Best Beer Can Chicken Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 cups cherry wood chips
• cup dark brown sugar
• cup salt
• cup paprika
• cup ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 2 (12 fluid ounce) cans beer, half full
• 2 (3-pound) whole chickens
• cup vegetable oil

Directions

1. Soak the wood chips in water for at least 1 hour.
2. Preheat your outdoor grill for indirect medium heat, aiming for about 350F (175C).
3. In a small bowl, combine the dark brown sugar, salt, paprika, black pepper, and cayenne pepper.
4. Place the beer cans on a baking sheet. Spoon 1 teaspoon of the seasoning mix into each can. Be cautious as this will cause the beer to foam up and spill over.
5. Rub each chicken with 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil. Then, rub the remaining seasoning mix over the entire chicken, both inside and out.
6. Place each chicken upright over 1 beer can, ensuring it stands steady.
7. Drain the wood chips and place them with the coals, in an aluminum pan, or under the grill grate according to the manufacturer's instructions.
8. Position the cans with the chickens directly on the grill. Close the lid and cook the chickens until no longer pink, and the juices run clear this should take about 1 hours.
9. Check the internal temperature of the chicken by inserting an instant-read thermometer into the thickest part of the thighs. The temperature should be at least 165F (74C).
10. Remove the chickens from the grill and discard the beer cans.
11. Cover the chickens with a doubled sheet of aluminum foil and let them rest in a warm area for 10 minutes before slicing.

Cook's Note

Check the chickens after 1 hour of grilling. If they start to brown too quickly, loosely cover the tops with aluminum foil and continue cooking with the lid closed.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

• Calories: 627
• Fat: 33g (43% Daily Value)
• Saturated Fat: 8g (42% Daily Value)
• Cholesterol: 205mg (68% Daily Value)
• Sodium: 5856mg (255% Daily Value)
• Total Carbohydrates: 23g (8% Daily Value)
• Dietary Fiber: 4g (13% Daily Value)
• Total Sugars: 14g
• Protein: 53g (106% Daily Value)
• Vitamin C: 7mg (7% Daily Value)
• Calcium: 70mg (5% Daily Value)
• Iron: 6mg (32% Daily Value)
• Potassium: 653mg (14% Daily Value)

Note: The nutrition data includes the full amount of beer, oil, and spice rub ingredients. The actual amount of these ingredients consumed will vary.