Beer Can Chicken (Grill & Oven Instructions) - Fall off the bone tender & juicy grilled whole chicken with the perfect BBQ rub.
It tastes so incredibly delicious, with a hint of lemon, garlic, and herbs, and just the right amount of smoky flavor from the spice mix in the bbq dry rub.
This easy beer can chicken recipe is the perfect summer grilling recipe to give that "wow" factor to backyard barbecues and get-togethers.
It's a super easy grilling recipe to make with only 5 minutes prep time and around an hour or so on the grill.
We love to serve this delicious grilled chicken with some Homemade Coleslaw, and Honey Butter Cornbread. Be sure to check out our other side dish recipes for more summer bbq side ideas.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Easy Beer Can Chicken Recipe
- Notes on Ingredients
- Equipment
- How to Make It On The Grill
- How To Make It In The Oven
- Substitutions and Variations
- Pro Tips
- Recipe FAQS
- Freezing And Storage
- What To Serve With Beer Can Chicken
- More Grilling Recipes
- More Chicken Recipes
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Community
Why You'll Love This Recipe
Grilling is one of the most popular methods of cooking poultry. And making beer can chicken definitely adds a wow factor to summer grilling season.
Perching an entire chicken upright on a beer can or in our case, a ceramic chicken stand, is certainly an attention grabber. But it also serves another purpose.
The benefit of cooking this way is that the beer and aromatics keep the meat moist inside, making tender and juicy meat that is full of flavor, with crispy skin on the outside.
Easy Beer Can Chicken Recipe
Notes on Ingredients
All you need to make this summer grilling recipe is a few simple ingredients you can find at your local grocery store.
- whole chicken - 3-4 lb. whole bird is recommended.
- beer - Used to add moisture and flavor to meat. The type of beer is a matter of personal preference. It could be a fancy beer like honey double-citrus summer ale, or a regular ole light beer. Use your favorite beer. Just make sure it tastes good to you, because it will impart its flavor into the meat.
May substitute non-alcoholic beer, soda (root beer, or Dr. Pepper) or apple cider. - lemon - Adds a hint of lemon flavor.
- garlic - Adds a savory flavor to the meat.
- onion - Adds savory flavor.
- olive oil - May substitute butter. Adds flavor and helps seasoning to stick to the skin.
- fresh herbs - We use a few sprigs of fresh rosemary, oregano, and thyme. May substitute dried herbs. Measurements in the recipe card are for dried herbs.
- salt & pepper - Salt the outside and inside of the whole bird.
- dry rub (bbq rub) - We like to use our favorite dry rub recipe on all things grilled, because the smoky flavor makes everything taste amazing. Make some for yourself with our easy recipe. Or you can substitute your favorite spice mix, dry rub, or chicken seasoning.
- barbecue sauce - for basting, and for extra flavor when its done.
Equipment
- gas grill - or a charcoal grill. Make sure to have a full tank of propane.
- paper towels - Used for drying off the skin of the chicken.
- chicken stand - We use a vertical chicken stand, but you can use an open can of beer or make a diy beer can holder from a open can of vegetables or baked beans. Just make sure to remove the label and open the can.
- disposable roasting pan - Use a large roasting pan or cast iron skillet as a drip pan to set the chicken throne in so that it catches all the pan juices. Pan juices make the best gravy.
- kitchen tongs
- chefs knife and carving fork
- cutting board
- basting brush
- wood chips (optional)
- meat thermometer - Use an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh to check the internal temperature of the meat has reached 170°F.
We recommend using a fast & accurate instant read thermometer like this Thermapen One. It's the one we rely on every day here at Seanna's Kitchen.
How to Make It On The Grill
- Prepare Grill.
- Season and Prepare.
- Grill It.
- Make Sure It's Done.
- Let It Rest.
- Serve And Enjoy!
Prepare Grill. Preheat the grill to 350°F. This is best done by lighting only one side of the grill. Watch the temperature gauge and adjust the temp as needed.
Use a clean grill. Be sure to clean off any soot or food residue before you grill with a grill brush.
Prepare Chicken. Dry off the outside with paper towel. Rub the outside of the bird with olive oil. and season it inside and out with salt & pepper, and dry rub.
Place the chicken stand in a disposable roasting pan or cast iron skillet.
Put onions, garlic, and lemon & herbs inside the holder, and pour in the beer.
Then, put the entire bird upright onto the stand. Be sure to check out our simple video above showing how easily its done.
Grill Chicken. Grill over medium heat on the cool side of the grill (indirect heat) for 1 to 1 ½ hours. Keep an eye on the grill temperature so that it stays around 350°F. Baste with barbecue sauce when it is almost done.
Gas Grill Instructions - Light only one side of a gas grill. Grill on the opposite side for indirect heat.
Charcoal Grill Instructions - Light the coals on one side of the grill. Grill it on the opposite side.
Make Sure It's Done. Check the internal temperature with an instant-read thermometer. The bird is done when the temperature reaches 170°F.
Let It Rest. Once it is done, remove it from the grill and let it rest untouched for about 10 minutes. This will allow the juices to reabsorb for tender perfection.
Serve And Enjoy! Carve and serve with barbecue sauce.
How To Make It In The Oven
How long to cook beer can chicken in the oven? It takes about an hour and a half to grill a 3-4 lb. whole chicken in the oven.
- Preheat Oven to 350°F.
- Season and Prepare It.
- Grill Chicken.
- Make Sure It's Done.
- Let It Rest.
- Serve And Enjoy!
Substitutions and Variations
Add ins for extra flavor.
brown sugar - Combine a little bit of brown sugar with your favorite BBQ sauce in a small bowl, infusing a touch of sweetness to balance the savory notes.
Looking for smoky flavor? Add some wood chips to a smoker box to impart smoky flavor to the meat.
Read More: Check out this great article by Kita over at Girl Carnivore to learn How To Use Wood Chips On A Gas Grill.
Pro Tips
If using an actual beer can, instead of a chicken holder, make sure to open the top of the can of beer and use a half full can of beer. Pour the leftover beer into a glass and enjoy! Do not use an unopened can of beer.
Keep an eye on the grill temperature so that it stays around 350°F.
Recipe FAQS
The type of beer is a matter of personal preference. It could be a hoppy IPA, or a regular light beer. Use your favorite beer. Just make sure it tastes good to you, because it will impart it's flavor into the meat.
May substitute non-alcoholic beer, soda (root beer, or Dr. Pepper) or apple cider.
It takes about 1 to 1 ½ hours to grill a whole 3-4 pound chicken to an internal temperature of 165°F, depending on the size of the bird. Estimate 20 minutes per pound of meat.
Do not rinse raw chicken, as any bacteria is more likely to spread to other surfaces.
UDSA Article: Washing Raw Poultry: Our Science, Your Choice
Freezing And Storage
Store leftover chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days, or in the freezer.
What To Serve With Beer Can Chicken
Planning a backyard BBQ or get-together? Here are some summer grilling side dishes that are gonna taste so great with this easy recipe:
More Grilling Recipes
More Chicken Recipes
There you have it. Making tender & juicy beer can chicken is as easy as that! So grab what you need, make this easy grilling recipe for your next backyard barbecue or family get-together. It's sure to be a hit! We hope you enjoy our super simple, super tasty recipe. Try it and let us know how you like it. We'd love to hear from you.
xo ~ Seanna
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📖 Recipe
Easy Beer Can Chicken Recipe
Equipment
- chicken stand
- basting brush
Ingredients
- 1 whole chicken apx. 36 ounces.
- 1 can beer
- 1 lemon
- 1 yellow onion small
- 1 tablespoon garlic 2-3 cloves, minced.
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons dry rub
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon ground rosemary
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 cup barbecue sauce
Instructions
- Prepare Grill. Preheat the grill to 350°F. This is best done by lighting only one side of the grill. Watch the temperature gauge and adjust the temp as needed.Use a clean grill. Be sure to clean off any soot or food residue before you grill with a grill brush.
- Prepare Chicken.Dry off the skin with paper towel. Rub the outside of the bird with olive oil. and season it inside and out with salt & pepper, and dry rub.Place the chicken stand in a disposable roasting pan or cast iron skillet.Put onions, garlic, and lemon & herbs inside the holder, and pour in the beer.Then, put the entire bird upright onto the stand. Be sure to check out our simple video showing how easily its done.
- Grill It.Grill over medium heat on the cool side of the grill (indirect heat) for 1 to 1 ½ hours. Keep an eye on the grill temperature so that it stays around 350°F. Baste with barbecue sauce when it is almost done.Gas Grill Instructions - Light only one side of a gas grill. Grill it on the opposite side for indirect heat.Charcoal Grill Instructions - Light the coals on one side of the grill. Grill on the opposite side.
- Make Sure It's Done. Check the internal temperature with an instant-read thermometer. The bird is done when the temperature reaches 170°F.
- Let It Rest. Once it is done, remove it from the grill and let it rest untouched for about 10 minutes. This will allow the juices to reabsorb for tender perfection.
- Serve And Enjoy! Carve and serve with barbecue sauce.
Video
Notes
Ingredient Notes
- whole chicken - 3-4 lb. whole bird is recommended.
- beer - Used to add moisture and flavor to meat. Use your favorite beer. May substitute non-alcoholic beer, soda (root beer, or Dr. Pepper) or apple cider.
- lemon - Adds a hint of lemon flavor.
- garlic - Adds a savory flavor.
- onion - Adds savory flavor.
- fresh herbs - We use a few sprigs of fresh rosemary, oregano, and thyme. May substitute dried herbs. Measurements in the recipe card are for dried herbs.
- salt & pepper - Salt the outside and inside of the entire chicken.
- dry rub (bbq rub) - We like to use our favorite dry rub recipe on all things grilled, because the smoky flavor makes everything taste amazing. Make some for yourself with our easy recipe. Or you can substitute your favorite spice mix, dry rub, or chicken seasoning.
- barbecue sauce - for basting as it cooks, and for extra flavor when its done.
Nutrition
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Jessica Robinson
This was the easiest chicken to prepare and beyond delicious! So flavorful, simple to make and one of the juiciest chickens we've ever made. Will definitely be making this again!
Seanna Borrows
Thank you so much Jessica! It's so fun to make and so delicious!