Will a Beer Can Chicken Fit on a Weber Kettle Grill?

Beer can chicken is a popular grilling recipe that involves placing a chicken vertically over an open can of beer. The beer steams and infuses flavor into the chicken as it cooks, resulting in a juicy and delicious finished product. But will a beer can chicken actually fit on a standard Weber kettle grill? I decided to find out.

As an avid griller and Weber kettle owner, I was curious if I could cook beer can chicken on my 22.5 inch grill. I did some research online and found mixed results, with some people saying it was easy and others claiming it didn’t work on the smaller kettle. I wanted to test this out myself and get a definitive answer.

Why Do People Love Beer Can Chicken?

Beer can chicken has grown in popularity over the years for several reasons:

• Moist and Tender Meat – The beer steams and bastes the chicken from the inside, helping keep it incredibly juicy and tender.

• Infused Flavor – As the beer evaporates, it permeates the chicken with subtle beer flavor. You can use any type of beer you like.

• Self-Basting – The vertical position allows the chicken’s juices to run back down over the meat, further basting it as it cooks.

• Cool Presentation – Having an entire chicken sitting upright on your grill looks impressive and unique. Great for serving guests.

The combination of moist meat, delicious flavor, and fun presentation makes beer can chicken a crowd-pleasing recipe. But can you actually make it work on a smaller 22.5 inch Weber? Time to find out!

The Benefits of Weber Kettle Grills

Weber kettles are among the most popular charcoal grills on the market, and for good reason Here are some of the benefits they offer

• Versatile – Excellent for grilling, smoking, baking. Can cook anything from burgers to brisket.

• Portable – The kettle design makes them lightweight and easy to move around. Great for camping or tailgating.

• Durable – Made from heavy-duty porcelain enameled steel to withstand years of use.

• Affordable – Weber kettles provide excellent bang for your buck. A fraction of the cost of premium gas grills.

• retain heat – The enclosed kettle shape does an amazing job of trapping and circulating heat. You can cook low and slow if desired.

I’ve used Weber kettles for over a decade and find them to be amazing grills, especially considering their modest price. But I needed to determine if they could handle an iconic grilling recipe like beer can chicken.

Testing Beer Can Chicken on a 22.5 Inch Weber

To test if beer can chicken was feasible on a 22.5 inch Weber, I conducted a couple trial runs. I wanted to evaluate:

• If the chicken fit comfortably within the kettle with the lid closed
• How tricky it was to balance the bird on the can
• How well the chicken cooked in this vertical position

Supplies Needed

• 22.5 inch Weber kettle grill
• Chimney starter
• Lump charcoal
• 2 large chickens (5-7 lbs each)
• 2 cans of beer – I used a pale ale and a lager
• Poultry seasoning

Process

Here is the process I followed during my test cooks:

1. Remove any giblets from the chicken cavities. Rinse the birds and pat dry. Apply poultry seasoning inside and out.

2. Open the beer cans and pour out about half of each one. Place cans on a flat surface.

3. One at a time, lower the chickens slowly over the cans with the can inserted into the cavity. Wiggle each bird down until balanced securely.

4. Light a full chimney starter of lump charcoal. Once fully lit, pour out evenly on one side of the grill.

5. Place each chicken beer can assembly vertically on the grill, opposite the coals. Close the lid.

6. Maintain a grill temp between 325-350°F, adjusting vents as needed. Cook chickens for approx. 1.5 hours until 165°F.

7. Carefully transfer chickens off the cans and let rest 10 minutes before serving.

Results

The test cooks showed that beer can chicken is absolutely possible on a 22.5 inch Weber kettle!

• The chickens fit nicely within the grilling area with the lid fully closed. No issues there.

• It took a few tries getting the birds centered and balanced on the cans, but once situated they were very stable.

• The steamed and vertical cooking ensured the meat came out incredibly moist and tender from all angles.

While it required a little extra care balancing the chickens, the end results proved that beer can chicken can be cooked successfully on a standard Weber kettle grill. Don’t be afraid to give this recipe a try!

Tips for the Perfect Beer Can Chicken

Now that I’ve confirmed you can make beer can chicken on a Weber kettle, here are my tips for ensuring the perfect, juicy bird every time:

• Use a rib rack – Placing the chicken on a rib rack over the can makes balancing easier and improves air circulation.

• Pre-season – Injecting or brining the chicken will get flavor deep into the meat. Apply a dry rub too.

• Pre-heat grill – Let the grill reach 325-350°F before adding the chicken for optimal cooking.

• Use a drip pan – Place a disposable foil pan under the chicken to catch drippings.

• Rotate the bird – Occasionally spin the chicken for even cooking. Use grill tongs to avoid poking holes.

• Check doneness – Use an instant read thermometer to verify 165°F in the breast and 175°F in the thighs.

• Let rest – Always let the chicken rest 10+ minutes before carving for juicier meat.

Other Cooking Methods to Try

While beer can chicken is extremely popular, it’s not the only way to make juicy, flavorful chicken on your Weber grill. Here are a couple alternative methods you may want to try:

Spatchcock Chicken

This involves removing the backbone and flattening the bird for faster, more even cooking. Spatchcocking increases the surface area exposed to the grill.

Rotisserie Chicken

Weber sells a rotisserie ring attachment that allows you to roast a whole chicken vertically on a motorized spit. The constant rotation results in very moist meat.

Grilled Chicken Pieces

Cutting the chicken into parts like breasts, thighs, legs, etc allows for direct grilling of each piece. Great for bone-in or boneless pieces.

Chicken Skewers

Skewering bite-sized chunks of chicken is a quick and easy grilling method. Soak wooden skewers before using.

Don’t limit yourself – with the right technique you can grill chicken amazingly well in all sorts of ways on your Weber kettle. Get creative!

After thorough testing, I’m happy to report that beer can chicken can absolutely be cooked on a standard 22.5 inch Weber kettle grill. While it requires a little extra care situating and balancing the upright chicken on the can, the end result is incredibly juicy, tender and flavorful meat. With the right preparation and cooking technique, you can successfully make this popular dish on your Weber grill. So grab a chicken, a six-pack of your favorite beer, and fire up the kettle for your next barbecue meal. Your guests will be impressed and satisfied. Enjoy!