Beer Can Chicken is an incredible recipe for grilled chicken. This easy barbecue recipe makes chicken that is amazingly flavorful and moist.
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.
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 (be sure to place in tin container)
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 F.
What to serve with grilled 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 the chicken with olive oil. This helps the spice mix stick to the chicken and make the skin crispy.
- 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.
- 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
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
Nutrition
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!!!
queenbe123@gmail.com
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.
Darlene Lockrem
Easy to prepare and so good, great for a family picnic .