.Hard cider smoked beer can chicken gives the grill a rest and gets the smoker back in action to make the best chicken we’ve ever had. Every bite is infused with sweet, smoky goodness that makes it a darn good dinner and perfect for a crowd at barbecues and game days.
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Virginia summers go from hot to devil’s inferno real fast.
When it gets too steamy to think straight, I don’t want to cook on my stove or in my oven and my hubs can’t stand to fire up the grill and stand near the extra heat.
So we end up using our smoker a lot.
One of the best things we’ve ever smoked is definitely this chicken.
Ingredients
You only need three ingredients for this beer can chicken:
- Chicken– A 4-5 pound whole roaster.
- Chicken Marinade–The kind that comes in a packet. Prepare it according to the directions on the package.
- Hard apple cider– A 12 ounce can of your favorite kind. We like Bold Rock, a native Virginia Brand, but you can use whatever variety you prefer.
How to Make
This is so easy to make!
Just, prep the bird by removing all the innards.
Then, rinse the chicken thoroughly, and pat it dry.
Once it’s rinsed and dried, rub the bird down with the prepared marinade.
Pop the top on your can of beer, and pour 1/4 – 1/2 of the hard cider out.
Then set the beer into a beer can stand.
Place the stand in a disposable aluminum pans.
Put the bird’s cavity over the beer can until the chicken rests firmly on the base.
Carefully place the pan in a smoker preheated to 225 degrees.
Smoke the chicken for 5-6 hours, or until a meat probe inserted into the thickest part of the breast reads 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
Remove the chicken from the smoker, and let it rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
Enjoy!
How long does it take to smoke beer can chicken?
It depends on the size of the bird.
You need to smoke it until it reaches 160 degrees Fahrenheit in the thickest part of the bird.
How do you get beer can chicken to stand up?
You can use a beer can stand to help with this.
How to Insert the Beer Can
To insert the beer can for maximum stability, hold the bird upright, with the opening of the body cavity at the bottom.
Then, lower the bird onto the can so the cavity fits over the can.
You can arrange the chicken legs to make a tripod of sorts so the bird stays upright.
Can This Be Made Without A Special Beer Can Stand?
Yes, tripoding the chicken legs will help.
It also helps to leave more beer in the can so that it’s a sturdier pedestal.
Lastly, cider cans are also usually taller than a standard beer can making them easier to work with.
Can You Smoke More Than One Chicken At A Time?
Yes!
I tend to do two at a time, because it feeds a crowd and on a normal night makes a dinner for that evening and delicious chicken to use in a variety of ways for other meals.
To do it, simply add both chickens to a 9×13″ aluminum pan.
You may want to stack 3-4 pans together to create a sturdier pan that’s easier to lift in and out of the smoker.
What kind of wood should I use to smoke beer can chicken?
I recommend a blend of hickory and apple wood chips.
Storing Leftovers
This makes excellent leftovers that you can use in so many other meals.
To store leftovers, transfer the chicken into an airtight container and refrigerate it for up to 4 days.
Tips and Tricks
- Make sure to season the chicken very liberally with the rub.
- Use your favorite chicken rub.
- This recipe would also work with beer instead of hard cider.
Other Smoker Recipes
Hard cider smoked beer can chicken is one of our favorite ways to enjoy smoked food. Make it this weekend and enjoy!
Looking for other smoker recipes? Try these:
- Sweet Heat Bacon Wrapped Smoked Chicken Breasts
- Smoked Bologna
- Smoked Jalapeno Cheddar Creamed Corn
- Smoked Chili
- Cherry Coke Smoked Pulled Pork Barbecue Grilled Cheese
- Smoked Pulled Pork Recipe
- Pineapple Barbecue Sauce Smoked Whiskey Bacon Cheeseburgers
- Smoked Brisket
- Smoked Macaroni & Cheese
- Smoked Beer Brats With Caramelized Onions
If you’ve tried this HARD CIDER SMOKED BEER CAN CHICKEN, or any other recipe on my site, let me know in the comment section how it turned out, we love hearing from our readers! You can also follow along with me on PINTEREST, FACEBOOK, and INSTAGRAM to see more amazing recipes and whatever else we’ve got going on!
Hard Cider Smoked Beer Can Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 whole roaster chicken roughly 4-5 lbs
- 1 pkt chicken marinade prepared according to the package directions
- 1 12 fluid oz can hard apple cider
Instructions
- Remove all the innards from the bird. Rinse thoroughly, and pat dry.
- Rub the bird down, liberally, with the prepared marinade.
- Pop the top on your can of beer, and pour 1/4 - 1/2 of the beer out, either into the sink or into a glass to drink. Set the beer into a beer can stand. Place the stand in a disposable aluminum pan.
- Place the bird's cavity over the beer can until the chicken's resting firmly on the base. Carefully place the pan in a smoker preheated to 225 degrees, using a blend of hickory and apple wood chips.
- Smoke 5-6 hours, or until a meat probe inserted into the thickest part of the breast reads 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Remove the chicken from the smoker, and let it rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Make sure to season the chicken very liberally with the rub.
- Use your favorite chicken rub.
- This recipe would also work with beer instead of hard cider.
Nutrition
recipe originally published September 7, 2018
This post may contain affiliate links. As an amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. See my full Disclosure Policy for details.
Life Diet Health says
Ahhh… I’ll have some of that heat over here if you like! I love hot dry days like hubby gets at home (it’s usually around 50c/122f)! Anyway, I think my son would love this (alcohol free cider of course)! but we don’t have a smoker… any other way we could do this? Thanks for sharing at Fiesta Friday this week.