This Smoked Beer Can Chicken is a whole chicken, seasoned with a savory blend of aromatic spices, smoked slowly, perched on a can of premium beer. With its golden, crispy skin and the deep, moist flavor that only a smoker can deliver, this dish is sure to be the star of your next cookout!
Why make this delicious Smoked Beer Can Chicken? Well, the smoking process infuses the chicken with a rich, savory smokiness, adding depth to the meat and the beer, gently steaming from within, imparts a subtle maltiness and a slight tang, to the chicken, keeping it incredibly moist and tender.
It’s one of the best ways to smoke chicken – both from a flavor and presentation perspective. If you want to impress your guests at your next backyard cookout – be sure to give this smoked beer can chicken recipe a try!
Best Beer for Smoked Beer Can Chicken?
For the best smoked beer can chicken, you’ll want a light beer but one that has a decent amount of maltiness to it.
My choice for this recipe is this Pacifico Clara. This pilsner style lager has a crisp and refreshing flavor and a unique maltiness, from their special hops roasting process.
Best Spice Rub for Smoked Beer Can Chicken?
The spice rub can really make or break the overall seasoning of this chicken. My choice for this special ingredient is this Traeger Chicken Rub with Citrus & Black Pepper.
This unique blend of sugar, salt, orange peel and chili peppers really brightens up the chicken and gives it a slightly tart, slightly sweet and oh so savory kick to it!
Key Elements Of This Recipe
- Pacifico Clara: A clean and crisp beer with just the right amount of maltiness for this recipe.
- Traeger Chicken Rub: This unique blend gives the chicken a slightly tart, slightly sweet and oh so savory kick.
The Ingredients for Smoked Beer Can Chicken
- 5 pound Whole Chicken
- 1 can Pacifico Clara
- 1/3 cup Unsalted Butter (melted)
- 1/4 cup Thyme
- 1/3 cup Traeger Chicken Rub
The Equipment Needed
- Traeger Ironwood Wood Pellet Grill (or any other quality smoker)
- Grilling Rack
How To Make Smoked Beer Can Chicken
Crafting this Smoked Beer Can Chicken is really easy. You start by preparing and seasoning the whole chicken with the Traeger Chicken Rub and butter. Then you prop it onto the beer can and achieve the right balance to make sure it sits upright in the smoker. Then you smoke to tender perfection until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
Preparing Your Whole Chicken
Prepare a drying rack to lay your whole chicken on.
Then, begin draining and patting dry your whole chicken. You can do this by blotting the surface of the chicken with a dry paper towel.
Afterwards, take your melted butter and brush it liberally across the entire body of the chicken.
Coat the body with a light layer of Thyme, followed by a heavy coating of the Traeger Chicken Rub. (Seasoning the underside of the chicken is optional.)
Finally, set aside for about 15 minutes for all of the flavor to meld together.
Smoking Your Whole Chicken
Preheat your smoker to 225°F.
Crack the opening of your beer can and gently slide the chicken on top of the can so that the can goes about 1/2 way into the cavity.
Then tie the legs of the chicken in front of the beer can so that it grips the can a bit tighter.
Afterwards, place the entire chicken onto the center rack of your smoker and work to balance the chicken on top of the can.
Pro Tip: If it helps, put a thin, flat cookie sheet on the grill grates of the smoker first, so that there is an even surface to place the beer can on. Also, if your beer can is too short and it goes completely into the opening of the chicken, try stuffing the cavity of the chicken with about 2-3 small sheets of paper towel. This should help prop up the chicken on top of the can.
Smoke the chicken until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (should take about 4-5 hours). Once the smoking is complete, pull it out and carve & serve immediately.
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Smoked Beer Can Chicken
Equipment
- Traeger Ironwood Wood Pellet Grill, (or any other quality smoker)
Ingredients
- 5 pound Whole Chicken
- 1 can Pacifico Clara
- 1/3 cup Unsalted Butter, (melted)
- 1/4 cup Thyme
- 1/3 cup Traeger Chicken Rub
Instructions
How To Make Smoked Beer Can Chicken
- Crafting this Smoked Beer Can Chicken is really easy. You start by preparing and seasoning the whole chicken with the Traeger Chicken Rub and butter. Then you prop it onto the beer can and achieve the right balance to make sure it sits upright in the smoker. Then you smoke to tender perfection until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
Preparing Your Whole Chicken
- Prepare a drying rack to lay your whole chicken on.
- Then, begin draining and patting dry your whole chicken. You can do this by blotting the surface of the chicken with a dry paper towel.
- Afterwards, take your melted butter and brush it liberally across the entire body of the chicken.
- Coat the body with a light layer of Thyme, followed by a heavy coating of the Traeger Chicken Rub. (Seasoning the underside of the chicken is optional.)
- Finally, set aside for about 15 minutes for all of the flavor to meld together.
Smoking Your Whole Chicken
- Crack the opening of your beer can and gently slide the chicken on top of the can so that the can goes about 1/2 way into the cavity.
- Then tie the legs of the chicken in front of the beer can so that it grips the can a bit tighter.
- Afterwards, place the entire chicken onto the center rack of your smoker and work to balance the chicken on top of the can.
- Pro Tip: If it helps, put a thin, flat cookie sheet on the grill grates of the smoker first, so that there is an even surface to place the beer can on. Also, if your beer can is too short and it goes completely into the opening of the chicken, try stuffing the cavity of the chicken with about 2-3 small sheets of paper towel. This should help prop up the chicken on top of the can.
- Smoke the chicken until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (should take about 4-5 hours). Once the smoking is complete, pull it out and carve & serve immediately.
Nutrition
*Nutritional information is just an estimate derived by an online calculation tool.
FAQ
How long to smoke a chicken at 225°F?
Chicken, like all other meats, is finished cooking when they reach a specific internal temperature. In the case of smoked chicken, it has to reach 165°F internally to be fully cooked and safe to eat. For a 5lbs whole chicken, the smoking time can range from 4 hours to 5.5 hours at 225°F.
What is the best beer to use for beer can chicken?
My choice is this Pacifico Clara. This pilsner style lager has a crisp and refreshing flavor and a unique maltiness, from their special hops roasting process.
How do I set up the chicken on the beer can without it tipping over?
Balance is key when you are trying to sit the chicken on top of the beer can. Make sure you seat the chicken far down enough to gain stability, and double check the balance before leaving it in the grill.
Ami
Wow, this smoked beer can chicken was so moist and juicy! And your rub and spice recommendation was spot on. It made the chicken so good!
Nicole Kendrick
This is the best! It’s super easy to make, and the flavor and moisture from the beer makes it extra tasty.
Ve
This is the first time I have tried this technique, and it came out absolutely wonderful! Chicken and thyme goes so great together as well.
Elizabeth
The crispy skin and delicious flavor can’t be beat! This smoked chicken is amazing and a new family favorite!
Krystle
It’s been ages since I’ve had beer can chicken. This recipe is even better than I remember. Super juicy and great flavor.
Nora
Super delicious! The seasoning was perfect and the meat had an amazing texture! Our friends loved it!
Audrey
Wow, such a unique recipe! My husband loved this when I made it for him.
Jenny
Thanks for the tips! This really turned out juicy for our Labor Day cookout!