Have you ever tried beer can chicken? This classic game-day dish is not only a crowd favorite, but also an easy and delicious way to spice up your dinner.
Whether you’re hosting a tailgate or an at-home barbecue, serving beer can chicken will keep everyone happy and full!
However, the trickiest part of preparing the meal tends to be deciding what sides pair best with it.
To help make this decision easier for you, we’ll walk through all the components involved in building a winning plate of beer can chicken with what to serve with beer can chicken.
What Is Beer Can Chicken?
Roasting an entire chicken on top of an open beer can is a common cooking method called “beer can chicken.”
The beer in the can evaporates while the chicken cooks, creating moist, flavorful meat with crisp, golden skin.
This cooking method is a great way to ensure that your chicken comes out perfectly cooked and juicy every time.
Beer can chicken can be cooked on a gas or charcoal grill, in the oven, or even over an open campfire.
The most important part of this cooking method is choosing a flavorful beer to use, as this will impart its flavor into the finished product.
Experiment with different beers to find the one that best fits your tastes.
Once you’ve chosen your beer, place the opened can upright inside a roasting pan and set the chicken on top.
After seasoning your chicken as desired, all that’s left is to roast and enjoy!
What To Serve With Beer Can Chicken?
Beer can chicken is a delicious and easy-to-make dish.
While the beer can itself adds flavor and moisture to the bird, there are options for what to serve with beer can chicken that can be served alongside it to create a complete meal.
Spicy Jalapeño
Spicy Jalapeño is a type of chili pepper that has a distinctive flavor and heat level. It’s commonly used in many dishes, including beer can chicken.
The spicy jalapeño’s flavor adds complexity to the dish and helps balance out the sweetness from the beer, creating an overall more flavorful experience.
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Additionally, the heat from the pepper helps to tenderize the chicken as it cooks, making it more succulent and juicy.
The jalapeño also adds a nice kick of flavor that makes beer can chicken stand out from other dishes.
Finally, the vibrant color of the jalapeño provides an eye-catching contrast against the chicken’s golden brown skin or sauce.
Mexican Corn Coleslaw
Mexican Corn Coleslaw is a flavorful, creamy coleslaw that combines fresh corn, jalapenos, green bell peppers, and cilantro with mayo and lime juice.
It’s the perfect complement to beer-can chicken!
The combination of spiciness from the jalapenos, sweetness from the corn, and acidity from the lime juice and cilantro brings out the flavor of the beer can chicken, making it a delicious dish.
The creamy texture of the coleslaw also adds creaminess to the meal when served alongside.
Try topping your Mexican Corn Coleslaw with a few shakes of hot sauce or salsa for an extra kick!
Onion Rings
Onion Rings are classic bar food, but they can also be served as an accompaniment to grilled, roasted, or fried chicken.
The combination of the crunchy onion rings and juicy beer can chicken makes a delicious meal sure to please any crowd.
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Onion rings provide a welcome contrast in texture with their crispy exterior and soft interior.
The onion also provides a nice contrast in flavor, with its subtle sweetness complementing the savory flavors of the chicken.
When served as an accompaniment to beer can chicken, onion rings bring out the best in both dishes.
They provide a crunchy, flavorful addition that takes this classic summertime dish to the next level!
Marmite Roasted Potatoes
Marmite Roasted Potatoes is a savory, flavorful side dish that combines the rich, umami flavor of Marmite – made from yeast extract – with potatoes for a delicious and easy-to-make accompaniment to beer can chicken.
The Marmite adds depth of flavor to the potatoes, bringing out their natural richness and sweetness.
The added depth of flavor makes Marmite Roasted Potatoes a perfect complement to beer can chicken, typically cooked on top of an open beer can.
Together, they make for an amazing meal that will impress your guests!
Greek Salad
Greek Salad is a fresh and flavorful dish of tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, olives, feta cheese, and oregano.
It is usually served with an olive oil-based dressing or vinaigrette and sometimes includes peppers or capers.
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The flavors in the salad pair perfectly with the smoky flavor of beer can chicken.
The sweetness of the tomatoes and onions helps to balance out the chicken’s smokiness, while the feta cheese’s saltiness brings out all of the other flavors.
This combination makes for a delicious meal, perfect for when you want something light but still flavorful.
Beer can chicken also pairs well with lemon, garlic, and herbs which makes for a delicious addition to the salad.
Mushroom Stuffing
Mushroom Stuffing is a savory and flavorful dish made from mushrooms, bread, onions, celery, and seasonings.
It’s perfect for stuffing chickens or other poultry, meatloaf, pork chops, or as a side dish all on its own.
Its rich flavor pairs perfectly with the flavors of beer can chicken.
The mushrooms provide an umami flavor, and the bread helps to absorb the juices from the chicken as it cooks.
When served with beer can chicken, Mushroom Stuffing adds a delicious depth of flavor that will surely please any crowd.
Hasselback Squash
Hasselback squash is a type of squash that originated in Sweden. When cut open, it has a unique, fan-like shape, making it an eye-catching side dish or appetizer.
The deep furrows and ridges in the Hasselback squash make it especially amenable to absorbing flavors – such as those from the beer can chicken – to enhance its already rich taste.
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Serving Hasselback squash with beer can chicken is a delicious way to combine two unique flavors in one irresistible dish.
Adding the spicy and savory beer can chicken to the naturally sweet and nutty flavor of the squash creates a truly special dining experience.
Fondant Potatoes
Fondant potatoes, diced potatoes or hashed browns are a classic side dish with beer can chicken.
Fondant potatoes are cubes of potatoes cooked in butter and broth until tender.
The potatoes are then caramelized in the same pan, giving them a crunchy exterior and creamy interior.
Combining the buttery potatoes and the juicy, flavorful chicken create a unique and tasty meal.
Fondant potatoes can be served as a side dish or atop salads for an unexpected twist!
They also make a great addition to any summer barbecue, picnic, or potluck.
Bacon-Wrapped Baby Potatoes
Bacon-wrapped baby potatoes are bite-sized, flavorful potatoes wrapped in bacon before being cooked.
They are perfect for serving alongside beer can chicken because the bacon adds flavor and texture to the dish.
The potatoes also help absorb some of the flavors from the beer can chicken as they cook together, making them a great side dish.
The result is a flavorful, juicy chicken with potatoes that are crisp and smoky on the outside and creamy inside.
It’s a delicious combination that will leave your guests begging for more!
FAQs
What Vegetables To Serve With Beer Can Chicken?
Beer can chicken pairs incredibly well with a variety of vegetables.
Carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts, asparagus and virtually any type of squash are all excellent options.
Roast the vegetables in the oven at 425°F for approximately 20 minutes or until they begin to brown and become tender.
What Sauces To Serve With Beer Can Chicken?
Barbecue sauce is the classic pairing for beer can chicken, but you could use plenty of other sauces.
Try experimenting with different marinades, glazes, or dressings, such as teriyaki sauce, honey mustard, a salsa verde, or chipotle cream sauce.
Does Beer Have To Be Used For Making Beer Can Chicken?
Yes, beer is typically used to make this dish.
However, other liquids such as root beer, apple juice and even chicken broth can be used instead of the traditional beer for a non-alcoholic version.
Conclusion
Now you should know what to serve with beer can chicken. Beer can chicken is a delicious and easy-to-make dish, perfect for summer barbecues and potlucks.
From roasted potatoes to Greek salad to bacon-wrapped baby potatoes, plenty of sides will pair perfectly with beer-can chicken.
Every side brings unique flavor and texture, making for an unforgettable meal.
With these sides, you can easily make a delicious and memorable dinner everyone will love.
