Clay's Grilled Beer Can Chicken

A tasty, slightly smoky homemade spice rub and a half can of beer transform basic chicken into the best grilled beer can chicken you will ever make.

• Preparation Time: 15 mins
• Cooking Time: 60 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins
• Calories: 429 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon onion powder
• 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, or more as needed
• 1 (4 pound) whole chicken, rinsed and dried
• 1.5 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1.5 teaspoons ground cayenne pepper
• 0.5 (12 ounce) can beer (such as Budweiser®)

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat an outdoor grill for medium heat.

Step 2

Add onion powder, salt, smoked paprika, cumin, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, oregano, thyme, and brown sugar to a small resealable plastic bag; shake to combine. Pour spice mixture into a small bowl.

Step 3

Make 2 cuts in chicken skin, 1 on front and 1 on back; loosen skin without tearing by inserting your hand underneath skin. Rub chicken skin and cavity with vegetable oil; rub spice rub over chicken skin, inside cavity, and beneath loosened skin.

Step 4

Place the beer can on the preheated grill; slide chicken onto beer can by the cavity. Grill until chicken is thoroughly browned, the juices run clear, and an instant-read meat thermometer inserted into the breast, not touching bone, reads at least 165 degrees F (75 degrees C), 1 to 1 1/2 hours.