Nothing says let’s hang out by the grill as well as smoked BBQ Beer Can Chicken. Let’s be honest, that squatty little chicken is fun, awesome, and crazy delicious!
We are big fans of our Big Green Egg – so we spend a lot of time creating recipes that we can enjoy with friends and family. Though these recipes convert well from smoker to grill and back.
If you love the idea of a whole chicken on the smoker, try this Smoked Whole Chicken too!
Smoked Beer Can Chicken
We are so lucky to live in a climate that we can really sit by the grill or smoker for most of the year. This smoked Beer Can Chicken is one of the easiest and most delicious ways we like to have dinner on the weekend.
My husband and I really enjoy working on projects outside, either in the garage or out in the driveway. Refinishing furniture and building shelves for a kitchen remodel are our current weekend projects. This Beer Can Chicken recipe is one we love because it has very little prep time and pretty much takes care of itself once it is on the smoker or grill. And when we are working outside, it is fun to take a peek and see how these little soldiers are doing.
BBQ Beer Can Chicken Recipe for Weekend Cooking
Everyone has a recipe for grilled Beer Can Chicken. Fundamentally, you just shove a can in the nether regions of the chicken and stick it on the grill. But what makes this chicken recipe special is the spice rub and the doohicky we use to hold the chicken.
You guys know by now that I love a good kitchen gadget. But this upright rack not only holds the can (you can also use it without the can and just roast the chicken upright) but it holds the chicken in place in a stable way… depending on the size of your chicken, sometimes balancing on a beer can is not as easy as it looks.
But the magic really happens because of the BBQ Spice Rub. A little spicy kick paired with your favorite barbecue sauce makes this BBQ Beer Can Chicken AWESOME!
Not a beer drinker? Never fear, use apple juice as a substitute. It is really about the sugars. You can use the rack to hold the chicken and just inject the apple juice into the meat before grilling.
Smoked Chicken Spice Mix is no joke!
If you think you have seen this spice mix before… It is because you have. These Chipotle Red Potatoes are one of the most popular recipes on this site. And I have a dear friend who calls the spice mix “Magical Chipotle Dust.”
It is so good. You will want to mix it up in huge batches and sprinkle it on everything. Seriously. It is magical.
Sprinkle some on your potatoes. Sprinkle some on the chicken. Sprinkle some on roasted corn on the cob. Sprinkle some on your eggs… Just don’t run out.
How long to smoke Beer Can Chicken?
Depending on the size of your chicken, it will take about two to three hours. We usually cook 2 at a time because we have a larger family. But also because the leftovers are fabulous and heat up great!
What temperature do I cook Beer Can Chicken?
Preheat the smoker or grill to about 250 degrees Fahrenheit and prepare the smoker to cook the chicken on indirect heat.
How Do I Smoke Beer Can Chicken?
Place the chicken on the grill and close the grill cover while cooking. You will cook until the chicken reaches 160 degrees in the breast area and 175 degrees in the thigh area.
When you will brush on the barbeque sauce, you want to cook the sauce until it becomes tacky instead of “wet” – but you don’t want it to burn. So be careful with the time and temperature.
Remember when cooking chicken, the juices will run clear when the chicken is done.
BBQ Beer Can Chicken
Equipment
- Smoker
Ingredients
Chipotle Spice Mix
- 1 tbsp kosher salt
- 1 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 2-3 tbsp chipotle powder based on preference
- 2 tbsp paprika
- 2 tsp onion powder
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp dried thyme
Chickens and Sauce!
- 2 3-4 lbs whole chickens
- 2 cups your favorite barbecue sauce more or less based on preference
- 1/3 cup olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat the smoker or grill to between 225-275 degrees and prepare to cook the chicken on indirect heat.
- Mix up all of the ingredients for the spice mix and store in an airtight jar like a Mason jar. You will have extra - trust me, this is a good thing.
- Remove the neck and giblets and pat the chicken dry with a paper towel. Tuck the wings back under the chicken if you prefer. (Totally forgot to do this when I made the chicken in the photo!)
- Brush chickens with olive oil and sprinkle liberally with Chipotle Spice Mix.
- If you are using an upright rack like the one pictured above, insert the beer can in the rack and the rack into the chicken. If you are not using a rack insert the can into the chicken with the legs forward in front of the can to balance the chicken. The can should have extra holes punched in the top with a bottle opener and only be half full of beer. (If you are not a beer drinker, you can use the rack but inject the chicken with apple juice for great flavor!)
- Place the chicken on the grill and close the grill cover while cooking. You will cook until the chicken reaches 160 degrees in the breast area and 175 degrees in the thigh area.
- Depending on the size of your chicken, that will take about 2-3 hours. About 20-30 minutes before you expect the chicken to be done, you will brush it with your favorite barbeque sauce. You want to cook the sauce until it becomes tacky instead of "wet" - but you don't want it to burn. So be careful with the time and temperature. The juices will run clear when the chicken is done.
- Let the chicken rest for 10 minutes before carving. Be careful when removing the can from the chicken because it will be hot and full of liquid!
Nutrition
If you really love your smoker like we do, try these smoked pork chops next! They are AMAZING!
Hi I want to make this recipe but I don’t have the chipotle powder, can I substitute with chilli powder ? Thanks
Hi there. Chipotle is smokies and a little less “hot.” Depending on how you feel about spicy food, I would cut back a bit on the first go round. 🙂