Traeger Smoked Beer Can Chicken

Smoked beer can chicken is so amazing! Whether you have a pellet or electric smoker you’ll love how easy a whole chicken is to cook. Get ready!  We started this journey creating a lot of electric smoker recipes but works great on a Traeger too.

This is a stick it in and forget it kinda’ meal y’all. If you have only done this “hack” on your bbq this is the next step to bring this meal to the next level. Try it!

To get your meats absolutely perfect we have this printable meat smoking chart to refer to so each and every time it will be fork tender.

Traeger Whole Chicken

This will work with any brand you have. An electric Charbroil, pellet Green Mountain, I mean there are a lot of choices out there. Some have a higher price point but don’t necessarily work better. Don’t go super cheap though or they have a problem really locking in that heat.

• Ok so we didn’t technically put our whole chicken on top of an actual beer can.
• BUT let us explain to you why.
• It’s not steady enough, you need to use a chicken stand.

Don’t worry because you still use beer and the flavor is there, you just pour it inside. Use as is right out of the package for a quick method or take it a step further with our simple brine. You would make that the day before and soak overnight for flavor, flavor, flavor y’all.

How to Cook Beer Can Chicken in a Smoker

So…let’s get started. First you’ll want to get your smoker preheated to 350 degrees so it’s ready when you are.  Then you’ll want to get some beer can chicken rub mixed together:

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp Kosher salt, pepper, and rosemary
• 2 tsp thyme, and dill (jarred or fresh, we used dry)
• You’ll also need olive oil
• We like 1 tbsp of minced garlic to rub on too.

Of course if you have your own favorite rub you put on every whole chicken you bake then by all means use that.

Ok so I did not exactly use an actual beer can. Reason I didn’t is that is narrower and more likely to fall over. For this reason I think the throne is so worth it. Then you can add any sort of liquid you prefer inside.

Ingredients

1. This chicken throne to set bird on top of
2. Beer – or broth if you’d rather, but seriously go with the beer
   1. I don’t drink beer but I still use it because it lends a lot of flavor to the meat
3. A whole chicken of course
4. Seasonings of your choice or use the dry rub recipe we used to make chicken wings if you like
5. A meat thermometer so you can ensure it reaches the correct internal temperature

You’ll need smoker pellets or wood chips if you have an electric smoker. Either type will work. Either way we prefer apple flavor and have both types of smokers. This time we made it in our Green Mountain pellet grill and smoker. We have a Traeger and Charbroil electric version as well.

Then you’ll need to get your chicken ready to be rubbed down. 😉 I have a printable recipe card at the bottom of this post but here is a quick step by step to peek at:

How to Cook a Whole Chicken on Smoker

• First you’ll want to preheat your pellet or electric smoker to 350 degrees F. so it’s ready once your whole chicken is prepped.
• Pour beer into your chicken stand. Rinse the chicken and pat dry with paper towels. Take everything out of the cavity of the chicken (if there is anything in there).
• Now pour your beer into your chicken stand. Rinse the chicken and pat dry with paper towels. Take everything out of the cavity of the chicken (if there is anything in there).
• Rub or spray olive oil on the outside of the skin. Then mix together the ingredients for your dry rub and cover the outside well. Sit your chicken on top of it’s throne.
• Open preheated smoker and place throne with chicken on top in the center of the grates.
• Cook for 2 hours or until the internal meat temperature in the middle of the thigh is at least 165 degrees F.

Allow bird to rest off of heat for at least 10 minutes before slicing and serving. We show a few quick photos here as we prepare ours to be cooked. I will tell you that the meat comes out pink but cooked inside. It is the most AMAZING flavor with the smoky flavors and salty sweet rub on the skin.

Now your smoker or grill should be at the right temperature. Keep in mind that preheating does take a bit of time so you need to account for that when you’re planning dinner.

Tips

• Make sure the outside skin is coated with olive oil so it crisps up well
• Place your chicken in the center of your smoker
  • Ensure it is flat and bird is on straight so it doesn’t tip over
• Do not open the smoker before 2 hours is up
  • Every time you open it a lot of heat escapes and it will take a while to get back to reach the proper internal meat temperature
• Allow chicken to rest for at least 5 minutes once you remove it from the smoker and stand
  • This will keep the juices in and keep it moist

If it is hot outside and you don’t want to take the heat inside to make our Beer Can Chicken in Oven, this is the answer my friends.

Other ways to cook a whole chicken you’ll love

This is how you cook a pressure cooker frozen whole chicken. You can use your beer can chicken on charcoal grill or gas grill for indirect heat. We do it all but the flavors from your Traeger are out of this world. Don’t forget to use up your leftovers in a casserole or tacos the next day. Other smoker recipes you would enjoy are:

• You can make our Traeger smoked chicken thighs too
• The best smoked ribs recipe is here with a beef dry rub you’ll drool over
• Smoked baked potatoes are the perfect side dish
• This is how to smoke salmon for you fish lovers