Beer Can Chicken Recipe | Smoking Chicken With Beer (2024)

FAQs

What kind of beer is best for beer chicken? ›

Quick Answer: The ideal beer for making beer can chicken is undoubtedly a lager. Its light and refreshing profile complements the chicken without overwhelming its natural flavors. Lagers are celebrated for being light, crisp and having wide appeal, making them the top pick for this cooking method.

Fill it halfway with chicken stock, wine, or any mix of liquid and herbs and spices. You might try also try using a combination of a healthy scoop of our Beer-Can Chicken Rub and a bit of water or wine, which will enhance the flavor of the rub you've already put on the bird's flesh.

Place the beer can inside a metal 9x13-inch baking pan. Lower the chicken leg-side down onto the beer until it is securely propped upright.

Craft beer can chicken is one of the simplest recipes I know and it packs a lot of flavor, especially if you are using a floral IPA. This isn't your typical dry, bland chicken breast! The flavor of the beer enhances the spice rub, leaving you with a tender, moist bird with perfectly crisp skin.

Add the beer. A can of Coors Light fit the bill, but you can use any type of beer for this recipe. I positioned the chicken end on the beer can (held by a wire foundation). Get grilling.

Meathead Goldwyn, founder of AmazingRibs.com, debunked myths about the beer contributing moisture or flavor, arguing that the brew never gets hot enough to truly steam the meat. Meathead calls the bird nothing more than a giant “chicken coozie,” since the inside of the can isn't getting much hotter than 130 degrees.

Slide the chicken to the edge of the board so that the can is directly over the sink, but the bulk of the chicken is still over the board. Hold the chicken with a fork and a pair of tongs, carefully pull the can out of the chicken and place in the sink.

Sure, you can make this without beer. Try these ideas. Soda: Substitute a half-full can of soda such as cola, lemon-lime, or ginger ale for the beer. Alcoholic or non-alcoholic cider or juice.

What kind of beer is best for beer batter chicken? ›

Most are fair game for beer batter (Pilsner Urquell, Stella Artois, Modelo, and Firestone Pivo Pils are particularly nice), with the exception of Bohemian pilsner, which comes with a heavy dose of spices that can change the overall flavor of your dish. In a beer batter, pilsner is one of the more low-key options.

This time around I took a cue from Steven Raichlen and tried it out with cola, Dr Pepper (my favorite cola) to be exact, which resulted in a subtly sweet and spicy bird that easily held its own against those made with beer.

Following the rule of having light colored beers with light colored meat, the best choice of craft beer to pair with roasted chicken would obviously be a lighter drink. Both Golden Lagers and Blondes would prove to be an excellent choice.

Most are fair game for beer batter (Pilsner Urquell, Stella Artois, Modelo, and Firestone Pivo Pils are particularly nice), with the exception of Bohemian pilsner, which comes with a heavy dose of spices that can change the overall flavor of your dish. In a beer batter, pilsner is one of the more low-key options.

Following the rule of having light colored beers with light colored meat, the best choice of craft beer to pair with roasted chicken would obviously be a lighter drink. Both Golden Lagers and Blondes would prove to be an excellent choice.

For a robust meat, such as beef, lamb or venison, go with an equally robust, full-bodied brew—stout, porter, or a dark ale. For more delicately flavored or lighter foods, like poultry, pork and seafood, opt for something less full-bodied.