In this post: Cooking beer can chicken in a smoker is a simple and delicious way to prepare chicken. This recipe turns out moist, flavorful, and delicious!
This recipe for beer can chicken in a smoker is SO yummy! It’s perfect for breaking in a new smoker or anytime you want a tried and true delicious BBQ main dish. Learn to make this recipe for yourself with step-by-step instructions.
Table of Contents
What is Beer Can Chicken?
Beer can chicken is a BBQ dish that calls for a partially filled beer can to be placed in the chicken’s “cavity.” The chicken is then stood up on the can and cooked over indirect heat.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This recipe for beer can chicken in a smoker:
- is quick and easy to make
- doesn’t include complicated instructions or hard-to-find ingredients
- is free from the most comment food allergens
Smoked Beer Can Chicken Ingredients
- Mesquite wood chips: these smoking chips will give the chicken a rich and smokey flavor.
- Water: soaking the wood chips in water will make them smolder instead of burn.
- Whole chicken: you’ll have to remove the giblets and neck.
- Garlic: adds a delicious flavor.
- Chili powder: adds a subtle spice.
- Sea salt: complements the other seasonings.
- Black pepper: adds a smokey spice flavor.
- Extra virgin olive oil: helps the seasonings stick to the chicken.
- Can of beer: makes the chicken moist and flavorful.
Seasoning Ideas
Aside from the seasonings listed above, you can also try adding:
- Blackening Seasoning Mix to make the chicken extra smokey, spicy, and amazingly crispy!
- Poultry Seasoning Mix complements the chicken well.
- Cajun Seasoning Mix to give this chicken a bold and spicy flavor.
- Italian Seasoning Mix tastes delicious with chicken of all kinds.
- Individual seasonings like onion powder, brown sugar, garlic powder, paprika, rosemary, and more!
How to Make Beer Can Chicken in a Smoker
- Soak the wood chips in water for at least 30 minutes. Preheat the smoker to 225°F.
- Meanwhile, rinse the chicken and remove and discard the neck and giblets. Set the chicken on a plate.
- Mix the garlic, chili powder, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
- Rub the outside of the chicken all over with olive oil. Now rub the seasoning mix all over the chicken.
- Open the can of beer and pour out half (or drink it if you want). Add a couple of extra holes to the top of the beer can with a can opener or metal cutter.
- Place the can on a solid surface (I used a special beer can chicken rack for better balance, but it’s not necessary) and lower the cavity of the chicken over the beer can.
- Drain the water from the wood chips and carefully add them to the wood chip container in the smoker.
- Place the chicken on the beer can onto the smoker rack, close the door, and let it cook for 1 1/2 hours (or until a thermometer inserted into the inside of the chicken reaches 180°F).
- Carefully remove the chicken from the smoker and let it cool for 5 minutes.
- Finally, lift the chicken off of the beer can and cut it up to be served.
Serving Suggestions
This beer can chicken goes great with side dishes like:
Recipe Tips
- You may have to adjust the cooking time based on the size of your chicken. This recipe is designed for a medium-sized chicken.
- Soak the wood chips in water for at least 30 minutes before smoking the chicken. This will ensure that the woodchips will smolder instead of burning.
- Rub the chicken with olive oil before adding the seasonings so they stick well.
How to Store Beer Can Chicken
You can store your beer can chicken leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days. Or you could freeze the chicken for 6-12 months.
FAQs
How do I buy a good chicken?
Make sure the chicken skin is pink and plump and doesn’t have a bad odor. As for size, you should buy approximately 1/2 pound of chicken per person you want to serve.
Can I cook beer can chicken in the oven?
Absolutely! Preheat your oven to 350° F. Follow preparation instructions 2-6 then place the beer can chicken in a roasting pan on the lowest rack of the oven. Roast for 60-90 minutes (make sure the chicken reaches an internal temperature of at least 180F).
Can I use soda instead of beer?
Yes, you can use any soda you want! You could even half-fill an empty can with chicken broth. The liquid you choose will add a little bit of flavor but its main purpose is to add moisture to the chicken!
Do I need a pellet grill to make this recipe?
No, you don’t. Any smoker or lidded grill will do the trick!
What kind of wood chips should I use?
I like to use mesquite wood chips but you can use hickory, oak, apple, or even cherry wood!
What temperature should I cook beer can chicken?
Set the smoker to about 225°-250°F. At the end of the cooking time, you can increase the temperature to crisp up the outside. Make sure the chicken reaches an internal temperature of at least 180°F.
How long should I smoke beer can chicken?
Smoke the beer can chicken for about 1 1/2 hours or until the juices run clear. The internal temperature should reach at least 180°F.
How do I remove the beer can from the chicken?
If possible, ask another person for help. Place the chicken and can on a cutting board. While wearing oven mitts, get a firm grip on the chicken. Now use a pair of tongs to gently pull the beer can out of the chicken. Remember not to touch the chicken or beer can with your bare hands because they will be hot!
Do you have to cut the can for beer can chicken?
No, you don’t have to cut the top off of the can! You can cut some extra holes in it or just leave it as is (with the mouth opening open).
Beer Can Chicken in a Smoker
This beer-can chicken smoker recipe is perfect for summer!
Ingredients
- 1 cup mesquite wood chips
- 1 cup water
- 1 whole chicken, giblets and neck removed
- 1 clove garlic, crushed
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1-2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 can of beer
Instructions
- Soak the wood chips in water for at least 30 minutes. Preheat the smoker to 225°F.
- Meanwhile, rinse the chicken and remove and discard the neck and giblets. Set the chicken on a plate.
- Mix the garlic, chili powder, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
- Rub the outside of the chicken all over with olive oil. Now rub the seasoning mix all over the chicken.
- Open the can of beer and pour out half (or drink it if you want). Add a couple of extra holes to the top of the beer can with a can opener or metal cutter.
- Place the can on a solid surface (I used a special beer can chicken rack for better balance, but it’s not necessary) and lower the cavity of the chicken over the beer can.
- Drain the water from the wood chips and carefully add them to the wood chip container in the smoker.
- Place the chicken on the beer can onto the smoker rack, close the door, and let it cook for 1 1/2 hours (or until a thermometer inserted into the inside of the chicken reaches 180°F).
- Carefully remove the chicken from the smoker and let it cool for 5 minutes.
- Finally, lift the chicken off of the beer can and cut it up to be served.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 143Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 107mgSodium: 469mgCarbohydrates: 7gFiber: 1gSugar: 0gProtein: 7g
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily via Nutrifox.
Have you ever tried to make beer can chicken in a smoker? How was it?
