Grilled Beer Can Chicken (2024)

Beer Can Chicken (Grill & Oven Instructions) - Fall off the bone tender & juicy grilled whole chicken with the perfect BBQ rub.

It tastes so incredibly delicious, with a hint of lemon, garlic, and herbs, and just the right amount of smoky flavor from the spice mix in the bbq dry rub.

This easy beer can chicken recipe is the perfect summer grilling recipe to give that "wow" factor to backyard barbecues and get-togethers.

It's a super easy grilling recipe to make with only 5 minutes prep time and around an hour or so on the grill. Be sure to check out our other grilling recipes, like Grilled Ribeye, Grilled Lamb Chops, Grilled Chicken, or Grilled Flank Steak.

We love to serve this delicious grilled chicken with some Homemade Coleslaw, and Honey Butter Cornbread. Be sure to check out our other side dish recipes for more summer bbq side ideas.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Grilling is one of the most popular methods of cooking poultry. And making beer can chicken definitely adds a wow factor to summer grilling season.

Perching an entire chicken upright on a beer can or in our case, a ceramic chicken stand, is certainly an attention grabber. But it also serves another purpose.

The benefit of cooking this way is that the beer and aromatics keep the meat moist inside, making tender and juicy meat that is full of flavor, with crispy skin on the outside.

Notes on Ingredients

All you need to make this summer grilling recipe is a few simple ingredients you can find at your local grocery store.

• whole chicken - 3-4 lb. whole bird is recommended.
• beer - Used to add moisture and flavor to meat. The type of beer is a matter of personal preference. It could be a fancy beer like honey double-citrus summer ale, or a regular ole light beer. Use your favorite beer. Just make sure it tastes good to you, because it will impart its flavor into the meat.
  May substitute non-alcoholic beer, soda (root beer, or Dr. Pepper) or apple cider.
• lemon - Adds a hint of lemon flavor.
• garlic - Adds a savory flavor to the meat.
• onion - Adds savory flavor.
• olive oil - May substitute butter. Adds flavor and helps seasoning to stick to the skin.
• fresh herbs - We use a few sprigs of fresh rosemary, oregano, and thyme. May substitute dried herbs. Measurements in the recipe card are for dried herbs.
• salt & pepper - Salt the outside and inside of the whole bird.
• dry rub (bbq rub) - We like to use our favorite dry rub recipe on all things grilled, because the smoky flavor makes everything taste amazing. Make some for yourself with our easy recipe. Or you can substitute your favorite spice mix, dry rub, or chicken seasoning.
• barbecue sauce - for basting, and for extra flavor when it's done.

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

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How To Make Beer Can Chicken On The Grill

1. Prepare Grill.
2. Season and Prepare.
3. Grill It.
4. Make Sure It's Done.
5. Let It Rest.
6. Serve And Enjoy!

1. Prepare Grill. Preheat the grill to 350°F. This is best done by lighting only one side of the grill. Watch the temperature gauge and adjust the temp as needed.

   Use a clean grill. Be sure to clean off any soot or food residue before you grill with a grill brush.

2. Prepare Chicken. Dry off the outside with paper towel. Rub the outside of the bird with olive oil. and season it inside and out with salt & pepper, and dry rub.

   Place the chicken stand in a disposable roasting pan or cast iron skillet.

   Put onions, garlic, and lemon & herbs inside the holder, and pour in the beer.

   Then, put the entire bird upright onto the stand. Be sure to check out our simple video above showing how easily it's done.

3. Grill Chicken. Grill over medium heat on the cool side of the grill (indirect heat) for 1 to 1 ½ hours. Keep an eye on the grill temperature so that it stays around 350°F. Baste with barbecue sauce when it is almost done.

   Gas Grill Instructions - Light only one side of a gas grill. Grill on the opposite side for indirect heat.

   Charcoal Grill Instructions - Light the coals on one side of the grill. Grill it on the opposite side.

4. Make Sure It's Done. Check the internal temperature with an instant-read thermometer. The bird is done when the temperature reaches 170°F.

   Let It Rest. Once it is done, remove it from the grill and let it rest untouched for about 10 minutes. This will allow the juices to reabsorb for tender perfection.

We recommend using a fast & accurate instant read thermometer like this Thermapen One. It's the one we rely on every day here at Seanna's Kitchen.

5. Serve And Enjoy! Carve and serve with barbecue sauce.