Ultimate Smoked Beer Can Chicken Recipe (Juicy & Tender Every Time)

Transform your backyard barbecue with this show-stopping smoked beer can chicken that delivers restaurant-quality results every time. This technique produces incredibly moist, flavorful chicken with crispy, golden skin that will have your guests asking for your secret. The beer not only adds subtle flavor but keeps the bird perfectly upright for even cooking and maximum juiciness. Best of all, this impressive main dish requires just simple ingredients and works beautifully for both intimate family dinners and large gatherings.

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Why This Recipe Works

The magic of beer can chicken lies in the combination of steam, support, and seasoning. The beer creates internal steam that keeps the meat incredibly moist while the upright position allows fat to render down, creating crispy skin. The flavor injection ensures seasoning penetrates deep into the meat, while regular basting builds layers of flavor and maintains that beautiful golden color. This method produces results that surpass traditional roasting or grilling.

Why Is Smoked Beer Butt Chicken So Good?

Smoked Beer-Can Chicken may seem intimidating at first, but after making it once, you’ll wonder why you didn’t try it sooner. Forget roasting or grilling; you won’t find another way to make chicken as moist and flavorful as smoking beer-can chicken in a smoker.

The secret is the beer not only helps steam and flavor the inside of the bird, but the can is a convenient way to keep the chicken upright. 

Ingredients

For the Spice Rub:

• Brown sugar – Creates caramelization and balances the savory spices
• Paprika – Adds color, mild sweetness, and smoky undertones
• Garlic powder – Provides aromatic depth without overpowering
• Coarse salt – Enhances all flavors and helps create crispy skin
• Ground black pepper – Adds gentle heat and aromatic complexity

For the Chicken:

• Whole chicken – Choose a medium-sized bird for best cooking results
• Can of beer – Provides steam, flavor, and structural support during cooking
• Butter – Creates rich basting mixture and helps seasonings penetrate

The Best Smoked Beer Can Chicken Pellet Grill Beers

The beer can is more than just a nifty way to keep the chicken upright; it is a major flavoring component in the recipe. Choose a brand that you enjoy drinking. If you are not a beer person, try substituting a white wine (it comes in a can) or apple or pineapple juice.

Wheat, fruit, and maltier beers are perfect matches for chicken. So, if you are looking for something exceptional, pick up a few Schofferhofer’s Hefeweizen Grapefruit or Culture Keepers Maibock from Creature Comforts Brewing Co..

Avoid anything dark or super hoppy because these types of beers can overpower the chicken’s natural flavor.

What Other Liquids Could You Use if You Don’t Drink Beer? 

Don’t worry if you don’t particularly like the taste of beer. Despite the name, you can definitely make this smoked whole chicken beer can recipe without using anything alcoholic.

Just about any canned drink will do. Soda is a popular alternative, with Dr. Pepper being a favorite.

Necessary Beer Can Chicken Smoker Equipment

• Traeger pellet grill or another smoker
• Traeger Chicken Throne or Beer Can Chicken Holder
• Meat Injector
• Baster Brush
• Meat Thermometer

How to Smoke Beer Can Chicken

1. Remove half the beer from the can and secure the can inside the chicken throne. 
2. Place all the brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a small bowl and whisk the spices well.
3. Remove the giblets from the cavity of the chicken. Pat the chicken dry and pour half the spice rub over the top of it.

4. Rub the seasoning all over the chicken.

5. Place the chicken on the throne.

6. Add the melted butter to the remaining dry rub and stir well.
7. Inject the butter/seasoning mixture into both shoulder areas of the chicken until it plumps up each side.

8. Place the chicken in the smoker on the grill grates.

9. Baste it with the leftover butter/seasoning mixture.

10. Smoke for 2½ hours or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F in the breast and 175°F in the thigh.
11. Baste periodically, about every hour, or until you’re out of the baste.
12. Remove the chicken from the smoker.
13. Allow the chicken to rest for about 10 minutes before slicing.

Recipe Notes

• You can use another rub if desired. My homemade one is perfect for smoked chicken.
• You can smoke more than one of these chickens at a time. Just make sure you do not overcrowd your smoker.
• You can skip injecting if you don’t have an injector or aren’t confident with that step. It will still turn out with amazing flavor—not as amazing as if you injected it, but definitely still tasty.

Tips for Preparing Smoked Beer Can Chicken

• Don’t skip using the flavor injector. If you don’t have one, you can pick one up for under 20 dollars at a kitchen store. It’s well worth the price.
• Use plenty of the smoked beer can chicken marinade to baste the chicken while smoking. The butter-based marinade not only adds flavor and keeps the skin from drying out, but it also gives the chicken a beautiful golden color.
• Check the temperature. No one wants to eat uncooked chicken, and the cooking time may differ significantly based on several factors. Ensure the chicken is at least 165°F in the breast and 175°F in the thigh.

What Are the Best Wood Chips for Beer Can Chicken for an electric smoker?

If you are new to using wood pellets or smoking, here are a few guidelines for selecting the best hardwood pellets to use in this recipe: 

• Premium pellets don’t contain bark, fillers, or added flavorings. They may be a few bucks more, but they’re worth the additional cost.
• Applewood pellets give the meat a mild, smoky sweetness that may not pair the best with chicken.
• Maple pellets are smoky with a distinct flavor that pairs well with all kinds of meat, including chicken. Good maple pellets aren’t cheap, but they are a fantastic choice.
• Hickory pellets are strong and smoky. They can easily overpower chicken, but if you love a strong flavor, you may want to experiment with them.
• Mesquite pellets give the meat that classic Texas-style BBQ flavor. These hardwood pellets are a good option for those who can’t get enough of that smoky goodness.
• Pecan pellets work well with chicken, especially if you want to add a slight nuttiness with spicy undertones. 

Should You Brine the Chicken Before Cooking It on a Pellet Grill?

Cooking a beer-can chicken in a smoker already produces a tender, juicy bird, but you can certainly brine it if you want. Use your favorite brine or a beer brine to infuse even more flavor. Plenty of brine recipes are online if you don’t already have one you like.

What to Serve with Beer Can Smoked Chicken

Serve with an ice-cold beer or tasty cocktail and your favorite barbecue sides. Potato salad, cornbread, beans, and greens are all perfect accompaniments. Here are some favorites:

• Beer Margarita
• Olive Garden Salad
• Red Potatoes
• Steamed Green Beans
• Texas Roadhouse Rolls

Favorite Grilled, Roasted, and Smoked Meat Recipes

• Big Mouth Burger
• Boneless Pork Tenderloin
• Chinese BBQ Ribs
• Chipotle Barbacoa
• Oven Baked Chuck Roast Recipe
• Shish Kebab
• Smoked Steak

Check out my easy chicken recipes and the best recipes for dinner here on CopyKat!