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–+ servings
crispy beer chicken in sauce
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4.57 from 62 votes

Beer Chicken Recipe

This easy chicken thigh recipe starts with a sweet and savory beer marinade, then finishes with a crispy sear and flavorful beer sauce glaze. Beer chicken is perfect for game day or weeknights!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Marinating4 hours
Total Time4 hours 25 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 829kcal
Author: Becky Hardin

Ingredients

  • 8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs *
  • kosher salt to taste
  • ground black pepper to taste
  • fresh parsley optional, for garnish

For the Marinade:

  • 12 ounces Corona beer **
  • 5 cloves garlic crushed
  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme
  • 1 tablespoon chicken bouillon granules
  • 1 tablespoon honey ***
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

Instructions

  • Wash and pat dry thighs. Place chicken in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper.
    8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, kosher salt, ground black pepper
    Ingredients for beer marinated chicken thighs.
  • Pierce chicken through with a skewer, pour beer into the bowl, add garlic, thyme, bouillon powder, and honey. Cover with foil and marinate for 4 hours in the refrigerator. (After 2 hours, flip the chicken on the other side to make sure it is fully marinating.)
    12 ounces Corona beer, 5 cloves garlic, 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, 1 tablespoon chicken bouillon granules, 1 tablespoon honey
    Chicken marinated in beer mixture.
  • When you are ready to cook, heat a large skillet on medium-high heat with olive oil.
    2 tablespoons olive oil
  • When the oil starts to smoke, place the chicken in the pan skin-side down. Sear 5-7 minutes on each side, until golden and crisp. Then reduce heat to low.
    Chicken thighs searing in a pan.
  • Heat a pot on high-medium heat and boil the beer marinade until reduced by half. Then pour it over the chicken and raise heat to medium-high. Let reduce again until thickened. Pour beer sauce on the chicken from time to time to keep the skin moist.
    Pouring beer glaze over chicken thighs.
  • Remove and garnish with parsley to serve.
    fresh parsley
    beer chicken on plate with mashed potatoes

Notes

*You can make this recipe with boneless, skinless thighs, too, but they won't get that yummy crispy skin.
**I prefer to use a light-bodied beer, like Corona, to infuse flavor without overpowering it. IPAs and lager are generally good options.
***Agave or another sweetener can be used instead. A hot honey can be used to infuse some heat.
Tips:
  • I like Corona, but you can make this recipe with any beer. I recommend choosing one you know you like the flavor of. Lighter beer will allow the chicken flavor to shine, while darker beers (like porters) will have more of a distinctive "beer" flavor.
  • If you don’t want to cook with alcohol, you can also use a zero-alcohol beer.
  • The ideal marinating time is 4-8 hours.
  • Bone-in chicken thighs are best when cooked to an internal temp of 170-180F.
Grilling Instructions: Season and marinate the chicken thighs as directed, then place on a grill set over medium-high heat (375-450°F) and cook for 6-10 minutes per side.
Storage: Store beer chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 days, or freeze for 3 months.

Nutrition

Serving: 2thighs | Calories: 829kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 53g | Fat: 61g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 12g | Monounsaturated Fat: 27g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 315mg | Sodium: 560mg | Potassium: 714mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 334IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 46mg | Iron: 3mg