Beer-Can Chicken

Name: Beer-Can Chicken
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 1 h
Total time: 1 h 15 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 can light lager; 1 whole chicken; 2 tablespoons 4-3-2-1 Spice Rub; 1 piece foil baking pan

A flavorful and juicy grilled chicken that's perched on a can of light lager, seasoned with spice rub and cooked to perfection. The beer steams the chicken from the inside while the grill creates a crispy exterior.

4 servings

1 hr 21 min

Published October 4, 2025

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Ingredients

•1 can light lager
•1 whole chicken
•2 tablespoons 4-3-2-1 Spice Rub
•1 piece foil baking pan

Cooking Instructions

1.
Pour out (or drink) half of beer.
1 min
2.
Prepare grill for high, indirect heat and fit with grill pan (for a charcoal grill, bank coals on 1 side of grill and put drip pan on empty side; for a gas grill, leave 1 burner turned off and place drip pan over unlit burner). Add water to pan to a depth of 1/2".
10 min
3.
Season chicken with 4-3-2-1 Spice Rub. Place cavity of chicken, legs pointing down, onto open can so that it supports chicken upright. Place can, with chicken, on grill over indirect heat (and above drip pan). Grill chicken, covered, until cooked through and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of thigh registers 165°F, 45-60 minutes. (If using charcoal, you may need to add more to maintain heat.) Let chicken rest 10 minutes before carving. Serve with pan drippings.
70 min