How To Grill Beer Can Chicken

How Long To Cook Beer Can Chicken

Once on the grill, this chicken takes approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour to fully cook the chicken.

Keep in mind that this cooking time will vary greatly depending on how large your chicken is. I cooked around a 6-pound bird and it took me around 45 minutes with my grill running nice and consistent to fully cook the meat.

Your best bet with this chicken is to use an internal meat thermometer to gauge the temperature of the chicken as it cooks. The chicken is done when the temperature at the thickest part of the meat reaches 165 degrees F.

What Is The Best Beer For Beer Can Chicken

The best beer for beer can chicken is the kind of beer that youd like to sip while you watch the grill. Imagine a hot day, breeze blowing but plenty of ambient heat from that coal fire whats in your hand? For us, its a lager every time. All-American, mass-produced lagers are the gold standard for beer can chickenstuff like a can of Miller, or a Budwieserbut you dont need to feel married to any one brand. If you can find Stella in a can, or a Montucky Cold Snack or even a good old PBR. Whatever youd actually like to drink about half of before popping your chicken on the grill is the right choice.

Grilled Beer Can Chicken

The great thing about this chicken is that you can also grill it and it will turn out just as delicious and amazing.

Don’t Miss: Rusted Grill Burners

Pick Your Favorite Beer

I like to use a robust flavored beer like an amber ale. For this recipe I used a beer from a local craft brewery call Rutting Elk Red brewed byThe Grizzly Paw Brewing Company. Remember, all the flavors you select will be melded together in your roast chicken. So it is important to pair flavors that will complement each other.

I went all out and spent the $9.99 for a small stand that holds the chicken upright. The unit also holds the can of beer and catches all the juices in the small pan at the bottom.

You can add aromatics like garlic cloves or herbs to the pan so that the flavors are absorbed by the bird as it cooks. I like to put mine inside the chicken, I find the flavors come through better that way.

I often insert ½ an onion, maybe a crushed garlic clove or 2 and some herbs sprigs like rosemary or thyme.

The Juiciest And Most Delicious Chicken You Will Ever Make

Chicken is one of the most popular proteins because it is so easy to make, affordable, and versatile. Chicken is great for day-to-day or you can make a more intricate meal for a special occasion.

Chicken is high in protein and extremely low in carbs, which is exactly what you want. Not only that, but it is much more affordable on average than beef, pork, or even turkey.

The combination of seasonings and spices in this recipe makes it extremely flavorful, and the cooking method ensures that each bite will be dripping with juices.

If youre tired of grilled chicken that misses the mark and ends up dry and overdone, check out the recipe below to change how you look at simple poultry.

You May Like: Best Way To Clean Weber Grill Grates

How To Use Leftover Beer Can Chicken

You know me. I live for leftovers. I think theyre the biggest gift to our busy schedules. You might even want to consider grilling TWO chickens at the same time, for even more leftovers love!

The chicken breasts are the easiest pieces to slice and save for later.

Here are some suggestions for using the leftover chicken:

• Soup: Oh how I love a good bowl of soup! Try my Thai Chicken Soup, Creamy Chicken Wild Rice Soup, or this super fun End of Summer Chicken Chili thats loaded with garden harvest goodness. If your family likes pasta and cheese, try my Lemon Chicken Tortellini Soup.
• Salad: Blake and the girls go crazZzZzy for Chinese Chicken Salad. This Chopped Chicken and Couscous Salad with Sweet Basil Dressing is also wonderful. Or top some fresh greens with slices of leftover grilled chicken and drizzle over the top this beautiful Herby Lemon Vinaigrette or my grandmas Fresh Ginger Dressing .
• Mexican: This recipe for Autumn-Spiced Cheddar Chicken Tacos with Apples always gets great reviews. And my sisters Taco Salad with Creamy Taco Dressing and Doritos is on our menu ALOT just swap out the ground beef or turkey for leftover chicken. Or do like our girls do, and make cheesy chicken quesadillas!
• Total comfort: Have you tried this cheesy Chicken Cheesesteak Baked Ziti yet? Its loaded with flavor, so darn good!

What Kind Of Beer For Beer Can Chicken

Most people use a lager, or a beer that is not too hoppy or bitter. I used a Corona Extra because thats what we drink. Ive put a list of different types of beers you can use for cooking beer can chicken, and whether it matters.

When it comes to choosing the right beer for your beer can chicken, there are no set rules, You can use fruity beers or sour beers.

Fruity and sour beers have more acidity and tend to do really well with grilled chicken.

Recommended Reading: Cleaning Grill With Baking Soda

The Best Smoked Beer Can Chicken Recipe

Youve probably heard of beer can chicken, even if you havent had the pleasure of trying it yet. And if thats the case, youll want to get started as soon as possible, because this recipe will supply you with some of the juiciest, most flavorful, most tender meat youll ever tasted. For cooking beer can chicken smoker is the best option, because you get this delicious taste and smoke flavor.

Beer can chicken is prepared into a chickens body cavity prior to grillingor in this case, smokingthe meat. The moisture continuously bastes the chicken as it cooks slowly over low heat, thereby ensuring that the meat wont dry out. You may also know it as chicken on a throne,dancing chicken, or drunken chicken, but beer can chicken is the most widely used term.

Pro Tip: If you have small children or non-drinking guests in your party, dont worry. The alcohol in the beer will burn off during cooking.

We Have Officially Perfected Beer Can Chicken

Over the past few weeks, weve gone through quite a few whole chickens, trying to get this beer can chicken recipe juuuuuust right.

Just ask our daughters.

Our oldest might be questioning why she was so excited to get her drivers license, when shes been asked to run for a chicken every other day.

Don’t Miss: How Long Is The Traeger Shutdown Cycle

Setting Up The Grill For Your Beer Can Chicken

Now that you have applied your dry rub to the chicken, set up the grill for indirect heat. For indirect heat, place charcoal on half the grill and cook the bird on the other half, above an aluminum tin to catch drippings. Grilling the chicken at a more moderate temperature reduces the chance of scorching the bird on the outside and under-cooking the inside. On a gas grill, ignite the burners on only one side to medium high heat. You want the grill to be at about 400-425 degrees for grilling a beer-can chicken.

Its easiest to insert the can into the bird right at the grill to avoid it tipping over inside the house. The legs of the chicken extend down toward the grill and the can is inserted into the cavity between the drumsticks. After the grill is pre-heated, set the chicken, neatly propped up on top of the can, on the indirect heat side of the grill and close the grill dome. After about 45 minutes, check the internal temperature of the bird. The chicken will be done when the internal temperature is 165F. It should take about 1 to 1-1/2 hours to fully cook the bird, depending on your grill temperature.

Beer-can chicken is a fun way to grill an entire chicken. The method places the bird in an ideal position for grilling, while providing a flavorful, inventive moisture source underneath. Try experimenting with any soda or beer you might like. Youre guaranteed a juicy chicken with a unique grilled flavor.

What Temperature Should Beer Can Chicken Be Cooked To

Your whole grilled chicken is done when a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the chicken thigh reads 165°F. Depending on the size of your chicken and the type of grill you use, this means that your beer can chicken cook time will vary a bit. We recommend starting to check the temp at an hour and 15 minutes, and then keep checking regularly until you see that 165°F. Also, when youre checking the internal temperature, make sure that youre not touching the bone.

Recommended Reading: Char-broil Porcelain Grill Grates

Sitting It On The Beer Can

Now its time to place the chicken on a beer can stand, if you have one. I purchased one at Lowes for about $5, but this beer can roaster looks a lot sturdier than the one I used.

You dont necessarily need to use a beer stand, but I find it so much easier. Plus you dont have to worry about the chicken falling over and getting beer all over your grill and inside the firepot.

Open the beer can and pour or drink half of it. Using a church key-style can opener, make 4 holes at the top of the can. We used a knife to remove the top of the can.

You can choose to put garlic, onions, seasoning or anything you want inside the beer. This will add some more flavoring to the chicken as it sits on the smoker.

Sit the chicken directly on the beer stand. Fold the wings behind the chicken, and put some more seasoning on it, if you rubbed a lot of it off while working with the beer.

Thanks To A Recipe From Chef Michael Symon’s Cookbook And Our Easy Tricks You’re Going To Master This Grill Technique

Its hard to believe that beer can chicken is one of the easiest ways to grill a chicken, but cooking it vertically, atop a semi-full can of beeryes, you can cook with beeris the way to go if youre looking to wow your guests. Not only does it look impressive, it tastes amazing, too!

The thing that makes it so delicious is the chicken sits on a beer and as the beer is heating up, its throwing steam and flavor into the inside of the chicken which keeps things incredibly moist, says Food Network star, Iron Chef and restaurateur Michael Symon. He includes a beer can chicken recipe in his new cookbook, Playing with Fire.

Check out Chef Symons recipe below plus some of our tricks to make the seasons best beer can chicken:

Read Also: How Long To Grill Bubba Burgers

Champion Beer Can Chicken On The Grill

This Champion Beer Can Chicken recipe is the stuff that legends are made of. Our famous Chicken & Poultry Seasoning is rubbed all over the bird which is then cooked on a chicken throne filled with beer and barbecue sauce. The result is a delicious, tender, and moist chicken the whole family will love.

The Grilling Of Our Bird:

• Add to cart

Heat your grill until it maintains a temperature of somewhere between 350 and 400 degrees. With a spot to place your chicken that is not right over the heat. As read on your grills hood thermometer.

Tip for smaller 2 burner gas grills: Even with one burner on high you may not be able to maintain a temperature in this range. So, every 15 minutes or so you will need to turn on the burner below the bird for a few minutes. Low to medium heat will do just until you get the grill heat up to 400 degrees. Then turn off for another 15 minutes. The temp will slowly drop down.

Place your chicken on the grill grates, off of the heat and close the lid. If you only have a single heat source you will need to rotate the bird a quarter turn, every 20 to 30 minutes. The size of your bird will dictate how long the cooking time will be. Anywhere from 1.5 up to 2 hours is the norm, we cook to temp not to time.

Temp check the breast meat at 1.25 hours in. When the breast reaches 130 degrees we are ready for the final stage

Read Also: Pork Chops On The Grill Temp

Getting The Beer Can Chicken On The Grates

Now that you have completed all of your prep work, its time to cook your chicken. Head outside to your grill and with the roasting pan or sheet tray.

• If using a pellet grill or other convection style grill, place chicken on the center of your grate
• If using a two zone grilling set up, place chicken on the side of the grill without direct heat underneath the grate

From there, close the lid. At 350 degrees Fahrenheit, the chicken should take about two hours to cook completely. Try your best not to peek at the chicken too often, no matter how tempting it might be! Each time you lift the lid, valuable heat escapes and your cook becomes a little bit more uneven.

Really though, were cooking until an internal temperature of 165°F is reached. This recipe is one where its really important to have some kind of probe thermometer handy that can measure the chickent internal temperature at multiple points. Check the thighs and breast when both have reached 165°F, the chicken can come off of the grill.

Pellet Beer Can Chicken

Our beer can chicken is some of the best chicken youve ever had off the grill. The peaked lid shape of our grills makes it easy to cook multiple beer can chickens for a party or your family. The secret to our success is the beer and tequila we place in the cavity of the chicken to help it steam while cooking. It makes the meat extra tender from inside with the crispy outside we all know and love. This one has been a favorite for grillers in the GMG family and its one of the best recipes to get started on your journey to become a backyard pitmaster!

You May Like: What Temp To Cook Pork Tenderloin On Grill

How To Make Beer Can Chicken

Ingredients

• 1 and 1/2 tablespoons garlic salt
• 1 and 1/2 tablespoons dried oregano
• 1 tablespoon coriander seeds
• 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
• 1 and 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
• 1 lemon
• 1 whole chicken
• 1 12-ounce can cheap beer

Instructions

Step 1: Prep the Chicken

Toss the neck and giblets from a whole chicken. Rinse the chicken under cold running water, and pat dry with paper towels.

In a small bowl, mix to combine the garlic salt, oregano, coriander, paprika, Kosher salt and pepper. Squeeze the lemon halves all over the inside and outside of the chicken. Season the chicken inside and out with the spice mixture and refrigerate, uncovered, for at least 3 hours but preferably overnight.

Step 2: Preheat Your grill

Prepare your grill for high indirect heat . Do this by creating two heat zones: high and low. For a charcoal grill, stack coals on one side of grill. For a gas grill, leave one burner turned off. This allows your grill to cook like a convection oven, but still gives your food that distinct and smoky grill flavor.

Step 3: Add the Beer

Pick your favorite light-tasting beer and remove about one-third from the can. Place the chicken on top of the beer can, sliding the can up and into the cavity of the bird. Set the bird upright and coat the chicken in olive oil.

Step 4. Move Chicken to the Grill

Step 5: Remove Beer Can

Tips From The Betty Crocker Kitchens

• tip 1 Dont worry about what kind of beer to use. The beer doesnt really add any flavor to the chicken its mostly a tool for turning the chicken into a tripod so it can stand upright on the grill.
• tip 2 After brushing chicken with sauce, watch it carefully. If you remove chicken too soon, skin wont re-crisp. If you wait too long, sugar in barbecue sauce will burn.

Don’t Miss: Pit Boss Grill Sizes

Here Are The Things You Need To Know About Making Beer Can Chicken:

YOU GOT THIS!

Im putting up this photo of the ingredients like I always do, but I already know you literally got this! Chicken, oil, a spice rub and maybe some fresh herbs, this recipe proves fabulous taste can happen with just a few key ingredients.

CHICKEN

A big part of the success of this recipe will go to the way we cook the chicken, yet we cant overlook the importance of the bird itself. I really want you to source a plump chicken thats certified organic and naturally raised. Youll want a bird thats grown cage free, drug free, raised on GMO-free, organically grown grains and feed. We maintain, you will taste a difference these chickens are way more flavourful.

RUB

Grab some extra virgin olive oil, kosher salt and your favourite spice rub thats it. Theres nothing groundbreaking in the rub portion of this recipe except for application. Its a 2-for-1 special a tablespoon of the spice rub gets worked into the cavity of the bird with the kosher salt, while the outside of the bird gets oiled and rubbed with the remaining tablespoons of the spices. This ensures the bird is well-seasoned.

HERBS

Weve included a little bouquet of fresh herbs for two reasons. First, we had them at hand, growing in the garden. Second, they add yet another level of flavour and enticing aromas when placed in the cavity of the chicken. If you have fresh herbs handy, use them.

CAN DOOR

PAN HANDLE

GRILL TIME AND TEMP

LAST STAND

LETS EAT