Best Beer Can Chicken

In this best beer can chicken recipe, chicken is seasoned with a sweet and spicy brown sugar-paprika rub and grilled over wood chips for smoky flavor.

• Preparation Time: 25 mins
• Cooking Time: 1 hr 30 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 55 mins
• Calories: 627 Calories

Ingredients

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

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Soak wood chips in water for at least 1 hour.

Step 2

Preheat an outdoor grill for indirect medium heat, about 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Step 3

Combine sugar, salt, paprika, black pepper, and cayenne pepper in a small bowl. Place beer cans on a baking sheet. Spoon 1 teaspoon seasoning mix into each can. Be careful, this will make beer foam up and out of the can.

Step 4

Rub each chicken with 2 tablespoons oil. Rub remaining seasoning mix over entire chickens, inside and out. Place each chicken upright over 1 beer can.

Step 5

Drain wood chips; place with coals, in an aluminum pan, or under the grill grate according to manufacturer's instructions.

Step 6

Place cans with chicken directly on the grill. Close the lid and grill chicken until no longer pink, and juices run clear, about 1 ½ hours. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of thighs should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).

Step 7

Remove chickens from the grill; discard the beer cans. Cover chickens with a doubled sheet of aluminum foil; rest in a warm area before slicing, 10 minutes.