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a smoked hard cider beer can chicken on a beer can stand resting on a wooden cutting board
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4.29 from 14 votes

Hard Cider Smoked Beer Can Chicken

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.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time6 hours
Total Time6 hours 10 minutes
Course: Dinner, Entree, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Servings: 8
Calories: 373kcal

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

Calories: 373kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 102mg | Sodium: 97mg | Potassium: 257mg | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 191IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 15mg | Iron: 1mg