Beer can chicken is a popular outdoor cooking technique that has its origins in the southern United States, particularly in Texas, where traditional grilling is combined with an innovative method to cook the chicken in a juicy and flavorful way. This method has spread rapidly and is known in several Latin American countries, although with slight variations. In Mexico and some Central American countries, it is commonly called "pollo en lata" (chicken in a can), while in Argentina and Chile it is often found as "pollo a la cerveza en lata" (beer can chicken). The particularity of this recipe is that the chicken is cooked sitting on an open can of beer, which not only adds moisture but also a characteristic aroma that intensifies the flavor of the meat. This technique also allows for achieving crispy skin and a tender interior, making the dish a unique and highly appreciated culinary experience at gatherings and family barbecues.
Beer can chicken
How to Prepare Beer Can Chicken
For this recipe, you will need beech wood chips, beer, your favorite barbecue rub, and whole chickens. The method combines smoky flavor and indirect cooking to achieve a delicious and juicy chicken.
Place the wood chips in a bowl.
Open the tabs on each beer can and make 2 additional holes in each top using a can opener.
Pour half of the beer from each can over the chips.
Add additional beer or water to cover the chips, let them soak for 1 hour, and drain.
Prepare the grill for indirect grilling.
Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of barbecue rub into the neck cavity and 2 teaspoons into the main cavity of each chicken.
Add 1 tablespoon of rub to each open and half-full beer can.
Season the outside of each chicken with 2 tablespoons of rub.
Place the beer cans upright on the work surface.
Hold each chicken vertically and lower it onto the can so that the can enters the main cavity.
Pull the chicken legs forward to form a sort of tripod.
The chicken should be sitting upright on the can.
Carefully transfer the chickens to the grill in the same position, placing them in the center over the drip pan and away from the heat.
If using charcoal, throw half of the wood chips onto each pile of coals.
If using gas, place the chips in the smoker box.
Grill the chickens until they are well-browned and cooked, approximately 1 and a half hours, maintaining the temperature around 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
The internal temperature of the chickens should be 165°F.
Carefully transfer the chickens to a tray in the same position.
To carve, lift the chicken off the can and discard the can.
You can use any rub on the chickens and other flavorful liquids, not just beer in the can.
You can use a can of Coca-Cola or Sprite.
Sodas are more interesting than you might imagine.
Just make sure to open the can first.
Ingredients (4)
- Beech Wood Chips
- Beer
- Your Favorite Barbecue Rub
- Whole Chickens
Instructions (24 steps)
- 1 Place the wood chips in a bowl
- 2 Open the tab on each can of beer and make 2 additional holes in each top, using a bottle opener
- 3 Pour half of the beer from each can over the wood chips
- 4 Add additional beer or water to cover the chips, let them soak for 1 hour and drain
- 5 Prepare the grill for indirect grilling
- 6 Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of barbecue seasoning into the neck cavity and 2 teaspoons into the main cavity of each chicken
- 7 Add 1 tablespoon of seasoning to each open and half-full beer can
- 8 Season the outside of each chicken with 2 tablespoons of seasoning
- 9 Place the beer cans standing up on the work surface
- 10 Hold each chicken vertically and lower it onto the can so that the can enters the main cavity
- 11 Pull the chicken legs forward to form a sort of tripod
- 12 The chicken should be sitting upright on the can
- 13 Carefully transfer the chickens to the grill in the same position, placing them in the center over the drip pan and away from the heat
- 14 If using charcoal, throw half of the wood chips onto each pile of coals
- 15 If using gas, place the chips in the smoker box
- 16 Roast the chickens until they are golden brown and cooked through, approximately 1 and a half hours, maintaining the temperature around 350 degrees Fahrenheit
- 17 The internal temperature of the chickens should be 165°F
- 18 Carefully transfer the chickens to the tray in the same position
- 19 To carve, lift the chicken off the can and discard the can
- 20 You can use any seasoning on the chickens and other flavorful liquids, not just beer in the can
- 21 You can use a can of Coca-Cola or Sprite
- 22 Soft drinks are more interesting than you might think
- 23 Just be sure to open the can first
- 24 Opal Fitzgerald Quinlan, Texas
Nutritional Information
Percent Daily Value for nutrients; calories are shown in kcal.