Beer Can Chicken Made On Your Barbecue Grill
Upon hearing about this recipe I thought nah that cannot be correct. What does a chicken have to do with a beer can? After further investigation I just had to try making this on my own. Four years later I am still making this chicken at least twice a week during the grilling season. The chicken will be juicy, full of flavor and crispy on the outside.
There are several beer can chicken utensils/ roasters than you can purchase for making these chickens or you can just use a beer can. I use one that is very similar to the Norpro Vertical Poultry Roaster and find that it works perfect.
What You Will Need For This Recipe.
Ingredients
Chicken
Beer in a Can
Spices
I use Montreal Chicken Spice or Cajun Spice
Garlic cloves sliced
Cook Time
Getting Your Gas Grill Ready
To avoid any flare-ups you will want to cook the chicken or chickens using indirect heat. To do this start your grill and heat it up to 400°F. When you have your chickens ready to go turn off the middle burner leaving the two side burners on.
Getting Your Chicken Ready
- Pour half of the beer out of the can and either drink it or give it to someone else to drink, please don’t waste the beer.
- Wash off the beer can.
- Depending on the spices you are going to use, measure out about a tablespoon of the spices and add them into the beer can.
- Wash the chicken or chickens and spice the cavity as well as the outside of the bird. I personally like to slip garlic cloves under the skin of the chicken, but that just depends on if you like garlic or not.
- Place the beer can into the roasting device and then firmly push the chicken onto the device sitting on top of the beer can roaster.
Back To The Grill
- Turn your grill burners to medium and set a foil pan on the center of the grill.
- Place your chickens on top of the foil pan, close lid and cook until chicken reaches 180 F. You can check this using a meat thermometer.
- You do not need to baste the chicken while it is cooking, as the juices will flow down and over the bird as it cooks.
- Once done, remove the chickens carefully and let them sit five minutes before carving.
Beer Alternatives
If you are totally opposed to beer, you can use any type of can that will fit into the device. Add some type of liquid and spices to the can.
© 2011 Susan Zutautas
Comments
AUTHORdinkan, Hope you enjoy the chicken this way as much as we do.
I love this recipe… interesting, sounds and looks great. Never made this before. Would love to try. Thanks for sharing.
- AUTHOR
sj, Hope you enjoy it.
I actually just heard about this last week. I'm very curious to try it now!
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emilybee, Will, Truckstop Sally and chspublish
Thanks everyone.
Amazing idea...and a great talking piece too.
Thanks for the great recipe. Gotta a chicken and a beer in the fridge. Sounds like dinner tomorrow!
Hi Susan!
I made this tonight and everyone loved it. Thank you!
Awesome! Yum. Sounds goooood. Thanks for sharing!
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K9, Thanks, I always appreciate your comments.
Ruby, You should try this I am sure you would like it.
barbergirl, By adding the spices to the can and to the outside of the bird the flavors burst throughout the chicken. Now you have me thinking about who did come up with this idea. I will research it and let you know :)
Spirit Whisperer, True the picture is quite funny :)
ahorseback, Thanks so much and let me know if you need directions to get here.
MM, Please do let me know how your fiesta goes and if you liked chicken done this way.
Vicki, I have made this in the oven as well, but I really prefer it on the grill.
MMMMMMMM......my favorite grilling recipe! I always watch for the whole chickens to go on sale and stock up for the summer. My whole family looks forward to this summertime treat!
I've often heard people do this, sounds absolutely delish!! Thanks for this hub--I can now visualize what has to be done and you explain it very well, thank you soooo much, on my week off I will invite some friends and we will be trying your recipe...I will let you know if I like it....thanks again..bookmarking for a fiesta in another week..MM
Susan , you devil, this is too funny ! I pushed every button here, first I love chicken, second I love beer, third I love the barbie, and forth ,I love beer! Lol, I'm coming over for dinner!....:-] Wow that looks good.
This sounds great though the picture looks like two headless chickens on the can having a natter LOL!
I have eaten beer can chicken before but I have never ever prepared it before... someone else is always the one I am stealing the food from. I never realized that you added spices to the can.
On a side note - aren't you curious who thought up the idea to stuff a beer can up a chickens @ss! LOL - I mean - it tastes good - but someone must have been drunk to come up with that idea. BTW - love that you can see Canadian beer on the can you used!
Susan, This is amazing, never heard of this. Chicken is one of my favorites, i like it fried, baked, grilled, and esp. chicken salad. Thank you again.
Cheers
This sounds great Susan. I have to try your beer can chicken. The grilling tips make it sound really fun and juicy! So tempting, with that crispy skin! Thank you for sharing.
K9
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Paul, The beer in the picture is a Molson Canadian. Have never tried it with a Castle Brown Ale but I usually just use what I have on hand at the time. Thanks for your comments and is Castle Brown Ale the one made by Heineken?
Bill, Thanks I will try it adding the crushed garlic to the beer.
Wayne, Thanks so much for your comments. It is great chicken!
This is some of the best chicken ever produced in the world. We cook it this way quite often and love it. Thanks for sharing a bit of Paradise! The flavors and the moistness of the meat is just fantastic! WB
You can also just use the beer can as its own support, and try adding crushed garlic to the beer.
I've done this a few times. It's important to season the bird on the outside as well. Don't just add the seasoning to the can. I also baste it periodically as it cooks.
I love adding beer, butter, garlic salt, and rosemary to my beer can chicken. I also tend to use a medium bodied beer like a New Castle Brown Ale as opposed to a Coors Light.
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Mrs. Menagerie, Thanks and I am glad you like my picture :)
Cardisa, If you are dying to try this recipe you can also do it right in the oven. Thanks
The fiance will love this....but I don't have a grill yet.
There is another beer chicken recipe that he just loves. We must get a grill so I can do some fine grilling.
Looks delicious.
Very interesting and sounds good. Plus, that photo of the chickens "sitting" on beer cans is priceless! :)
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Wesman, It's only 1/2 can lol.
nikashi, If you do try it I hope that you will enjoy it as much as I do.
Benjamin, I can see your concern, thanks for your comments.
Simone, There is not much to it actually, very simple to make. Thanks.
RH, Maybe Dave could make this soon for you. I am sure the girls would love it.
marellan, Thanks :)
This recipe is a good one for sure. Easy and taste so good.
I have heard of this - I have nevr seen a recipe though. I love outdoor grilling and get tired of making the same old stuff. This looks great - juicy on the inside, crispy on the outside. Sounds perfect!
This is so cool! I had no idea that beer can chicken was so easy to prepare. Voted up!
Beer does make a great marinade for meat of all kinds, I would only be concerned doing it in this manner with too high of traces of aluminum getting into my food. Interesting technique though.
Pretty clever, will try this out possible this weekend. Thanks.
Forwarded to my Mother - in hopes that none of my precious beer is used!
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