Beer can chicken is a whole chicken recipe garnished with a dry rub for maximum flavor and set over a bottle of beer in order to make it wet.
Because of how it looks, it is also known as a dancing chicken, chicken on a throne, and beer butt chicken. This tender, delightful, and juicy chicken recipe can be made in an oven or grill.
What To Serve With Beer Can Chicken
The beer can chicken usually goes well with vegetable-based side dishes. So, you can serve this chicken recipe with macaroni salad, pasta and greens, grilled corn, mac and cheese, and other salads. Even grilled veggies such as potatoes, zucchini, eggplant, and asparagus pair well with beer can chicken.
We have listed the side dishes, and delicious beer can chicken recipes in the following sections. If you are interested, make sure to scroll down.
Top 9 Side Dishes To Serve With Beer Can Chicken
As we mentioned, beer can chicken perfectly to be paired with veggie side dishes, particularly roasted vegetables.
Here are some of the most delicious dishes that taste better while eaten with beer can chicken.
1. Macaroni Salad
Macaroni salad can be used as a filling as it is not too strong, so it does not crush the taste and flavor of beer can chicken.
This recipe can be enjoyed with chicken, and it fills your stomach with its savory taste from mayonnaise and macaroni. It is also perfect to be served with grilled or fried meat-based dishes.
2. Grilled Corn
Grilled corn goes well with whole beer can chicken. If you are making beer can chicken on a grill instead of an oven, you can cook the corn on the same grill. Cover the corn using melted butter and other spices prior to putting them on the grill.
You can also add some spices while grilling corn to give it a smoky and tasty flavor. Another similar option is street corn, a staple side dish in Mexican foods, and it is also famous as corn on the cob.
3. Mac And Cheese
You can also eat mac and cheese with beer can chicken, and it can be made on the stove or in a slow cooker. Baked macaroni and cheese can stay at room temperature for about two hours. You can use pepper jack cheese, sharp cheddar, mozzarella, jack cheese, or parmesan for making this dish.
If you want to enjoy a more creamy filling, you can use processed cheeses such as American cheese or Velveeta. Wrap baked mac and cheese in plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator for around 4 days. In addition, baked mac and cheese can be frozen for 3 months in an airtight container.
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4. Sweet Potato Chips
Sweet potato chips are crispy and have a taste that blends well with beer can chicken. You can pair it with burgers, fried chicken, chili chicken, and other meat-based dishes.
Here are quick recipe instructions: preheat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius (fan) and 180 degrees Celsius (gas). Put oil, sweet potato chips, and soy sauce in a bowl and stir them. Then put them in a roasting container and use nutmeg and black pepper for seasoning. Bake it for about 30 to 40 mins until they become crispy.
5. Baked Beans
Baked beans will rapidly fill your stomach when eaten with beer can chicken. It is also simple to prepare this dish in huge quantities for parties and family gatherings. Baked beans have a variety of sweet, salty, and smoky flavors that complement the chicken taste.
Add beans in onions, peppers, bacon, and season it with barbeque sauce. Before that, soak the beans tonight to prepare them tomorrow. It will be easier to adjust the consistency, and the beans will cook quickly.
Read our article on What To Serve With Chicken Pitas
6. Pasta Salad
Pasta salad is another side dish that is light and blends well with the richness of the chicken. If you want to prepare this dish, you can use dried pasta such as penne, farfalle, fusilli, or farfalle.
Other ingredients include parmesan cheese or hard cheese, bell pepper, pepperoncini, cherry tomatoes, zucchini, olives, sliced mozzarella balls, scallions, basil, or parsley.
In addition to that, the total cook time is under 20 minutes, from arranging ingredients to preparing the dish. Moreover, you can store it in the refrigerator for about 5 days. This side dish utilizes a vinaigrette-based sauce.
7. Potatoes
Potatoes never go wrong with beer can chicken. You can make this starchy dish in any method.
For instance, roasted potatoes, mashed potatoes, oven-baked potatoes, and even scalloped potatoes taste good with chicken.
Based on your preference, you can prepare the potatoes.
8. Tangy Cabbage Slaw
Here is another light and veggie-based dish. It not only pairs well with beer can chicken but can be eaten alongside BBQ pulled pork, brioche buns, and various meat recipes.
If you want to make this recipe, mix mayonnaise, lemon juice, mustard, vinegar, celery, and salt in a tiny bowl.
Then season them as per your preference. After that, you have to add cabbage, onions, carrots, and celery. Grate well and put it in the fridge. In addition, you can prepare it one day before.
9. Roasted Vegetables
If you want to eat something light and wholesome with beer can chicken, it is better to stick to simple vegetable dishes.
For example, you can grill various vegetables, such as zucchini, asparagus, eggplant, and more. You can grill them on the same grill used to cook chicken. However, make sure not to burn the vegetables.
How To Prepare Beer Can Chicken – Simple Recipe

Simple Beer Can Chicken
Ingredients
- Rinsed and dried chicken (4 pounds)
- 1 Cup Vegetable oil
- 1 Can of Beer (12-ounce) - Pilsner or Pale Ale
- 2 TeaspoonsSmoked paprika
- 2 Teaspoons Dried thyme
- 2 Teaspoons Garlic powder
- 2 Teaspoons Oregano
- 2 Teaspoons Black pepper
- 2 Teaspoons Onion powder
- 2 Teaspoons Salt
- 1 Teaspoon Ground cumin
- 1 Teaspoon Cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Start preheating an outside grill in medium-high heat (350 degrees Fahrenheit) or indoor oven (400 degrees Fahrenheit)
- Mix the smoked paprika, garlic powder, ground cumin, oregano, thyme, onion powder, and salt to make the chicken rub.
- Use vegetable oil for kneading the whole chicken. Take the rub mixture to season the outside and inside of the chicken
- Remove ¼th of the beer from the can and position the chicken on the can in an upright position.
- For a Grill: Put the chicken in the center of the grilling tool and shut down the cover. Grill for about 1 to 1:30 hours or until the chicken has 165 degrees Fahrenheit internal temperature (juices will come out).
- For an Oven: Cook the chicken for about 75 to 90 minutes or until the thick chicken thighs reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit
Take out the chicken from the grill or oven, wrap it loosely using foil, and leave it for about 10 minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How To Use A Leftover Beer Can Chicken?
You can cut the excess beer can chicken into bite-sized pieces and add them into soups, such as chicken soup, chicken chili soup, rice chicken soup, and more. Also, you can shred the leftover chicken and add them to a salad or use it as a filling for tacos, rolls, and more.
Can You Store Beer Can Chicken In The Fridge?
You can store the beer can chicken pieces along with carrots and potatoes in an airtight jar and put it in the fridge for about 4 days. In addition, you can reheat the chicken and vegetables by putting them in the oven on low heat using a baking sheet.
Can You Freeze Beer Can Chicken?
Yes. You can freeze beer can chicken for about 2 months. Before that, let the chicken cool down, chop it into pieces, and put them in a freezer-safe container. Defrost it before the night in the fridge prior to reheating the chicken in an oven.
How Long Can You Leave Beer Can Chicken At Room Temperature?
You can keep the beer can chicken at room temperature for about 2 hours before it should be cooled and preserved. After that, you can serve it as it is or eat it together with delicious side dishes.
What Can Be Used As An Alternative To Beer?
You can replace beer with different canned liquids. For example, sprite, root beer, coke, and ginger ale, are some of the best substitutes. Wine and broth will give a decent flavor to the chicken as well. However, avoid using diet soda.
Conclusion
The beer can chicken is a delicious, tender, and juicy dish, and there are several veggie-based side dishes that taste well when eaten together. You can pair this chicken recipe with roasted vegetables, macaroni salad, potatoes (grilled, mashed, baked), mac and cheese, grilled corn, and many more.
Prepare the delicious beer can chicken, and any other side dish to enjoy a great feast.