Grilling chicken on a beer can stand is a fun tasty way to cook a whole chicken in the summer. In this week’s USA Weekend video, Maggy and I show you how to prepare, grill, and carve this fun bird. Once you set the bird on the grill it’s about an hour cooking time, but it’s all unattended, so you’re free to finish meal preparation… and finish that beer you’ve poured off!
Oh, if there’s time, let the bird stand after rubbing it with the herb/spice mixture so the flavors have time to permeate.
Beer Can Chicken with Lemon and Italian Seasoning
Serves 4 to 6
1 whole small chicken (about 3 ½ lbs. rinsed, patted dry, giblets reserved for another use
1 tablespoon kosher salt
2 teaspoons each: ground black pepper, Italian seasonings, paprika, and finely grated lemon zest
1 teaspoon granulated garlic or garlic powder
1 can dark beer, such as stout or ale
Mix salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, paprika, lemon zest and garlic. Pat chicken all over—including cavity—with seasoning mix. If time permits, let stand on a wire rack over a plate for 1 to 2 hours or refrigerate overnight.
When ready to grill, heat a gas grill igniting all burners on high for at least 10 minutes or build an indirect charcoal fire. Open beer; pour off (and enjoy!) 1/3 of it. If using a gas grill, turn off one of the burners; set chicken’s leg cavity on open beer can. If using a gas grill, set chicken on turned off portion of grill. If using a charcoal grill, set chicken on charcoal-less portion of grill. Cover and cook (maintaining a temperature of 400 or so degrees until chicken is impressively brown and cooked through (about 170 degrees in the leg/thigh portion, 50 minutes to 1 hour depending on grill temperature and chicken size.
Remove from grill and let rest for 10 minutes. Carve (see video for best carving method) and serve.
I love this method for cooking chicken! It delivers succulent, tender, and flavorful results every time. (Plus, a chicken perched on a beer can is always an utterly hilarious sight!)
Sounds funny to say, but beer can chicken is healthier and lighter than most other cookout foods. Make a salad and bring out a loaf of good bread and you’ve got a simply delicious dinner. It’s fun for a crowd or an easy weeknight meal. Either way, it will definitely get a giggle.
What a fun video!
And I need to give beer can chicken a try. Looks delicious!
A beer chicken made with my favorite beer! This is a sure winner!!
I’ve always thought that was a particularly interesting way to cook a chicken. Is there anything that pops into your head that would be a good replacement for the beer, since I’m not a beer drinker?
I love making chicken like this; not just because it keeps it so moist but come one, really…doesn’t it make you giggle? I mean, a bird without a head that looks sort of like it’s dancing but with a beer can in it’s rear. I can’t help myself. Chuckling now even.
Great video. I made several beer can chickens at once, last year, for a crowd. I had the grill on low. Went inside to prep some other dishes and my son came in and said, Mom, I think the grill is on fire. Well I guess I should have turned off two of the three burners, but there sure was alot of smoke. The chicken was okay, but I learned about the indirect heat method of cooking that day…the hard way!!! I’ll give it another try, but those store bought rotisserie chickens sure seem easier!
This is a fabulous way to prepare chicken! Great video!!!
Although I’ve never tried it, Heather, I’ve heard of people doing it with coca cola and root beer too, I think.
How about fruit juice, Heather V, like some apple juice poured into a soda can. Just remember not to fill it to the top.
Yum, I love beer can chicken!
Very cool
Thanks for the suggestions. I’m excited to try those!
Just made this tonight! Kids loved it! Posted it on facebook….
try tucking 5-6 slices of bacon in the neck end and draping them over the body of the bird before cooking..they baste and flavor the bird while raosting…everything is better with pig!