Occasionally I update with fresh tips, content, and photos. Current update April 28, 2021.

    Grilled chicken inserted into a can of beer on beer can chicken holder.

    Beer Can Chicken

    Laureen King
    Beer Can Chicken makes incredibly flavorful, juicy, and moist chicken on the grill.
    3.67 from 3 votes
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    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 1 hr
    Total Time 1 hr 10 mins
    Course BBQ, Dinner
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6
    Calories 544 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 3-4 pound chicken whole
    • 1 can beer
    • 1 medium onion
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 2 teaspoon thyme
    • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ½ teaspoon sage
    • 1 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
    • 1 teaspoon kosher salt

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat grill.
    • Pat chicken dry with paper towel. Coat chicken with olive oil.
    • Mix together all the spices.
    • Rub half of the spice mixture over chicken, inside as well.
    • Drink half of the can of beer. Put remaining spice mix into the can of beer.
    • Push chopped onion into beer can.
    • Place beer can into roasting rack, then push chicken butt side into the beer can.
    • Place chicken rack onto old cookie sheet covered with foil.
    • Roast on 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: 544kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 43gFat: 37gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 8gMonounsaturated Fat: 16gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 170mgSodium: 550mgPotassium: 491mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 516IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 37mgIron: 2mg
    Keyword beer can chicken, grilled chicken, chicken
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Tara

      May 22, 2013 at 4:42 pm

      Yum, I love beer can chicken!!!

      Reply
    2. Frank in NOLA

      May 25, 2015 at 11:12 am

      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.

      Reply
      • Laureen King

        May 25, 2015 at 11:32 am

        Great idea Frank, thanks

        Reply
    3. Phil m

      June 04, 2015 at 8:33 am

      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.

      Reply
      • Laureen King

        June 04, 2015 at 8:43 am

        Phil, Wood chips would add some great flavour! thank you.

        Reply
    4. Darlene Lockrem

      September 07, 2021 at 10:33 am

      5 stars
      Easy to prepare and so good, great for a family picnic .

      Reply

    Trackbacks

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      January 31, 2015 at 9:44 am

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    2. The FBC Summer Grilling & BBQ Recipe Roundup | Food Bloggers of Canada says:
      June 16, 2015 at 12:18 am

      […] we can’t have a BBQ roundup without beer can chicken! Laureen from The Artful Kitchen shares her version with […]

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    3. Black Bean Coconut Rice Salad | Art and the Kitchen says:
      June 4, 2020 at 6:42 pm

      […] Beer Can Chicken […]

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    4. Avocado Citrus Salad | Art and the Kitchen says:
      July 1, 2020 at 3:30 pm

      […] dressing. What to serve with this amazing salad? Grilled steak, pork chops, or my recipes for Beer Can Chicken, or Greek Ribs. I also enjoy it as a main course topped with […]

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    5. 31 Easy & Savory BBQ Recipes – The Kitchen Community says:
      October 21, 2021 at 12:19 pm

      […] 26. Beer Can Chicken […]

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    6. Tomato Bocconcini Pasta - Art and the Kitchen says:
      February 14, 2022 at 7:14 pm

      […] well as a chilled pasta salad. Similar to an Italian Caprese salad, it tastes delicious served with Beer Can Chicken. Healthy, simple ingredients create a meatless dish that can be made in under 20 minutes! The […]

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