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    Home » Recipes » Dinner » Beer Chicken

    Beer Chicken

    Updated: Aug 16, 2023 by Veronica Noone · This post may contain affiliate links · 20 Comments

    beer chicken pin

    “Can you make this every weekend?”

    “You really hit this one out of the park!”

    “Now this is RIGHT up my alley!”

    Yes, ladies and gentleman, those all quotes from the husband! Apparently all I had to do was shove a beer can up a chicken's a$$ to get him excited about dinner!

    In all seriousness, you have to try this. It was a really easy way to cook whole chicken.

    Heres how I cooked the whole meal. Is was a hit all around and much less work then you may think.

    The Beer Chicken Feast!

    Ingredients

    • 1 small whole chicken around 4 pounds defrosted
    • 1 12oz can of beer
    • handful of fresh herbs, thyme and Sage worked great!
    • 1 package of your favorite dry rub or pulty seasoning (I used Amazing Taste Poultry)
    • 6 ears of corn with husks
    • 1 can of your favorite baked beans

    Instructions

    Preheat your outdoor grill on high.

    Remove the plastic from the chicken and rinse with cold water. Remove any gizzards from the cavity.

    Open the can of beer and pour out about ⅓ (or drink if you are in the mood). Pierce the top to make a few more whole.

    Pour about ¼ of the poultry seasoning in the can of beer and stuff with the fresh herbs.

    Place the beer can in the center of a baking dish. Place the chicken on the beer can making sure it enters the cavity. Position the legs to make a sort of tripod with the can and chicken legs.

    Rub the remaining poultry seasoning on the outside of the chicken.

    Cook the chicken in the heated grill on one side. Lower the side the chicken is on to medium and the other side of the grill to medium high. Cook for about an hour to an hour and half turning it about every 20 minutes.

    While the chicken is cooking soak the corn (with the husks on) in a water until ready to grill. I do this right in my kitchen sink.

    At about the 1 hour mark place the corn on the medium-high side of the grill. Open the can of bean and place on grill.

    Turn the corn about every 5 minutes until the husks get scorched a bit.

    Remove the chicken when you get a temperature reading of 160-180. Let it rest for at least 5 minute before cutting.

    Nutritional information is tough on this one. For all my WW people, I count the chicken at 1 point an ounce (no skin of course), the corn at a 1 point a piece and the beans at 3 point ½ cup. This, of course, is just my opinion/technique for meals like this.

    Click here to see how I cooked it in the oven.

    📖 Recipe

    beer chicken featured

    Beer Chicken

    Beer chicken is a tasty and easy-to-make dish that's perfect for any occasion. Learn how to make this delicious meal with our step-by-step recipe!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 30 minutes mins
    Cook Time 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins
    Total Time 2 hours hrs
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4 people
    Calories 788 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 small whole chicken around 4 pounds defrosted
    • 1 12 oz can of beer
    • handful of fresh herbs thyme and Sage worked great!
    • 1 package of your favorite dry rub or pulty seasoning I used Amazing Taste Poultry
    • 6 ears of corn with husks
    • 1 can of your favorite baked beans

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat your outdoor grill on high.
    • Remove the plastic from the chicken and rinse with cold water. Remove any gizzards from the cavity.
      1 small whole chicken around 4 pounds defrosted
    • Open the can of beer and pour out about ⅓ (or drink if you are in the mood). Pierce the top to make a few more whole.
      1 12 oz can of beer
    • Pour about ¼ of the poultry seasoning in the can of beer and stuff with the fresh herbs.
      handful of fresh herbs
    • Place the beer can in the center of a baking dish. Place the chicken on the beer can making sure it enters the cavity. Position the legs to make a sort of tripod with the can and chicken legs.
    • Rub the remaining poultry seasoning on the outside of the chicken.
      1 package of your favorite dry rub or pulty seasoning
    • Cook the chicken in the heated grill on one side. Lower the side the chicken is on to medium and the other side of the grill to medium high. Cook for about an hour to an hour and half turning it about every 20 minutes.
    • While the chicken is cooking soak the corn (with the husks on) in a water until ready to grill. I do this right in my kitchen sink.
      6 ears of corn with husks
    • At about the 1 hour mark place the corn on the medium-high side of the grill. Open the can of bean and place on grill.
      1 can of your favorite baked beans
    • Turn the corn about every 5 minutes until the husks get scorched a bit.
    • Remove the chicken when you get a temperature reading of 160-180. Let it rest for at least 5 minute before cutting.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 788kcalCarbohydrates: 71gProtein: 51gFat: 34gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 7gMonounsaturated Fat: 14gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 157mgSodium: 960mgPotassium: 1296mgFiber: 14gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 709IUVitamin C: 16mgCalcium: 138mgIron: 6mg
    Keyword Beer, chicken
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    Reader Interactions

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    1. Jennifer

      November 07, 2010 at 12:28 pm

      Just made this tonight, although substituted with Ginger Ale. It turned out great! Will definitely be doing this again.

      Reply
    2. Meghan

      September 11, 2008 at 8:21 pm

      I have always been really intimidated by the grill but I gave this entire meal idea as is and it was fantastic! I loved that everything could be done at one time!

      I happened to have one of those beer can holders for the chicken in my garage (I have absolutely no idea where this came from mind you...) so I have it a go! It made removing the chicken from the can really easy!

      Reply
    3. roni

      September 09, 2008 at 7:25 pm

      Kate - All I do is remove anything "hanging" with scissors. So the outside silk is removed, but that it.

      Reply
    4. Kate

      September 05, 2008 at 7:43 pm

      Roni,

      Did you leave the silk on the corn, or did you remove that?

      Sounds yummy! I'm tryin' it!

      Thanks,
      Kate

      Reply
    5. Connie

      September 05, 2008 at 4:05 pm

      I have made this version several times. With smaller chickens i use a cleaned out soup can, which is slimmer and not as tall as a beer can. I fill it with chicken broth and it turns out fantastic. I heard to oil the outside of the can a little so it slides out better after the bird is cooked.

      Reply
    6. Jessica

      September 01, 2008 at 3:13 pm

      I am definitely going to try this. I'm guessing my husband will have similar comments! Just want to say I have been enjoying your blog! Really great ideas.

      Reply
    7. Lacey

      August 28, 2008 at 2:17 pm

      Hey Roni,

      I tried this whole entire meal last night. Everyone loved it and sadly there were no leftovers for lunch today. It was so healthy, fresh and I loved the fact that I could do everything on the BBQ. My chicken got stuck on the can too, but I made do without burning myself! Thanks, Lacey

      Reply
    8. MizFit

      August 28, 2008 at 4:48 am

      not crazy---IM EXCITED!

      Reply
    9. runnin4fun

      August 27, 2008 at 7:31 pm

      We made this tonight and it was excellent!The corn was fantastic too,we even made the beans like you did!We added baked potatoes and some grilled squash.My teenage son loved it-which is rare.Thanks for this one!Sooooo easy!

      Reply
    10. Jan

      August 26, 2008 at 7:00 pm

      We make this all the time. My hubby does a great job with it. There's one thing he does a bit differently, the 1/3 can of beer you get rid of, he puts in the bottom of the tray so that the flavours steam up.

      Yum, yum, yum

      Reply
    11. roni

      August 26, 2008 at 9:55 am

      Hana - Of course! It's a great video idea! Thanks!

      Reply
    12. roni

      August 26, 2008 at 9:54 am

      Hey guys! I'm glad you like this. I'm going to try it in the oven this weekend and I will of course post the results! maybe even do a video of it.

      Thanks for your interest and you may think I'm crazy but I'm super exited to try it again!

      Reply
    13. Pam

      August 26, 2008 at 9:18 am

      Roni,
      At Home depot and Lowes they carry a beer can chicken holder. Its in the BBQ section and very inexpensive.There's a slot for the beer and your chicken fits over that of course. And you don't have to worry about your beer getting stuck in your chicken.

      Reply
    14. Lauren P

      August 26, 2008 at 7:27 am

      I was going to try this in the oven as well. Any idea what temp to use? And would it still cook for about an hour? (I'm guessing size of bird and oven temp are going to vary the cooking time.) Any tips would be super helpful!!

      Reply
    15. MizFit

      August 26, 2008 at 5:42 am

      Im in on this but need the oven tips as well....

      Reply
    16. Jennifer

      August 25, 2008 at 2:29 pm

      Looks so good! Any suggestions for cooking this in the oven? We (sadly) don't have a grill to use! This looks like it could be a GREAT staple to use not only for dinner with good veggies like you had it but in soups, to top salads, etc. with lots less oil/butter/fats than the grocery store rotisserie chickens... YUM!

      Reply
    17. Dani

      August 25, 2008 at 1:50 pm

      Yum! My parents make this all the time and it's SO good but I've never tried it myself. Like you, i very rarely buy whole chickens (although I do buy a lot of pre cooked rotisserie chickens). I'm gonna have to give this a go. Thanks Roni!

      Reply
    18. Hana

      August 25, 2008 at 1:32 pm

      This looks great, Roni!

      Any chance you may be willing to do a video post on how to actually cut up the whole chicken once it is done? I am a novice chef and have no idea how best to cut it up to get the right cuts of meat we are used to (chicken breast, thigh, wings, etc.). In the past I have just attacked it with my hands and it is not necessarily presentable!

      Reply
    19. LeeAnn

      August 25, 2008 at 1:01 pm

      This looks great. I have never made a whole chicken before. I might have to give that a try!

      Reply
    20. Bonnie

      August 25, 2008 at 12:58 pm

      That looks and sounds absolutely yummy! I can't wait to try this! I think my 2 grown sons will love it too. I'll have to borrow some beer from them....but they have plenty of it. Thanks again Roni!

      Reply

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