BBQ Beer Can Chicken Recipe (healthy)

I found this BBQ Beer Can Chicken recipe back in 2003 when it went through a surge of popularity and I haven't seen it around for a while, until I decided to make it again. There seems to be a resurrection. It's also a really healthy beer can chicken, as all the fat drips off the chicken into the pan. If you are looking for easy and healthy and delicious chicken dinner recipes for Father's Day, this is the one!

For reasons I cannot explain, sticking a ½ can of beer up the butt of a chicken makes it super tender and juicy and totally awesome!

My Dad is a great BBQ'er - not sure if that's even a word. Either way, he makes the best BBQ chicken I have ever tasted. He says his secret is lots of BBQ sauce. Maybe that's why this beer can chicken recipe is sooo good too. It has an AMAZING Molasses BBQ sauce! BBQ chicken is obviously one of my faves and this easy, Weight Watchers Friendly Barbecue Beer Can Chicken recipe, also known as beer butt chicken, is no exception.

🥘 Ingredients

If you want to make this healthy beer can chicken recipe, you're going to need the following ingredients:

For chicken

• Beer * I use light beer, generally Coors light
• whole chicken (roaster)

For Molasses Beer BBQ sauce:

• chili sauce
• molasses
• light beer
• Dijon mustard
• chili powder
• Louisiana hot sauce
• Lemon juice
• liquid smoke

🔪Instructions

How to BBQ whole beer can chicken:

Making BBQ beer can chicken is actually quite simple and uses indirect heat:

1. Heat grill to medium.
2. Open can of beer with can opener, pour half of the beer into a container and reserve.
3. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels.
4. Then place whole chicken onto the top of the can and push can into the chicken cavity as shown. 

5. Place chicken upright in a deep aluminum roaster pan and place onto gas grill. Close BBQ lid and cook for 45 minutes.
6. Combine all BBQ sauce ingredients in sauce pan, then baste generously on outside of the chicken. 
7. Allow chicken to cook for remaining 45 minutes.
8. Meanwhile, simmer the remaining BBQ sauce for 20 minutes, until reduced by half the volume.
9. Remove chicken from grill and slice. Serve chicken with remaining BBQ sauce, as desired.

*Note: You'll need to keep the grill going for up to 1.5 hrs so make sure you have extra propane or are filled up (if you are using propane gas).

**Note: Your grill will need to be high enough that it can close over a whole upright chicken and test it before you light it

💭Best Beer for Beer Can Chicken

I really don't think the kind of beer you use makes that much of a difference. I tried different types and brands of beers and they all taste great! You don't need fancy beer and I do not recommend using a craft beer. However, if you want to keep it lighter, healthy and WW friendly (because you're also using it in the sauce) then you'll want to use light beer for this recipe. I usually use Coors light for this recipe.

🥗 Side dishes (WW friendly)

• 5 Minute Easy Bean Salad                                               
• Healthy Classic Potato Salad (shown)
• Skinny Coleslaw Recipe
• Healthy Mexican Street Corn (Elote)
• Quick Cucumber Kimchi

💭Top Tip

The best way to check for doneness is by internal temperature, with an instant read meat thermometer (affiliate link). I have one of these thermometers and I lover it! I use it on everything from pie to meat to bread! Chicken should be cooked to 165 degrees f (74 degrees celcius)

🍽 Equipment

You're also going to need some kind of holder for the chicken on the beer can. I use a large aluminum roasting pan as a drip pan and balance the chicken on top of the beer can (as shown in photo above). It's make-shift and can get a bit wobbly, but I make it work. However, you can buy beer can chicken stands. I prefer the beer can roasting chicken holders that come with the roaster. (affiliate link) and I'd buy this one if I was going to purchase one.

👪 Serving Size

This recipe makes 6 servings. However, you can double or triple the recipe. if you have a big crowd, by clicking on the blue serving number and selecting the number of servings you'd like. The ingredient quantities will automatically adjust. I often make 2 chickens at once (we like leftovers), as you can see in the photos.

🔢WW Points

I get chicken as a 0 point food, so with the BBQ sauce points (about 3 points per 2 tbsp) on my plan, so it's 6 points, if I average I get 4 tbsp. Plug the recipe into the recipe builder on your app to see how much they are on your plan.

🌡️Storage

Store leftover chicken in an airtight container for up to 4 days in the fridge. Store the extra BBQ sauce and chicken in separate containers.

🦺Food Safety

• Cook chicken to 165 degrees F/ 74 degrees C
• Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
• Wash hands after touching raw meat
• Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
• Never leave cooking food unattended
• Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
• Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove

So, make this BBQ beer can chicken for Father's Day or anytime you are looking for a grilled chicken recipe. It's sure to become a family favorite!

And if you 're looking for additional healthy BBQ ideas or Weight Watchers grill recipes, check out these grilling recipes:

• Maple Cider Grilled Chicken Kabobs (shown below)
• Marinated Grilled Maple Lemon Pork
• Grilled Glazed Maple Cranberry Chicken (with Cranberry Salsa)
• Grilled Steak Salad with Feta and Clamato Dressing (Moxie's Copycat)

⭐ Reviews

Did you make this Beer Can Chicken recipe? If you loved it, please leave a 5 star rating and a comment below!

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5 from 8 votes

📋 BBQ Beer Can Chicken Recipe

This BBQ Beer Can Chicken recipe (also known as beer butt chicken) with Molasses Beer BBQ sauce is moist and juicy, making it the perfect Father's Day dinner. It's also Weight Watchers friendly!

Course dinner, main

Cuisine North American

Keyword barbecue, bbq, beer, beer can, chicken

Special Diet Weight Watchers

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 1 hour 30 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 40 minutes

Servings 6 people

Calories 470kcal

Author adapted from Weight Watchers Magazine, 2003

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Equipment

• bbq

Ingredients

• 1 can beer I use light beer
• 1 whole chicken (roaster)
• Molasses & Beer BBQ sauce (see recipe below)

Molasses & Beer BBQ sauce:

• 1 ¼ cup chili sauce
• ¾ cup molasses
• ¾ cup light beer
• 2 tablespoon dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1 tablespoon Louisiana hot sauce
• 1 ¼ tablespoon lemon juice
• ½ tablespoon liquid smoke

Instructions

• Heat grill to medium heat.
• Open can of beer with can opener, pour half the beer into a container and reserve. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels.
  
• Then place whole chicken onto can and push can into the cavity of the chicken as shown. 
• Place chicken upright in a deep aluminum roaster pan and place onto grill. Close BBQ lid and cook for 45 minutes
• Combine all BBQ sauce  ingredients in sauce pan, the baste generously on chicken. 
  
• Allow chicken to cook for remaining 45 minutes.
• Meanwhile, simmer the remaining BBQ sauce for 20 minutes, until reduced by half the volume.
• Remove chicken from BBQ and slice. Serve chicken with remaining BBQ sauce, as desired.

Notes

*Note: Cooking Time: You'll need to keep the grill going for up to 1.5 hrs so make sure you have extra propane or are filled up

**Note: Grill height: Your grill will need to be high enough that the lid can close over an upright chicken and test it before you light it

Nutrition Facts

📋 BBQ Beer Can Chicken Recipe

Amount Per Serving

Calories 470 Calories from Fat 144

% Daily Value*

Fat 16g25%

Saturated Fat 4g25%

Cholesterol 80mg27%

Sodium 723mg31%

Potassium 857mg24%

Carbohydrates 57g19%

Sugar 55g61%

Protein 20g40%

Vitamin A 545IU11%

Vitamin C 4.5mg5%

Calcium 105mg11%

Iron 3.3mg18%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

*** It is very difficult to get a nutritional analysis with this recipe. This nutritional analysis was assumes that you use ALL the BBQ sauce and that it stays on the chicken. (My family only used about ⅓ of it for 4 of us and much bakes off in a 1.5 hr cooking period) The calorie count and fat content per portion is reduced by using less BBQ sauce as well. I would prefer not to use a nutritional analysis on this recipe, but google requires it if you want to show up in searches.

***** In terms of WW points, I calculate it like a regular BBQ sauce (most seem to be 3 WW points for 2 tbsp) depending on how much you use, as chicken is 0 points on my program, therefore I count 6 WW points per serving, assuming I consume about 4 tablespoon of Barbecue sauce.

Nutrition

Calories: 470kcal | Carbohydrates: 57g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 80mg | Sodium: 723mg | Potassium: 857mg | Sugar: 55g | Vitamin A: 545IU | Vitamin C: 4.5mg | Calcium: 105mg | Iron: 3.3mg

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