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Clay's Beer-Can Chicken on the Grill

Clay's Beer-Can Chicken on the Grill turns a simple whole bird into exceptionally juicy meat with crackling, well-seasoned skin. A bold rub of smoked paprika, cumin, and cayenne pairs with steaming beer to keep every bite tender and aromatic—perfect for weekend cookouts, tailgates, or a casual summer dinner with friends.

  • Prep15 mins
  • Cook1 hr
  • Serves6
  • DifficultyMedium
Clay's Beer-Can Chicken on the Grill

easyChef Pro health score

Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Clay's Beer-Can Chicken on the Grill, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.

49 Health Score
Glycemic ImpactFair
53 / 100
Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
Nutritional DensityPoor
1 / 100
Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
Energy DensityGood
92 / 100
Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
NOVA Unprocessed or minimally processed
1 / 4
Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.

How it scores for each health goal

The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.

29
Heart Health
65
Metabolic
14
Digestive
33
Inflammatory
54
Performance
44
General Wellness
  1. 1

    In a small bowl, whisk together onion powder, salt, smoked paprika, cumin, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, oregano, thyme, and brown sugar until fully combined.

  2. 2

    Make 2 cuts in the chicken skin, one on the front and one on the back; gently loosen the skin without tearing by sliding your hand underneath. Rub the chicken skin and cavity with vegetable oil; then rub the spice mixture over the skin, inside the cavity, and under the loosened skin.

  3. 3

    Preheat an outdoor grill to medium heat.

  4. 4

    Set the beer can on the preheated grill; slide the chicken onto the can through the cavity. Grill until the chicken is well browned, the juices run clear, and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the breast, near but not touching the bone, registers at least 165 degrees F (75 degrees C), about 1 to 1 1/2 hours.

About This Recipe

Clay's Beer Can Chicken on the Grill is made with 12 ingredients and serves 6. It takes about 1 hr 15 mins and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Beer, Brown Sugar, Cayenne Pepper, and Dried Oregano. Each serving provides about 375.15 kcal, and is a good source of protein.

Recipe Questions

What is Clay's Beer-Can Chicken on the Grill made of?
The main ingredients are Beer, Brown Sugar, Cayenne Pepper, Dried Oregano, Dried Thyme. The full list of 12 is above.
How long does it take to make Clay's Beer-Can Chicken on the Grill?
About 1 hr 15 mins in total: 15 mins to prepare and 1 hr to cook.
How many calories are in one serving?
One serving provides about 375.15 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
Is Clay's Beer-Can Chicken on the Grill easy to make?
This recipe is rated medium, with 12 ingredients and 4 steps.
Is Clay's Beer-Can Chicken on the Grill healthy?
Clay's Beer-Can Chicken on the Grill has an easyChef Pro health score of 49/100. Per serving, it provides 375.15 calories and 64.36 g of protein, or 129% of the Daily Value. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 626.54 mg (27% of the Daily Value). It contains Alcohol, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.

How easyChef Pro scores recipes and products

easyChef Pro analyzes up to 41 nutrients using data sourced from USDA and other verified food databases. Its scoring method uses the nutrients relevant to nutrition quality, calorie density, processing level, and your selected health goal. Recipes and food products get a health score from 0 to 100, calculated using consistent rules instead of being estimated by AI. The same nutrition data, serving size and health goal will produce the same result.

The calculation evaluates nutrients, calorie density, processing level, and how well the food supports your selected health goal. Protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients can strengthen the score. High amounts of sodium, saturated fat, added sugar and other nutrients may lower it.

Your health goal also matters. easyChef Pro evaluates recipes and products across six health areas and adjusts their importance for your selected goal. This means the same food may be a better fit for one health goal than another.

For recipes, changing an ingredient, quantity or serving size changes the nutrition and may change the score. Remix the recipe in easyChef Pro to calculate fresh nutrition and scores for the version you actually make. Product scores are based on the nutrition and serving information associated with that specific product.

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