Smoked Beer Can Turkey

By
Derrick Riches
Derrick Riches
Derrick Riches
Derrick Riches is a grilling and barbecue expert. He has written two cookbooks.
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Updated on 04/12/22
Beer Can Chicken
Regarding BBQ, Inc.
Prep: 30 mins
Cook: 6 hrs
Total: 6 hrs 30 mins
Servings: 8 to 10 servings

A more familiar beer-can recipe may be for cooking a whole chicken, but the same method is also ideal when smoking a whole turkey. Since turkeys are generally larger than chickens, however, you will need to use a larger-sized can of beer, such as a 24 ounce.

Cooking the bird on a can of beer is a great way to keep the turkey moist; as the beer heats up, steam is released inside the turkey. By adding bay leaves and thyme to the liquid, the turkey is infused with earthiness while it cooks, and a sweet and savory rub, as well as a spicy basting sauce, bring additional layers of flavor. Add to this the fact that the turkey is cooked in a smoker, and you have one complex, deep-flavored bird.

Ingredients

  • 1 (24-ounce) can beer

  • 6 bay leaves

  • 2 teaspoons thyme

  • 1/4 cup brown sugar, divided

  • 2 tablespoons paprika

  • 1 tablespoon salt

  • 1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 2 tablespoons ketchup

  • 2 tablespoons white vinegar

  • 2 teaspoons hot sauce

  • 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

  • 1 (15-pound/7-kilogram) whole turkey

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Empty the can of beer into a container.

  3. Cut off the top of the can and pour in 12 ounces of beer.

  4. Add the bay leaves and thyme. Set aside.

  5. Make the rub by combining 2 tablespoons brown sugar with the paprika, salt, and pepper.

  6. Make the turkey baste. In a separate bowl, combine the remaining 2 tablespoons brown sugar, the ketchup, vinegar, 2 tablespoons of beer, hot sauce, and cayenne.

  7. Prepare smoker for a 6-hour smoke at 250 F.

  8. Rub surface of the turkey with the spice rub. Try to get as much as you can under the skin, particularly over the breast meat.

  9. Stand beer can up on the smoker grate and gently set the turkey over the can so that the can is completely inside the cavity of the turkey. Make sure that the turkey stands easily and doesn't sway. The turkey needs to be stable.

  10. Once you have the turkey in the smoker, let it cook for about 6 hours at a temperature around 250 F. Baste the turkey with the basting mixture every 2 hours during ​the cooking process. Check for an internal temperature in the thigh of about 165 F/74 C. This is when the bird is done.

  11. When cooked, remove from heat and let sit for a few minutes before carving.

  12. Serve and enjoy.

What kind of beer works best for beer can turkey?

Whenever you use any kind of alcohol in a recipe, it should always be something you would normally enjoy drinking. Beer is no exception, but if your favorite is something strong-flavored or quite distinctive, you may want to choose one that is more middle-of-the-road like a lager.

Tip

If you're worried about the turkey toppling over in the smoker, you can place the can in a baking pan (disposable is fine) and then place the turkey on top. Put the pan directly onto the smoker grates.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
1346 Calories
51g Fat
10g Carbs
195g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8 to 10
Amount per serving
Calories 1346
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 51g 65%
Saturated Fat 15g 74%
Cholesterol 742mg 247%
Sodium 1436mg 62%
Total Carbohydrate 10g 4%
Dietary Fiber 1g 3%
Total Sugars 5g
Protein 195g
Vitamin C 3mg 14%
Calcium 111mg 9%
Iron 8mg 44%
Potassium 1746mg 37%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)