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Who likes dry chicken? Definitely not me! This simple smoked beer can chicken recipe will guarantee a juicy and tender bird every time. Brushed in a homemade BBQ sauce, this whole bird will be your new family favorite with something for everyone. Ingredients are simple, steps are easy, and dinner is delicious. Here we go!
Table of Contents
Step 1: Prep and smoke beer can chicken.
Smoking an entire chicken can be intimidating. The dark meat cooks differently than the breast and one can come out dryer or less flavorful than the other. But as long as you keep a watchful eye on those internal temperatures, you will always enjoy a deliciously juicy chicken.
Start with drizzling olive oil over the entire outside of the chicken. This will work as the binder for the seasoning. Dad’s All Purpose rub is the perfect compliment to any poultry dish. It’s packed with salt, pepper, paprika and garlic. Do not forget to season inside the cavity as well! Season the entire chicken generously. Some of the seasoning will burn off on the grill. One thing worse or as bad as dry chicken is bland chicken.
Dad’s Seasonings
Must have grillin seasonings!
Next, select your choice of beer. I always have a Miller Lite on hand. Open the can and slide the whole seasoned chicken on over the beer can sitting it up straight. As the chicken smokes, the liquid will provide additional moisture inside, helping tenderize the meat further. The alcohol content will evaporate making it safe for children to consume.
Preheat the grill to 350 degrees and set for indirect heat. Place the chicken up right on the grill and cook from about 1 hour or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 160 degrees. While that’s grillin, time to get started on the homemade sauce.
Chicken Grilling Tips
- Grill to an internal temp of 160 degrees. This will ensure tender and juicy meat. Do not go over or you risk dry meat.
- If using a sauce, apply that at the end to avoid the sauce from burning.
Step 2: Make homemade BBQ sauce.
Once you make your first BBQ sauce, there is no going back to store bought options. Best of all you can modify the spice or sweetness levels to your liking.
In a sauce pan, add ketchup, yellow mustard, brown sugar, honey, molasses, Dad’s All Purpose rub, Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar and a little Truff hot sauce for some heat. Simmer over low heat until the sauce starts to thicken.
Once the smoked beer can chicken reaches an internal temp of 140 degrees, glaze the entire bird with the homemade BBQ sauce. Let it finish cooking, then rest for 10 minutes and enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions:
The most important step in having juicy is the internal temperature. By removing chicken at 160 degrees and letting it rest for 10 minutes this will not only trap and redistribute the juices throughout the meat but bring it up to safe to eat temperature of 165 degrees.
Chicken is a very bland protein. Do not be scared to experiment with flavor and use more seasonings. Use strong flavors like BBQ sauce, garlic, ginger and soy. When seasoning the ground chicken, add 1 tbsp of seasoning per pound.
Printer friendly recipe below:
Smoked Beer Can Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 Whole chicken
- 1 tbsp Olive oil
- 2 tbsp Dad's all purpose rub
Homemade BBQ Sauce Ingredients
- 1 cup Ketchup
- 1 cup Brown sugar
- 1/4 cup Apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup Honey
- 1/4 cup Molasses
- 2 tbsp Yellow mustard
- 1 tbsp Dad’s All Purpose rub
- 1 tbsp Hot sauce
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- Drizzle olive oil over the entire outside of the chicken.
- Season the entire chicken generously, including the cavity, with Dad's All Purpose rub.
- Open the can and place whole seasoned chicken on top of the beer, sitting it up straight.
- Preheat the grill to 350 degrees and set for indirect heat. Place the chicken onto the grill.
- In a sauce pan, add ketchup, yellow mustard, brown sugar, honey, molasses, Dad’sAll Purpose rub, Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar and a little Truff hot sauce for some heat. Simmer over low heat until the sauce starts to thicken.
- Once the chicken reaches an internal temp of 140 degrees, glaze the entire bird with the homemade BBQ sauce. Let it finish cooking, then rest for 10 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees.
- Remove off the grill and let it rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Nutrition
Check out the Recipes Page for other tasty ideas!
Another winner and totally impressive! Beer Can Chicken is so fun and easy to make!
I am making this recipe sounds great but one question. Recipe calls for Worcester shire sauce for sauce but it’s not listed in ingredients section
Please advise
Thanks
Thanks for calling that out. I updated the recipe. You need 1 tbsp.