Here is the best beer can chicken on a charcoal grill tonight. Really easy to do and a great way to cook outside in the Summer when it’s hot. I know you remember this method from your childhood, now it is time to bring it back. We have a killer smoked beer can chicken version too now!
I don’t know about you but growing up we had beer can chicken pretty often. I’m not sure why but this trend wore off as I got older, yet it is still a great, easy, and flavorful way to cook chicken on the BBQ…..let us show you how you can make this easy beer can chicken recipe at home too. 😉 (affiliate links present)
Beer Can Chicken on Charcoal Grill
Yes, this is the old fashioned original way to do it y’all. If you love grilled chicken drumsticks, this takes your bbq to a whole new level. You can use any can of liquid though that you wanted to. Rather use a can of soda instead? No problem, that will work fine. Biggest thing to get down is the color and heat of your briquettes, we will go over that below.
on Gas Grill
Of course you could use a gas grill too and set to 350 degrees or so and have it done if that is the style you have. We also have instructions on cooking smoked spatchcock chicken if you want to give that a whirl. All 3 versions are delish.
Table of contents
What is the Best Liquid to Use for Beer Can Chicken?
Well I mean lager of course. You could use whatever really, it doesn’t matter but a blonde light beer is top on my list for this or our Beer Can Chicken in Oven. Let’s be honest. In the Summertime we will do anything to NOT cook or turn the oven on inside the house!
It reaches over 100 degrees where we live for a few months out of the year and the last thing you want to do is heat up your house. So we use our barbecue and smoker as often as possible!
We have made desserts on the bbq and the usual hot dogs and hamburgers. But this beer can chicken recipe is the best. We even cook pizza on the bbq when it’s insanely hot outside.
Let me start by saying that neither one of us are beer drinkers. However, the chicken has no residual beer flavor when it is done. The alcohol burns off in the cooking process so it is safe to feed your children.We have 3 kids and they love this recipe too.
- First get either a cast iron skillet like this one or a cookie sheet. It will act as a drip pan of sorts.
- Then light your charcoal grill, or start your gas grill so it can preheat.
How to Cook Chicken on the Top of a Beer Can
- We have used this chicken stand as well that’s made of porcelain (seen at the top). Either way it works just fine.
- Rinse your chicken.
- Pat dry with a paper towel.
- Clean the cavity out if there is a giblet bag
- Pour about 1/3 of the beer out of the can, or else it will end up really overflowing when it starts to boil.
- Open beer and if you’re using the stand pour it inside. Otherwise, set the chicken upright on the open part of the can until it won’t go down any more and is secure.
- Then put together a dry rub of your choice. Use any and all spice rub blends you’d add to any whole chicken you’d bake.
Spray your pan with some non stick spray just to make cleanup later easier. I season it just like I do when making an air fryer whole chicken or if you were putting it in the oven.
Do you cook beer can chicken in direct or indirect heat?
Make sure when you put your briquettes on you sit them in a pile. Give them some time to cool down and not have a flame above them. You don’t want it to cook super fast. Slow is better when you grill meats any which way. Quicker will dry it out a bit too much so take your time and don’t be in a hurry.
Then, spread the briquettes or coals out in a circle around the edge of the bbq. You will be putting the pan with your chicken in the middle of the grill. You don’t want direct heat right under it or it will cook too fast. You don’t want to overcook it and have it dry. Place your cast iron skillet or cookie sheet with your beer can and the chicken on top of that. Place it in the middle of the barbecue once you put the top grate back on and close the lid.
How long does chicken take to cook on a charcoal grill?
Cook time will take 50-60 minutes depending on how large it is of course. I like medium size organic birds so they tend to be smaller, with less fat and more meat. In this case 45-50 minutes is about right. Keep an eye on it after about 40 minutes. Use a meat thermometer in the thickest part of the thigh to ensure it is 165 F. to be safe to consume.
Make sure you use a thermometer when it gets to looking done to make sure the inside is at at least 160 – 165 degrees F. Remember that as it rests it will continue to rise about 5 degrees. Best way to test it is to remove from grill leaving the heat so you get an accurate read and place probe in the middle thickest part of the chicken leg or thigh meat.
When it is done carefully remove the bird off of the can. Be careful as juice runs out of it. Allow to rest for at least 10 minutes before carving to keep the juices in and stay moist. Cut up and eat as usual. This makes for some of the moistest and flavorful meal ever. It’s essentially being steamed on the inside by the liquid in the beer. Cooked slowly on the bbq is the way to go. If you love our beer can chicken recipe you should try cooking a whole chicken in the Crockpot too.
Beer Can Chicken on Charcoal Grill
Equipment
- 1 grill plus charcoal
- beer can chicken throne or beer can
- cast iron skillet optional
Ingredients
- 3-4 lb whole chicken
- 1 can beer
- dry rub for chicken, optional
Instructions
- Set coals inside grill and light, set grate on top and close the lid to wait for the coals to cool down enough to where they turn from black to white. This will take about 25 minutes.
- While you're waiting you'll want to season your bird. Unwrap the bird, remove bag from inside if there is one and discard. Dry skin with paper towels. Rub a bit of olive oil on skin and coat with your seasonings of choice. (we have a link above for our dry rub)
- If you're using a chicken throne fill it 3/4 of the way full, there should be a line. If using just the can dump or drink 1/4 of the contents.
- When coals are white set cast iron skillet in middle of grate.
- Set can or throne in middle of cast iron skillet and set chicken on top sliding the open cavity over the opening so it sits flat and isn't falling over.
- Close lid on grill and cook until middle of thigh reaches 165 degrees F. This will take 1-1.5 hours depending on the size of the bird.
- Remove with pot holders, set on cutting board to rest for 10 minutes before slicing.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
