Cooking Nook Logo
Forks with food on them

Beer Can Chicken Recipe

beer can chicken

This beer can chicken recipe is both tasty and fun to make.

Grill it or bake it, make it plain or use your favorite rub (one of my favorites is below).


Either way, once you try it, chicken sitting on a can of beer will be on your list of favorite recipes too.

Chicken and beer may sound like an odd combination but because the chicken sits on top of the beer can, the moisture from the beer below makes the chicken moist and succulent every time.

Guests will have fun at the sight of dinner perched on top of your favorite beer can. And most importantly, they will love the taste.

The next time you are thinking of getting out the grill, think of making this beer can chicken. I hope you like it as much as I do.

beer can chicken

Beer Can Chicken Recipe

This beer can chicken recipe is both tasty and fun to make. Grill it or bake it, make it plain or use your favorite rub. There is a great rub recipe below.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 4 Servings
Calories 578 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • 4 pounds chicken, whole
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 2 tablespoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 3 tablespoons dry spice rub, see below
  • 1 can beer

For the rub:

  • 1 teaspoon dry mustard
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground

Instructions
 

To make the rub:

  • In a small bowl combine the rub ingredients.

Chicken:

  • Remove the neck and giblets from chicken and discard them. Rinse the chicken inside and out, and pat dry with paper towels. Rub chicken lightly with oil then rub inside and out with salt, pepper and the dry rub mix. Set aside.
  • Open beer can and empty out half of the beer. Place the beer can on a solid surface. Grabbing a chicken leg in each hand, place the bird cavity over the beer can. Straighten it out so it is solidly in place.

Grilling Directions:

  • Heat your grill to medium high heat.
  • Transfer the bird-on-a-can to your grill and place in the center of one of the grates, balancing the bird on its 2 legs and the can like a tripod. Turn off the burner that the chicken is sitting over, so it gets only indirect heat. If using coals, place the bird in an area without coals directly below it.
  • Cook the chicken over medium-high, indirect heat, with the grill cover on, for approximately 1 1/4 hours or until the internal temperature registers 165ºF in the breast area and 180ºF in the thigh, or until the thigh juice runs clear when stabbed with a sharp knife.
  • Remove the chicken from the grill very carefully, wearing barbecue gloves and it let rest for 10 minutes before carving. Be careful that you don't spill the beer - it's hot!

Oven Baking Directions:

  • Preheat the oven to 375°F.
  • Carefully place the bird and beer can on a baking pan or roaster that is deep enough to catch all of the juices. Bake chicken for approximately 1 1/2 hours or until juices run clear as indicated above.

Notes

  • Always discard the beer as it may contain bacteria from the chicken.

Nutrition

Calories: 578kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 41gFat: 40gSaturated Fat: 15gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 163mgSodium: 4286mgPotassium: 475mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 356IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 44mgIron: 3mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Sign up here and be the first to get new recipes and tips.

For more great beer can chicken rubs have a look at our prime rib rub recipes. Many of them work wonderfully with chicken.

If you like this recipe, please take a moment to share it on your favorite social media. You can add your comments below. Thanks a lot.

beer can chicken


Leave a Comment

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.