Hey Smokers, and welcome to my post where we will run through my recipe and cooking guide for Traeger beer can chicken. As you may or may not know, this site is all about cooking on my Traeger Pro Series 22 Pellet Smoker and seeing where we can take things – and today, we are going to insert a beer can into a chicken and see what happens.
Not much more to say here really – so let’s see how it goes…
Traeger Beer Can Chicken: What You’ll Need
Ok, so below is what I used to do my beer can chicken on the Traeger pellet smoker:
Ingredients
- 1 whole chicken (4–5lb/1.8-2.2kg)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 cup of your favorite chicken rub (I used some spicy chicken rub myself)
- 1 can of your favorite cooking beer (is that thing? anyway, I used a delicious IPA)
Equipment
- Pellet smoker
- Meat thermometer
- Drip pan
- Beer can chicken holder (optional)
The Cooking Process
This is what I did and when…
1. Preparation
- Preheat the Smoker:
- Preheat your pellet smoker to 350°F/176°C using your preferred wood pellets (I had Hickory pellets for this one).
- Prepare the Chicken:
- Pat the chicken dry with paper towels.
- Rub olive oil all over the chicken then do the same for the rub, covering the entire chicken, including inside the cavity.
- Prepare the Beer Can:
- Open the beer and pour out (or drink!) about half.
- Place the beer can on a stable surface or in a beer can chicken holder.
- Mount the Chicken:
- Carefully lower the chicken onto the beer can so it sits upright. Adjust to ensure the chicken is stable.
2. Cooking
- Place the Chicken in the Smoker:
- Position the chicken, standing upright, on the smoker grates over a drip pan to catch the juices.
- Cook the Chicken:
- Close the smoker lid and cook for about 1.5–2 hours, or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F/74°C in the thickest part of the breast and 175°F/80°C in the thighs.
3. Finishing
- Rest the Chicken:
- Once done, carefully remove the chicken from the smoker (Use tongs or heat-resistant gloves, as the beer can will be hot).
- Let the chicken rest for 10–15 minutes before carving. This helps retain the juices.
- Carve and Serve:
- Remove the beer can and carve the chicken. Serve with your favorite sides, such as roasted vegetables, coleslaw, or smoked potatoes.
My Results
So, so let’s start with the chicken itself. As always when I cook chicken I watched the temperature like a hawk as I wanted to make sure it was not only undercooked, but didn’t dry out either. So with that in mind, I took it from the smoker right on temperature and the result was a fantastically moist and tasty outcome. The skin was crispy and meat juicy.
I could taste the smoke a little (I still think the skin deflects some of it) and there was a tiny smoke ring. I did however wonder about the beer can. I could not taste any beer type flavor and the can still had plenty of beer in it at the end. I assumed it was designed then to keep the chicken moist (I didn’t wet brine in this instance).
I did some research on beer can chicken which I will leave with you to make your own assumptions. My point here is that a chicken on the smoker is well worth the effort – whether you include the beer can or not.
Tips and Variations
- Beer Alternatives: Substitute the beer with soda, cider, or broth for different flavor profiles (or to see if they do actually adjust the flavor at all).
- Marinade Option: Marinate the chicken overnight in your favorite brine for extra flavor and moisture.
- Watch for Dryness: Chicken can dry out very quickly so use a meat thermometer to periodically check the temperature, ensuring the chicken doesn’t overcook.
- Watch for Fire: Chicken is quite oily and releases a lot of juices when cooked which can be a fire hazard in smokers. I highly recommend using a drip tray as well as cleaning and degreasing your smoker before cooking any type of chicken on a smoker.
Conclusion
So there you have it, my recipe and cooking guide for some smoked beer can chicken. I hope it has been of assistance but as usual, if you have any questions please do not hesitate to reach out by commenting below. I would also love to hear of your own experiences, preferences or suggestions here as well.
Are there any other products you have been looking at but want to know more about? If so, please comment below and I will do my best to get some details for you.
Until next time
Have fun and get smoking!
Paul
How I Turned My Smoking Passion Into A Full Time Income
Hey there! I’m Paul, and like you, I started as a BBQ beginner with just a Traeger and a dream. Now I’m helping others turn their smoking passion into a sustainable online business.
