Description
This Beer-Can Chicken recipe delivers incredibly moist and flavorful chicken with crispy skin, perfect for your next cookout.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 whole chicken (about 4 pounds)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 (12-ounce) can beer (lager or ale recommended), about half full
Instructions
- Preheat your grill to medium-high heat (about 375-400°F or 190-200°C). If using a gas grill, turn off one or two burners to create an indirect heat zone.
- Rinse the chicken inside and out and pat it dry with paper towels.
- In a small bowl, mix together the olive oil, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, salt, and black pepper to create a rub.
- Rub the spice mixture all over the chicken, including under the skin.
- Open the beer can and pour out or drink about half of the beer. Place the half-full beer can on a flat surface.
- Carefully place the chicken cavity over the beer can, so the chicken is sitting upright.
- Place the chicken on the indirect heat zone of your grill, balancing it on the beer can and the chicken’s legs. Close the grill lid.
- Grill for 1 to 1.5 hours, or until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh (without touching the bone) reaches 165°F (74°C).
- Carefully remove the chicken from the grill using tongs and oven mitts. Be cautious as the beer can will be hot.
- Let the chicken rest for 10-15 minutes before carving. This helps the juices redistribute, resulting in a more moist chicken.
- Carve the chicken and serve.
Notes
- You can add other herbs and spices to the rub to customize the flavor.
- Any type of beer can be used, but lagers and ales are common choices.
- If you don’t have a beer can holder, you can use crumpled aluminum foil to stabilize the chicken on the grill.
- Monitor the grill temperature to maintain consistent heat.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 3g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 100mg