Juicy, fall-off-the-bone Grilled Beer Can Chicken made on the grill or in the oven, with bold BBQ flavor, lemon, garlic, herbs, and a flavorful smoky dry rub.
This easy Beer Can Chicken recipe is the ultimate summer grilling showstopper, perfect for adding that “wow” factor to backyard barbecues and get-togethers. With just 5 minutes of prep time and about an hour on the grill, you’ll have a juicy, tender chicken everyone will rave about.
Looking for more grilling inspiration? Try our Grilled Ribeye Recipe , Grilled Lamb Chops, Lemon & Herb Marinated Grilled Chicken, or Marinated Grilled Flank Steak.
Pair this flavorful chicken with Sweet & Tangy Coleslaw, and Honey Butter Cornbread for the perfect BBQ spread. Check out our other side dish recipes for even more summer BBQ ideas!
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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.
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 it's done.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Substitutions and Variations
Add 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.
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How To Make Beer Can Chicken On The Grill
- 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 it's done.
Grill
- 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.
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.
Serve
- 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!
Helpful Tips
Choose the Right Beer. Choose a flavorful beer, like a pale ale or lager. Avoid overly hoppy or strong beers.
Use an Open Can of Beer. Always use an open can of beer for grilling. The beer evaporates and infuses the chicken with moisture and flavor as it cooks.
Prep the Chicken. Remove any giblets from the chicken and pat it dry with paper towels. Dry skin helps achieve crispy, golden skin during grilling.
Stabilize the Chicken. Make sure the chicken sits securely on the beer can or ceramic stand. Use aluminum foil around the base to prevent wobbling if necessary.
Cover the Grill. Keep the grill lid closed as much as possible to maintain consistent heat and ensure the chicken cooks evenly.
Recipe FAQs
The type of beer is a matter of personal preference. 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.
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
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:
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📖 Recipe
Grilled Beer Can Chicken Recipe
Equipment
- chicken stand
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.
- 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.
- 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.
Jessica Robinson says
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 says
Thank you so much Jessica! It's so fun to make and so delicious!