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a smoked chicken on a platter with lemons and hebs

How to Make the Best Smoked Chicken

Smoked chicken is a family favourite in our home! Smoking a whole chicken or turkey is actually a very simple process and the results are AMAZING. Use this recipe for any special occasion or just a yummy family meal all year round! 
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Prep Time: 6 hours
Cook Time: 5 hours
Course: lunch & dinner meals
Cuisine: American
Keyword: chicken, easy chicken recipe, smoked chicken
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 138kcal
Author: Deborah McDonald
Cost: 18

Ingredients

Smoked Chicken Ingredients

  • 1 Whole Chicken
  • 1 Wood Pellets of your choice applewood is delicious
  • 1 1bsp Olive Oil extra virgin

Brining Ingredients

  • ½  Cup Kosher Salt
  • ½  Cup Splash of Vinegar 
  • ½  Cup Sugar
  • Spices and Herbs

Homemade BBQ Rub Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp paprika
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1/2 tsp mustard powder
  • pinch of cayenne pepper

Instructions

Steps For Brining

  • For best results, brine your chicken. This is optional and only if you have time however it does make a HUGE difference in the flavour of the meat after it is smoked. 
    preparing to brine a chicken. filling a large pot with water to brine a chicken or turkey
  • Begin by filling a large pot with lukewarm water, enough to fully submerge or cover the bird. Bring to a boil and add approximately half a cup of kosher salt.
    adding salt to a pot to brine a chicken
  • Do not use table salt as the chicken will come out salty! You can add other spices or herbs at this point too. Let the pot simmer until the salt is dissolved. Cool and add your chicken to the pot.
    adding herbs to a chicken brine
  • Refrigerate until ready to smoke. I recommend at least 3 - 12 hours or about one hour per pound of meat.
    brining a chicken with herbs in a large pot
  • Start your smoker! Add in your wood pellets and then preheat your smoker to 250 degrees F.
    pellets in a smoker

Make A Spice Rub

  • Mix together the homemade BBQ rub spices.
    making a spice rub for smoking a chicken
  • Season the whole chicken with the spice blend. Blot your chicken dry using a paper towel and then drizzle the bird with olive oil and rub the homemade BBQ rub on the outside of the chicken and on all sides. Loosen the skin and add a dry rub between the skin and meat as well.
    putting a rub on a chicken before smoking it.

Truss The Chicken

  • Prep and truss the chicken/turkey. Use butcher twine to tie the legs together. Tuck the wing tips behind the shoulder joint.
    chicken ready to be smoked with a spice rub and herbs on it

Smoke The Chicken

  • Smoke that bird! Place the seasoned chicken directly on the grill grates. Close the smoker and smoke for 3-5 hours depending on the size of your bird. You’ll want the thickest part of the breast to reach 160-165 degrees F, and the chicken thighs internal temperature reaches 170-175 degrees F.
    For a turkey, it's good to plan 30 minutes per pound when you smoke it between 225-250 degrees F. It takes a 13-pound turkey about 7 hours in the smoker for the digital thermometer to reach 165 degrees F in the turkey breast and 175 degrees F in the turkey thigh.
    smoking a chicken
  • Remove, slice, serve and ENJOY that amazing smoke flavor!
    a whole smoked chicken with lemon and thyme on a platter with a fresh loaf of bread

Nutrition

Serving: 100g | Calories: 138kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Trans Fat: 0.003g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 9847mg | Potassium: 115mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 26g | Vitamin A: 748IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 24mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!