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!
Have you made smoked beer can chicken yet??!! We are obsessed! With tender flavorful meat inside and crispy smoky flavored skin on the outside, it will become one of your favorite easy smoker recipes too. (originally published 4/19, affiliate links present)
We started this journey creating a lot of electric smoker recipes. Those will work too if you’re looking for more ideas.
- Recently we upgraded to this Traeger pellet smoker and grill and love it.
- This is the Charbroil model we started with.
- These are the pellets we always have on hand and use for almost everything.
- This smoker cookbook has some more great ideas if you want to cook outside more regularly.
- 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 this chicken stand.
Don’t worry because you still use beer and the flavor is there, you just pour it inside.
Smoked chicken
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:
- 1 tbsp Kosher salt, pepper, and rosemary
- 2 tsp thyme, and dill (jarred or fresh, we used dry)
You’ll also need olive oil and 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.
Traeger smoked beer can chicken
- This chicken throne
- Beer – or broth if you’d rather, but seriously go with the beer
- I don’t drink beer but I still use it because it lends a lot of flavor to the meat
- A whole chicken
- Seasonings
- 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. 😉
Time needed: 2 hours.
Traeger smoked chicken
- Preheat 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.
- Prepare your bird
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).
- Season
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. - Cook
Open preheated smoker and place throne with chicken on top in the center of the grates. Cook for 2 hours or until the internal temp in the middle of the thigh is at least 165 degrees F.
- Rest
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.
Smoked whole chicken
- 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
Applewood smoked beer can chicken
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 dry rub you’ll drool over
- Smoked baked potatoes are the perfect side dish
- This is how to smoke salmon for you fish lovers
Ways to cook a whole chicken
- Air fryer whole chicken is amazing
- You can make pressure cooker beer can chicken too!
- Instant Pot whole chicken takes just 25 minutes start to finish
This is how you cook a frozen pressure cooker chicken
Here are a few questions you might have before you get going:
If you set the temp to 300 F it takes approximately 2 hours. Timing will vary widely depending on how large your bird is so always check the internal temperature before consuming.
We do not. Instead we use a dry rub on the outside of the skin and it comes out amazingly flavorful.
You shouldn’t have an issue with this if you follow our directions. Smoking a chicken at a lower temperature may result in rubbery chicken skin that is unappealing. Higher temp. will avoid this.
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Served with a bowl of beer cheese soup, you’ll love it!
Smoked Beer Can Chicken
Ingredients
Instructions
- Add pellets or wood chips into your smoker. Preheat your smoker to 350 degrees. Wash and remove anything inside chicken cavity. Blot dry with a paper towel.
- Spray or rub olive oil on the outside of your chicken skin. Mix all other ingredients together in a bowl (except beer).
- Rub this mixture on the outside of your chicken.
- Fill chicken stand with beer, it will take about 3/4 of your can of beer.
- Place chicken on top of the chicken stand/throne. Once your smoker reaches 350 degrees, place it in the center making sure it is flat and won’t tip over.
- Allow to cook for 2 hours or until internal temp. of chicken is at least 165 degrees.
- Take chicken out and remove from stand. Allow to sit for at least 5 minutes before slicing.
Susan
Sunday 8th of September 2019
Extremely good! Making again tomorrow for company!
Carla H
Thursday 11th of April 2019
I don't have a smoker, would this fit in a 6 qt Instant pot?
The Typical Mom
Thursday 11th of April 2019
There is link within this post for a pressure cooker beer can chicken so yes you can. Only thing is it won't fit into a 6 qt. it is too tall.