Beer can chicken is the coolest thing I’ve cooked in a long time. It is a simple recipe and a set and forget it cooking method. Basically, get a whole chicken, a drink of your choice, use indirect heat, and Voila! You have a delicious meal. I cooked this bird at my folks’ place and my Mom suggested adding lime and whole garlic in the neck cavity. Wow! Delicious favor and fall off the bone chicken! It was a home run. I used a dark beer and it was perfect. Next time, I will use orange juice for its citrus flavor. Oh, you’ll notice that I used a rack. You can simply place the cavity over an aluminum can, but I prefer the rack. The rack ensures the bird will not fall over and allows you a spot for potatoes or corn. I served this dish with roasted Mediterranean vegetables. Happy Eats!
Beer Can Chicken
Beer can chicken is fabulous. Rub it down, place over your beverage of choice, set it on the grill, close the lid and do not check it for an hour.
Ingredients
- 1 whole chicken
- smoked paprika and garlic salt for the rub
- 1 lime, quartered
- 2 whole garlic cloves, roughly chopped
- 1 can of dark beer or 12 oz. of your favorite beverage
Directions
- Step 1 Grill instructions:
- Step 2 Set the charcoal on one side of the grill. Cook the chicken on the cool side using indirect heat. If using a gas grill, only light half the burners. This step ensures the beverage does not dissipate.
- Step 3 Defrost the whole chicken and remove innards. Discard.
- Step 4 Rub the chicken down generously with the smoked paprika and garlic salt.
- Step 5 If using the rack, fill the rack with your beverage. Set the chicken over the rack.
- Step 6 If not using the rack, place an aluminum can of your beverage on the grill and the chicken over the can.
- Step 7 Insert the chopped garlic and limes into the neck opening of the chicken.
- Step 8 Grill for 1 hour and check internal temperature by inserting a thermometer into the thigh. Once the bird is 165 degreees F, it is cooked through.
