How does a simple, juicy, flavorful chicken recipe sound? That is exactly what this Crock Pot BBQ Beer Chicken from Gooseberry Patch’s 101 Super-Easy Slow-Cooker Recipes Cookbook is…so delicious!
Aunt Lou here, and it is confession time.
I get hung up on cooking whole chickens. Why? I have no idea. I just do. It makes no sense to me. They are a GREAT way to feed your family for less….and y’all know that I am all about doing things for less money. And I have yet to find a recipe that wasn’t pretty easy that uses a whole chicken. So I have NO idea why I get all timid about making a whole chicken.
Now Cris? She is all about a whole chicken. It doesn’t faze her at all. *sigh* The plight of a little sister! Big sister always has it all together…maybe someday I’ll catch up! 😉
The best part of this yummy Crock Pot BBQ Beer Chicken is that my kiddos loved it as much as Michael and I did. The entire family gobbled this thing right up! If you know what it is like trying to feed a one-year-old and a three-year-old, then you know this is no easy feat!
Crock Pot BBQ Beer Chicken
So one of the things that hung me up on this particular recipe was that it says to “gently lift the skin” and rub the BBQ seasoning on and under the skin. Again, when I was talking with big sis, she thought it was no big deal and compared it to steps in preparing a turkey. Welp, I have never prepared a turkey! (Much to Cris’ dismay…although, come to think of it, she knows just about everything that goes on in my life, so I am not sure when she thought I would have made a turkey if it wasn’t with her and mom…but I digress 😉 )
The point of all this rambling? Don’t let that step keep you from making this recipe. It was actually easier and not near as scary as it sounds. How easy is it you ask? Well, I had a one-year-old pulling on my legs and pants and a three-year-old that “really wanted to help” while I was preparing this recipe. It is so easy that I kept Ryder from touching the chicken or juices, and Iyla didn’t even reach full meltdown mode by the time I was done! Mommy score!
- 3-4 lb roasting chicken
- 1/4 c barbecue seasoning plus a little more for sprinkling on top
- 12 oz beer or non-alcoholic beer
- Lightly spray your crock pot with cooking spray
- Gently lift the skin of your chicken and generously rub your barbecue seasoning under the skin and on top of the skin
- Place your chicken in your crock pot and pour your beer over the top
- Sprinkle your barbecue seasoning on any areas the beer washed the seasoning away
- Cover and cook on low for 8 hours
- Place in a broiler safe dish and broil for 2-5 minutes watching VERY closely to crisp up the outside
Slow Cooker Recommendation
I used my Hamilton Beach Programmable Insulated Slow Cooker for this yummy Crock Pot BBQ Beer Chicken. It was a snap to clean up, and I know that I can trust my Sir Hamilton to cook evenly. Depending on the size of your chicken, you will want to use a 3-6 quart slow cooker. The general rule is that you want your crock pot AT LEAST half full, but 3/4 of the way full is the sweet spot. So you will want to judge which size of slow cooker you need based off of the size of your chicken.
Affiliate links were used in this post.
What barbecue seasoning do you use? One you have mixed together or store-bought….If your mixture, is there a recipe? Thanks. This sounds e a good replacement for rotisserie chicken from store.
Hi Barbara!
I just used a store-bought barbecue seasoning. The one that the store happened to have when I went in was McCormick’s. It worked out great! Enjoy!
Aunt Lou
I am assuming that is a dry rub?
Hi Ron!
Yes, the barbecue seasoning is a dry seasoning. Enjoy!
Aunt Lou
Can you use a BBQ sauce instead of a rub?
Hi Goose!
I haven’t tried this with BBQ sauce. I would guess that it would taste a bit different and also have more moisture since the rub is dry. If you give it a try, let me know how it goes! Enjoy!
Aunt Lou
Is there a substitute for the beer like a can of
gingerale or coke ? Thank you, Nancy
Hi Nancy!
I haven’t tried it, but I would think you can use a can of coke if you would rather. Enjoy!
Aunt Lou
Hi again, I wanted to ask if you have tried stuffing the chicken first with a bread stuffing mix? My family love stuffing and it always tastes better when it has cooked in the chicken. Thank you. Nancy
Hi Nancy!
I don’t believe that this particular recipe would be good for producing a good stuffing since the chicken is sitting in beer or coke. I’m afraid the stuffing wouldn’t come out right.
Aunt Lou
I’m going to try it with Sprite and Head Country seasoning.
We don’t do turkey at Thanksgiving, since none of my famiily likes turkey, so I might try making a crockpot chicken instead. This looks totally yum and super easy!
Hi Ginger!
That sounds like a great idea! Enjoy!
Aunt Lou
What would you suggest to serve with it when it’s finished cooking?
Hi Denise!
So many things come to mind! I’m a pretty traditional girl, so green beans, mashed potatoes, corn on the cob, dinner rolls, corn salad, baked potatoes…your favorite veggie and a yummy dinner roll or slice of crusty bread would be great. Enjoy!
Aunt Lou