Beer-can chicken means: A cooked dish made by standing a prepared chicken upright on a partially filled can of beer and cooking it slowly in a barbecue or oven, so that the beer evaporates and permeates the meat.. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. This is a food-related word and harmless in itself.
beer-can chicken
(US, cooking) A cooked dish made by standing a prepared chicken upright on a partially filled can of beer and cooking it slowly in a barbecue or oven, so that the beer evaporates and permeates the mea
Definitions
Global
#1·Apr 27, 2026Global
(US, cooking) A cooked dish made by standing a prepared chicken upright on a partially filled can of beer and cooking it slowly in a barbecue or oven, so that the beer evaporates and permeates the meat.
For parents
Beer-can chicken means: A cooked dish made by standing a prepared chicken upright on a partially filled can of beer and cooking it slowly in a barbecue or oven, so that the beer evaporates and permeates the meat.. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. This is a food-related word and harmless in itself.
For ESL learners
beer-can chicken means: A cooked dish made by standing a prepared chicken upright on a partially filled can of beer and cooking it slowly in a barbecue or oven, so that the beer evaporates and permeates. Register: neutral, standard English. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself.
Cluster: alcohol
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For specific readers
Why is this section here?
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
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Other words near "beer-can chicken" (B)
bee piratebeeraholicbeer and skittlesbeer baronbeer bashbeer blastbeer cheesebeered-upbeer gogglesbeerhoundbeer leverbeer money
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