This barbecue beer-can chicken is a simple way to get tender, moist grilled chicken in just over an hour. And don’t be intimated by the name — beer-can chickens are about as easy as dinner can be.
Barbecue Beer-Can Chicken
- Prep Time 20 min
- Total 1 hr 55 min
- Servings 4
- Ingredients 10
Ingredients
- 1 whole roasting chicken (3 1/2 to 4 lb)
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 4 tablespoons cold butter, cut into tablespoons
- 1 can (12 oz) beer
- 1/2 cup Annie's™ Naturals organic sweet & spicy BBQ sauce (from 12-oz bottle)
Instructions
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Step1Heat gas or charcoal grill for indirect cooking. Remove and discard neck and giblets from chicken cavity. Pat chicken dry with paper towels.
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Step2In small bowl, mix paprika, salt, chili powder, coriander, cumin and pepper. Rub mixture on inside and over outside of chicken, using all of mixture. Carefully loosen skin at top of breast. Place butter evenly under skin of breast, without removing skin.
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Step3Open beer can; with can opener, make several other openings in top. Measure out 2/3 cup beer; discard or reserve for another use. Place half-full can of beer in ungreased shallow 8x8- or 13x9-inch aluminum grill pan. Carefully place chicken cavity over can, pushing until chicken balances in pan.
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Step4Place on grill over medium heat, making sure chicken is balanced. Cover grill; cook 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes or until legs move easily when twisted or lifted and thermometer inserted in thickest part of thigh reads at least 165°F. Brush chicken all over with 1/4 cup of the barbecue sauce. Cook 8 to 12 minutes longer or until skin of chicken is crisp, but not burned.
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Step5With tongs and flat metal spatula, carefully remove chicken and can from pan on grill; place on clean cutting board or serving platter. Carefully remove pan and drippings; let cool, then discard. Let chicken stand 5 to 10 minutes. Twist can to remove from chicken; discard can. Serve carved chicken with remaining 1/4 cup barbecue sauce.
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Step6To bake chicken, place oven rack in lowest position, and heat oven to 375°F. Place prepared chicken on can in lightly sprayed 8-inch square (2-quart) baking dish. Bake 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes or until legs move easily when lifted or twisted and thermometer inserted in thickest part of thigh reads at least 165°F. Brush chicken all over with 1/4 cup of the barbecue sauce. Bake 8 to 12 minutes longer or until skin of chicken is crisp, but not burned. Let chicken stand 5 to 10 minutes. Twist can to remove from chicken; discard can. Serve carved chicken with remaining 1/4 cup barbecue sauce.
Nutrition
520
Calories
30g
Total Fat
47g
Protein
16g
Total Carbohydrate
12g
Sugars
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 1 Serving
- Calories
- 520
- Calories from Fat
- 270
- Total Fat
- 30g
- 46%
- Saturated Fat
- 10g
- 51%
- Trans Fat
- 1g
- Cholesterol
- 165mg
- 56%
- Sodium
- 940mg
- 39%
- Potassium
- 440mg
- 13%
- Total Carbohydrate
- 16g
- 5%
- Dietary Fiber
- 2g
- 9%
- Sugars
- 12g
- Protein
- 47g
% Daily Value*:
- Vitamin A
- 35%
- 35%
- Vitamin C
- 0%
- 0%
- Calcium
- 4%
- 4%
- Iron
- 20%
- 20%
Exchanges:
0 Starch; 0 Fruit; 1 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Skim Milk; 0 Low-Fat Milk; 0 Milk; 0 Vegetable; 0 Very Lean Meat; 6 1/2 Lean Meat; 0 High-Fat Meat; 2 Fat;Carbohydrate Choice
1Tips from the Betty Crocker Kitchens
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