Beer can chicken might sound like a gimmick, but this method creates the juiciest, most tender roast chicken you’ll ever taste. Our readers consistently rate this recipe 5 stars, with many saying it’s become their go-to method for grilling chicken!
What You’ll Need
The perfect beer can chicken starts with quality ingredients that work together to create an incredibly flavorful bird. Each component plays a crucial role in developing that signature crispy skin and juicy interior. A full list of ingredients with measurements is available in the printable recipe card below.
- Whole Roasting Chicken – Choose a plump, fresh bird that will stand proudly on your grill. The cavity needs to be large enough to accommodate the beer can while providing stable support.
- Coarse Sea Salt – The larger crystals help create a beautifully crispy skin and ensure the seasoning penetrates deep into the meat.
- Light Brown Sugar – This adds a subtle sweetness that balances the savory elements and helps achieve that gorgeous golden-brown color on the skin.
- Smoked Paprika – This spice brings a rich, smoky depth that complements the grill flavor and gives the chicken that beautiful reddish hue.
- Ground Black Pepper – Pepper provides a sharp, spicy kick that cuts through the richness of the chicken and creates a perfect flavor balance.
- Onion Powder – Onion powder adds an aromatic savory note that permeates throughout the meat as it cooks.
- Garlic Powder – Who doesn’t love garlic? This powder creates a foundation of savory flavor that browns beautifully on the skin.
- Beer – Skip the light varieties – you want a full-bodied beer that will create flavorful steam as it heats. The beer’s sugars help caramelize the skin while its yeast adds depth to the meat.
- Cola BBQ Sauce – Optional but recommended for serving.
Let’s Get Cooking!
The key to success with beer can chicken is proper preparation and patience. This isn’t a quick weeknight meal, but the results are worth every minute.
- Prep the grill. Set up your fuel source and remove the top rack if needed for height clearance.
- Prepare the chicken. Remove excess fat and giblets, then pat dry thoroughly for the crispiest possible skin.
- Mix the seasonings. Combine your dry ingredients into a spice blend.
- Season under the skin. Carefully separate the skin from meat and apply seasonings directly to the flesh.
- Prep the beer. Create a second opening in the can to allow more steam to escape during cooking.
- Mount the chicken. Position the bird onto the can, tucking wings back for stability.
- Start grilling. Place the entire setup over indirect heat and maintain a steady temperature.
- Make the sauce. Prepare your Cola BBQ Sauce while the chicken cooks.
- Rest and serve. Let the chicken rest before carving to lock in those juices.
5S Philosophy 👩🏻🍳
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- Seasoning – Our signature spice blend combines sweet, smoky, and savory elements that complement the beer’s natural flavors. The brown sugar helps create caramelization while the paprika adds beautiful color.
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- Sauces – The Cola BBQ Sauce adds a tangy-sweet finish that perfectly complements the smoky grilled flavor. The sauce’s slight acidity helps cut through the richness of the chicken.
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- Swaps – Don’t drink alcohol? Use ginger beer or root beer instead. For the seasoning, try herb-focused variations with rosemary and thyme, or go spicy with cayenne and chili powder.
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- Senses – As the chicken cooks, you’ll notice an incredible aroma of toasting spices and roasting meat. The skin turns a beautiful mahogany color, and you’ll hear the gentle sizzle of rendering fat hitting the grill.
Perfect Pairings
This showstopper deserves equally impressive sides. Corn on the cob slathered with cowboy butter is the perfect side dish. A crisp coleslaw with a tangy vinegar dressing provides the perfect contrast to the rich meat.
For a complete cookout experience, add some potato wedges seasoned with the same spice blend you used on the chicken. The potatoes will soak up any extra sauce and complete the meal perfectly.
Storage and Freezing
This chicken is at its best fresh off the grill, but leftovers can be just as amazing. Season the chicken up to 24 hours in advance and keep refrigerated for even better flavor penetration.
How to Store
Store any leftover chicken in an airtight container. It will stay for up to four days.
Can I Freeze Beer Can Chicken?
Remove meat from bones from the beer can chicken and store in freezer-safe containers for up to 3 months.
Recipe FAQs
Plan for about 2 hours of cooking time, plus 10 minutes of resting. The key is cooking over indirect heat and maintaining a steady temperature throughout.
Yes! Use a roasting pan with a high rim to catch drippings and follow the same preparation method. Just make sure your oven has enough clearance for the vertical chicken.
Creating a second hole allows more beer to evaporate, producing more steam and flavor while preventing the possibility of the can exploding from pressure buildup during cooking.
More Easy Chicken Recipes
On the search for more ways to work poultry into your regular routine? These chicken recipes are sure to have everyone digging in for seconds!
Beer Can Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 large whole roasting chicken
- 3 teaspoons coarse sea salt
- 3 teaspoons light brown sugar
- 3 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 can of beer , preferably not a light beer
- Cola BBQ Sauce
Instructions
- Prepare the grill. Make sure you have plenty of propane or charcoal. You will have this baby on there for 2 hours so plan accordingly. Heat the grill to high heat. You might need to remove the top rack so the chicken will have enough room to sit upright with the lid closed.
- Clean 1 large whole roasting chicken by removing any excess fat or skin using kitchen shears and removing the giblets. Pat it dry with a paper towel and set on a foil lined baking sheet (check to make sure it fits on the grill).
- In a small bowl combine the3 teaspoons coarse sea salt, 3 teaspoons light brown sugar, 3 teaspoon smoked paprika, 2 teaspoon ground black pepper, 1 teaspoon onion powder and 1 teaspoon garlic powder.
- Starting at the neck, gently loosen the skin from the breast down to the drum sticks with your fingers. Massage the spice mixture underneath skin over then over the outside of the skin.
- Open the 1 can of beer and take 2-3 big swigs (about 1/3 of the can). Using a can opener make an additional opening on the opposite side of the can from the pop top.
- Take the beer can and shove it up the body cavity (or set it directly into the grill holder). The chicken will be sitting up with the beer can sitting on the aluminum foil lined baking sheet. Tuck in the ends of the wings (flappers). The chicken will look like it is dancing with its arms behind its head.
- Place the entire baking sheet with chicken onto the grill over indirect heat. Close. Keep closed, peeking to make sure it is still upright every 30 minutes. You might get a few flare-ups if the fat drips onto the flames, but hopefully the baking sheet will catch most of it while allowing the chicken to stay standing upright through the whole cooking process.
- If you are making Cola BBQ Sauce, start it up now.
- Remove the chicken at 2 hours and allow to stand for 10 minutes before carving. The chicken should have an internal temperature of 160°F. Carry over cooking while resting will bring it to 165°F.
- Serve with Cola BBQ Sauce or your favorite BBQ sauce.
- If you've tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments or star ratings!
Notes
Nutrition
Made this for the family. It was a great hit and a keeper recipe.
I love the way this chicken tastes, and it’s so nice to have a whole bird cooked for the week or a party! My husband’s friends also love the idea of a beer can chicken! lol!
My goodness I am just drooling looking at the gorgeous bird, what a perfect color so amazing!