Recipe Blog - Feature - Memphis Style Beer Can Chicken

Memphis Style BBQ Beer Can Chicken Recipe

By: Andrea Alden

It’s high summer and you’re craving a taste of authentic barbecue flavor. Well, this super easy Memphis Style BBQ Beer Can Chicken recipe will satisfy and then some. Farmway Foods of Ontario was generous enough to provide a whole chicken and I just knew it needed to be cooked with a bang! In this recipe, you will learn how to make BBQ Beer Can Chicken and enjoy the big tastes of summer without losing time to crazy big or intricate meals. This recipe is relatively set-and-forget while yielding results that the whole family will love.

Prep Time
15 min
Cook Time
120 min
Yield
4 to 6
Difficulty
Easy

Memphis Style BBQ Beer Can Chicken Recipe

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Ingredients

Method

Photos

Ingredients

5 to 6 lbs.

Farmway Foods whole roasting chicken

¼ cup 

Dijon mustard

1½ cups

beer *See Note at Bottom

2 cups 

chicken stock


Rub:

1 tbsp.

kosher salt

¼ cup

brown sugar

2 tbsp.

paprika

2 tsp.

garlic powder

2 tsp.

cumin

2 tsp.

cayenne powder

Method
  1. Defrost the chicken overnight in the refrigerator. 
  2. Before beginning, place a tray or drip pan under where your chicken will go. Fill with chicken stock and replace the cooking grids. For this recipe, we will be using the indirect method of grilling. Turn on two of the outside burners, leaving the one or two in the middle off. Preheat the grill to around 300°F.  
  3. While the grill is preheating, mix all of the rub ingredients in a bowl. Pat the chicken dry with paper towel. Brush the chicken with the mustard and season well, inside and out, with the rub.
  4. Pour up to 1½ cups of beer into the beer can chicken roaster and carefully place the chicken over top. Insert a digital BBQ thermometer into the thigh meat, ensuring that you don’t hit bone. Using the convenient handle move the chicken to the grill, place it over the drip pan, remove the handle from the chicken roaster, and close the lid. 
  5. Set the BBQ thermometer to go off when the chicken reaches 157°F to 160°F and let it cook. It will take between 45 minutes and 2 hours depending on the weather and temperature outside. 
  6. Once the chicken reaches temperature, remove it from the grill and allow it to rest for at least 5 to 10 minutes before carefully removing it from the beer can roaster and slicing for serving. 
  7. Use the drippings in the drip pan to make gravy by melting some butter in a saucepan over low heat and adding the equivalent in flour. Cook for a minute then slowly drizzle in the drippings, whisking each time until used up. Add one to two tablespoons of chicken n’ rib BBQ sauce and a splash of leftover beer.  

PRO TIP: Get extra bonus flavor points – Soak wood chips in extra beer and then load the Napoleon Smoker Pipe or Smoker Box and place onto the sear plates over one of the burners you plan on lighting before turning on the grill. Suggested would be whiskey barrel chips, applewood chips, cherrywood chips, or brandy barrel chips.

NOTES: A good beer to pair with the meal will also go well in preparing it. We recommend Fireside from Memphis Made Beers for its malty and roasty flavors – a perfect Memphis beer for Memphis-Style Barbecue.

Beau’s Lug Tread is a Kolsch style ale that is citrusy, hoppy, and malty. It would pair nicely with barbecued chicken both in eating and cooking.

Canuck Pale Ale is a great Canadian amber ale that is refreshing and citrusy as well. Medium-bodied and slightly bitter, it’s the perfect pairing for this recipe both for drinking and cooking.

Anyone of these three beers will be ideal in this meal. 

This Memphis Style BBQ Beer Can Chicken recipe is just easy. Pair it with potato salad, mashed potatoes, seasonal greens, and your other favorite sides for a feast that fills your BBQ flights of fancy. What’s your favorite backyard barbecue feast? Tell us on our social pages like Facebook or Instagram by sharing your recipes and photos with the hashtags #NapoleonEats, #BeerCanChicken, and #NapoleonGrill.

Happy Grilling!

Recipe Blog - Memphis Style Beer Can Chicken - Ingredients

Gather your ingredients

Recipe Blog - Memphis Style Beer Can Chicken - Mustard

Brush the chicken with mustard before seasoning

Recipe Blog - Memphis Style Beer Can Chicken - BeerCan

Insert the beer can chicken roaster into the chicken

Recipe Blog - Memphis Style Beer Can Chicken - Grill1

Place the chicken roaster over the drip pan and grill-roast for up to 2 hours

Recipe Blog - Memphis Style Beer Can Chicken - Grill2

It's nearly done

Recipe Blog - Memphis Style Beer Can Chicken - Serve1

Serve with your favorite seasonal sides

Recipe Blog - Memphis Style Beer Can Chicken - Serve2

Corn on the cob is a great side for this

Recipe Blog - Memphis Style Beer Can Chicken - Serve3

Try roasted potatoes too

AndreaAlden
Andrea Alden

I used to be the Sultana of Sizzle, but you can call me Andrea. I have always been passionate about food. Even though I was majoring in Art and Graphic Design, I would frequently be found cooking for my friends and family.

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Recipe Blog - Memphis Style Beer Can Chicken - Ingredients

Gather your ingredients

Recipe Blog - Memphis Style Beer Can Chicken - Mustard

Brush the chicken with mustard before seasoning

Recipe Blog - Memphis Style Beer Can Chicken - BeerCan

Insert the beer can chicken roaster into the chicken

Recipe Blog - Memphis Style Beer Can Chicken - Grill1

Place the chicken roaster over the drip pan and grill-roast for up to 2 hours

Recipe Blog - Memphis Style Beer Can Chicken - Grill2

It's nearly done

Recipe Blog - Memphis Style Beer Can Chicken - Serve1

Serve with your favorite seasonal sides

Recipe Blog - Memphis Style Beer Can Chicken - Serve2

Corn on the cob is a great side for this

Recipe Blog - Memphis Style Beer Can Chicken - Serve3

Try roasted potatoes too