Smoked Beer Can Chicken

Perfectly seasoned and fall-off-the-bone tender made fun. Give your taste buds the experience of a lifetime with this super-easy party centerpiece, even if it's not a holiday.

Course Main Course

Cuisine dinner

Diet Gluten Free

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 2 30

Resting Time 10

Total Time 2 55

Servings

Calories 640kcal

Author Imma

Equipment

1 smoker

Ingredients

1 5-pound (2-3k) whole chicken, bone-in and skin-on
salt to taste
1-2 teaspoons (2-4g) bouillon powder (optional)
2 teaspoons (10g) minced garlic minced
2 tablespoons (14g) onion powder (or granulated onion)
2 tablespoons (5-6g) thyme (or oregano or basil)
1 tablespoon (7g) paprika
1 teaspoon (2g) white pepper
1 can beer, your preference
oil for basting

Instructions

In a small bowl, combine spices.
Remove the giblets from the chicken and reserve them for gravy. Rinse the chicken thoroughly, both inside and out, then pat it dry with paper towels.
Season it inside and out with salt. Then, generously rub the chicken with the spice combination and refrigerate until ready to cook.
Open the beer can and pour half of it out into a glass for yourself. Place a sprig of thyme into the half-full beer can if desired.
Place the beer can on a solid surface. Then, gently place the whole chicken over the beer can with the chicken in the upright position.
Transfer the chicken and beer can into the smoker. Then, use the chicken legs to support its body, allowing it to act like a tripod and preventing it from falling over.
Close the lid and smoke the chicken over medium-high heat until cooked through. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh will register 165°F (74℃) in the breast and 180°F (85℃) in the thigh.
Carefully lift the chicken off the beer can while someone holds it. You may want to gloves for this. Place chicken on a platter or carving board. Let it sit for 10 minutes before carving. Discard the beer.

Notes

Season the chicken, covering every inch inside and out with your favorite blend
You never know what can happen inside the smoker. So, in case the chicken falls over, having heatproof gloves is a good idea so you can put it back in position
You can replace the beer with an alcohol-free version, white wine, or ginger ale (or another beverage)
Please remember that the nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary significantly based on the products used in the recipe

Nutrition