BBQ Beer Butt Chicken

I found this BBQ Beer Butt Chicken recipe (also known as Beer Can Chicken) 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, juicy (with a crispy skin) and totally awesome! This beer butt chicken recipe is popular in the summer during grilling season.

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 (concentrate)
• liquid smoke

*see recipe card for quantities

📖Variations and Substitutions

• Chili sauce- you can use ketchup mixed with cayenne powder and here are some more of the best chili sauce substitutes
• Lemon juice - you can use fresh lemon juice instead, but you'll need to double the amount
• Dry rub - you can use your favorite rub with this recipe, if you prefer (rub it on before placing on the grill)

🔪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 (butt of the chicken) as shown (or use a beer can chicken holder - see equipment).

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 saucepan then baste generously on the outside of the chicken. 
7. Allow chicken to cook for the 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. The result is a flavorful and juicy chicken!

*Note: For this method of cooking chicken, 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: Total cooking time will vary, depending on the size of your chicken. You'll need to check for doneness with a meat thermometer.

***Note: Your grill will need to be high/tall 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. However, you can use a can of your favorite beer, if you prefer.

🥗 What to serve with beer can chicken

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

💭Top Tip

The best way to check for doneness is by internal temperature, with an instant-read thermometer (affiliate link) inserted into the thickest part of the thigh. I have one of these thermometers and I love it! I use it on everything from pie to meat to bread! Beer butt chicken on the grill should be cooked to 165 degrees f (74 degrees Celcius)

• But it's more than just a meat thermometer! I use my Thermapen for everything from baking pie and bread to eggs, casseroles, candy making and more!
• This amazing little tool instantly and accurately measures temperature with a quick poke. And it's not just for the grill, it's the go-to kitchen instrument trusted by the world's most acclaimed chefs and BBQ champions (it's one of Alton Brown's 'favorite things')!
• And it comes with a handy little chart that gives you chef-recommended temperatures, as well as the minimum done temps for food safety. 

🍽 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. and I'd buy this one if I was going to purchase one. BBQ mitts (affiliate links) are also handy to have on hand!

👪 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

This chicken with BBq sauce is 6 ww points, if you eat breast and calculate accordingly if you eat another part of the chicken (especially the chicken skin).

🌡️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. This juicy chicken recipe is sure to become a family favorite!

📋 BBQ Beer Can Chicken Recipe

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

5 from 8 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: dinner, main

Cuisine: North American

Keyword: barbecue, bbq, beer, beer can, chicken

Special Diet: Weight Watchers

Servings: 6 people

Calories: 470kcal

Author: Terri Gilson

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour hour 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour 40 minutes minutes

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Equipment

beer can chicken holder

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

US Customary - Metric

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. **Note: Total cooking time will vary, depending on the size of your chicken. You should use an instant read thermometer to ensure doneness of chicken (see Top tip)
• 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 (24%) | Carbohydrates: 57g (19%) | Protein: 20g (40%) | Fat: 16g (25%) | Saturated Fat: 4g (25%) | Cholesterol: 80mg (27%) | Sodium: 723mg (31%) | Potassium: 857mg (24%) | Sugar: 55g (61%) | Vitamin A: 545IU (11%) | Vitamin C: 4.5mg (5%) | Calcium: 105mg (11%) | Iron: 3.3mg (18%)

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