BBQ Beer Can Chicken Recipe
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BBQ Beer Can Chicken

By: mark'n'karen 
"I tried several beer can chicken recipes and changed the ingredients up until I found one the whole family loves!!"

This Kitchen Approved Recipe has an average star rating of 4.4 Rate/Review | Read Reviews (15)

What to Drink?

Wine Zinfandel
Beer Beer
Prep Time:
25 Min
Cook Time:
1 Hr 30 Min
Ready In:
1 Hr 55 Min

Servings  (Help)

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Original Recipe Yield 8 servings
 

Ingredients

  • 2 cups cherry wood chips
  • 2 (12 fluid ounce) cans beer, half full
  • 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup kosher salt
  • 1/2 cup paprika
  • 1/4 cup ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 (3 pound) whole chickens

Directions

  1. Soak wood chips in water for at least 1 hour.
  2. Preheat an outdoor grill for indirect medium heat, about 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  3. Mix together dark brown sugar, kosher salt, paprika, ground black pepper, and cayenne pepper in a small bowl. Place two half full cans of beer on a baking sheet. Spoon 1 teaspoon seasoning mix into each can. Be careful, this will make the beer foam up and out of the can.
  4. Rinse chicken under cold running water. Discard giblets and neck from chicken; drain and pat dry. Rub each chicken with 2 tablespoons vegetable oil. Rub the remaining seasoning mix over the entire chicken, inside and out. Fit each chicken over a can of beer with the legs on the bottom; keep upright.
  5. Drain the wood chips and place them with the coals or in an aluminum pan on or under the grill grate as directed by the grill's manual. Place the two chickens, standing on their cans directly on the grill. Close the lid and barbeque the chicken until no longer pink at the bone and the juices run clear, about 1 hour 30 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh, near the bone should read 180 degrees F (82 degrees C). Remove the chickens from the grill and discard the beer cans. Cover the chicken with a doubled sheet of aluminum foil, and allow to rest in a warm area for 10 minutes before slicing.

Footnotes

  • Cook's Note
  • Check the chickens after an hour on the grill, if they are beginning to brown too much, loosely cover the tops of the birds with aluminum foil and continue to cook with the lid closed.
  • Editor's Note
  • The nutrition data for this recipe includes the full amount of the beer, oil, and spice rub ingredients. The actual amount of these ingredients consumed will vary.

Nutritional Information open nutritional information

Amount Per Serving  Calories: 627 | Total Fat: 33.2g | Cholesterol: 205mg Powered by ESHA Nutrient Database

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 view all reviews »  

The reviewer gave this recipe 4 stars. This recipe averages a 4.4 star rating.
Reviewed on Jul. 11, 2011 by Jillian Supporting Member (Click to learn more about Supporting Membership)  view full review
There's nothing quite like Beer Can Chicken at an outdoor BBQ! Ever since stumbling onto...
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.4 star rating.
Reviewed on Jun. 3, 2010 by RAESQUARE   view full review
I used this recipe as my template - I sprayed the chicken with cooking spray, rubbed on my...
The reviewer gave this recipe 4 stars. This recipe averages a 4.4 star rating.
Reviewed on Jul. 11, 2010 by GRAYCE   view full review
I also put a small red potato over the neck of the chicken so the meat steams from the inside...
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.4 star rating.
Reviewed on Jun. 22, 2010 by ItsMegz8322   view full review
My new FAVORITE chicken of all time! FANTASTIC! The only change I made was olive oil instead...
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.4 star rating.
Reviewed on May 31, 2011 by Blueliner   view full review
Very good recipe. This method makes for really tasty chicken. Play with the rub depending on...
The reviewer gave this recipe 4 stars. This recipe averages a 4.4 star rating.
Reviewed on Aug. 18, 2010 by mregehr   view full review
very fun to make. Might look for a different spice recipie sometime. Lime beer...not sure if...
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.4 star rating.
Reviewed on Dec. 20, 2010 by mms09   view full review
So delicious!
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.4 star rating.
Reviewed on Jul. 14, 2010 by Liddy   view full review
I didn't use oil and instead of brown sugar I used Old Bay seasoning, some ground cumin, chili...
The reviewer gave this recipe 3 stars. This recipe averages a 4.4 star rating.
Reviewed on May 14, 2012 by Rex   view full review
way too much salt and paprika
The reviewer gave this recipe 4 stars. This recipe averages a 4.4 star rating.
Reviewed on Jul. 25, 2011 by dboldt   view full review
My girlfriend found it to be too spicy, but even tho I am usually the one to complain about...

 

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