Crispy Beer Chicken might just be my favorite reason to fire up the grill! Chicken thighs get soaked in a beer marinade before being grilled to absolute perfection with the best crispy skin. The best part is that they’re ready to eat in just 25 minutes!
I love cooking with beer! This crispy beer chicken thighs recipe is one of my favorites, right up there with beer can chicken. There’s just something about the way that beer (in this recipe, Corona) pairs with the fiery grill and tender chicken.
Chicken thighs are always fabulous on the grill – the way that the skin crisps up is to die for. And when you combine that with a bold beer marinade? Swoon! While this is one of my favorite summer recipes, it’s also perfect for game day in the fall. There’s never a bad time for chicken and beer, right?
What’s in crispy beer chicken?
This recipe might be the one that my husband requests the most! Here’s a peek at what makes it so good:
- Chicken Thighs: Make sure you’re using bone-in, skin-on thighs for the best crispy skin!
- Beer: Corona is my go-to beer to use for the marinade. A darker porter would make a different but delicious flavor. If you don’t want to cook with alcohol, you can also use a zero alcohol beer.
- Garlic: For the very best flavor, use fresh garlic cloves!
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How to Store and Reheat
Store your leftover chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. I recommend reheating the air fryer or oven so the skin stays crispy!
How to Freeze
You can freeze cooked chicken for up to 3 months. Just make sure it’s fully cooled to room temperature prior to freezing. I recommend letting frozen chicken thighs slowly defrost in the fridge prior to reheating.
Notes and Tips
- Don’t try to skip the marinading process! The chicken thighs need the full 4 hours to really soak in all of that amazing flavor. Plus, this process helps to tenderize the meat.
- I always recommend cooking with a beer that you’d actually drink. If you buy something cheaper that you don’t necessarily like the flavor of, there’s a big chance you won’t like the flavor of the marinade.
Beer Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
- sea salt and black pepper to taste
For the Marinade:
- 12 ounces Corona beer
- 5 garlic cloves crushed
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme
- 1 tablespoon vegetable or chicken stock powder
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
For the Garnish:
- fresh parsley
Instructions
- Wash and pat dry thighs. Place chicken in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper.8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, sea salt and black pepper
- Pierce chicken through with a skewer, pour beer, add garlic, thyme, stock powder and honey. Cover with foil and marinate for 4 hours in the refrigerator.12 ounces Corona beer, 5 garlic cloves, 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, 1 tablespoon vegetable or chicken stock powder, 1 tablespoon honey
- After 2 hours, turn the chicken on the other side to make sure to get the marinade everywhere.
- When you are ready to cook, heat a large skillet on medium-high heat with olive oil.2 tablespoons olive oil
- When it starts to smoke, sear the chicken skinside-down until golden and crisp. Flip and sear the other side until golden, then decrease heat to low.
- Heat a pan on high-medium heat and boil beer marinade until reduced by half. Pour on the chicken and turn heat to medium-high. Let reduce again until thickened. Pour beer sauce on the chicken from time to time to keep the skin moist.
- Remove and garnish with parsley.fresh parsley
Notes
- If you find lager too strong, you can use a mild one instead.
I used zatar and its came great
That sounds delicious, Nana! Thanks so much for sharing!