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four pieces of roasted chicken on a wood cutting board.
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Smoked Beer Can Chicken

Smoked Beer Can Chicken is an easy way to roast a whole chicken on the grill. The beer keeps the inside of the chicken moist while wood chips give the chicken a nice smokey flavor.
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Diet Low Lactose
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Marinate Time 30 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 40 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 547kcal
Author Katie

Equipment

  • 1 Grill
  • 1 Wood Chips

Ingredients

  • 4 pounds Whole Chicken
  • ¼ cup Tequila Lime Marinade
  • 16 ounce Can of Beer
  • 2 tablespoons Cilantro minced
  • 1 Lime cut into wedges

Instructions

  • Marinate the whole chicken for at least 30 minutes in the Tequila Lime marinade.
  • While the chicken marinades, soak the wood chips or hickory wood blocks for at least a half hour. Then, place the drained wood chips in a disposable foil container. Wrap tightly with foil and poke a few holes on the top.
  • Preheat the grill to 500 degrees Fahrenheit 10 minutes before you are about to start cooking the chicken. Place the wood chip "box" directly on the heat of the grill.
  • Before placing the whole chicken on the grill, turn off one side of the burners and lower the other side to medium flame (if cooking on a gas grill). You will cook the chicken not directly over the heat source–in indirect heat.
  • Place the beer in the beer can chicken roaster and then place the chicken over the roaster. Carefully, transfer to the grill on the indirect heat side. Cook for 2 hours or until the thickest part of the chicken reads 165 degrees Fahrenheit with an instant read thermometer.
  • Once the chicken is done carefully remove it off the grill and remove beer can from chicken cavity. Let the chicken rest for a few minutes. Slice it into 6 parts. Then baste with additional sauce. Sprinkle chopped cilantro over it and serve with lime wedges.

Notes

  • Marinate - For a more intense flavor you can marinate the chicken up to 24 hours prior to cooking.
  • Wood Chips - You can use hickory,
  • Beer Can - The extra large Fosters beer cans work best especially if you don't have a beer can chicken holder. Light beer such as an lager works best for this recipe. The alcohol in the beer burns off, so no one will get drunk on this chicken.
  • Gluten Free - Make this recipe gluten free by using a gluten free beer such as a cider.
  • Smoker Instructions - Turn on smoker according to manufacturer’s instructions and set to 225 degrees F. Follow marinating instructions. Place whole chicken on top of large beer can and then cook for 1.5 hours. Then increase the smoker temperature to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and smoke for 1- 1 hour 30 minutes. Baste a few times with the marinade. Remove once the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Follow the resting and cutting instructions as above.
  • Tequila Lime Marinade - Combine a half cup of tequila, 1 cup lime juice, ½ cup orange juice, 1 tablespoon chili powder, ¼ cup cilantro, (optional) 1 jalapeno pepper with seeds removed, 2 cloves garlic minced, 1 teaspoon salt, and a ½ teaspoon black pepper in a high powered blender or food processor. Blend for 30 seconds or until well combined, then pour over ¾ of the marinade over the chicken. Reserve the additional marinade for basting and finishing the chicken.
*This recipe was tested and created on a gas grill.

Nutrition

Serving: 12ounces | Calories: 547kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 42g | Fat: 33g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 163mg | Sodium: 437mg | Potassium: 468mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 327IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 34mg | Iron: 2mg