Smoked Chicken – a whole smoked chicken that is super tender, juicy, and full of flavor. A great way to get dinner on the table the whole family will love.
I am a big fan of the rotisserie chicken at Costco, not only are they cheap, but they are actually taste delicious. Well, I found something to top it! I have made whole chickens in the oven plenty of times before, and never been a huge fan. Well throwing it on the smoker changes everything. The entire bird was incredibly moist and you could taste the seasoning throughout the whole chicken.
This smoked chicken recipe is a super simple one that you can make over and over again. You can even throw more than one chicken on the smoker at a time, so you can have leftovers for days. Or you can freeze to use in enchiladas, dips, or soups later. Like most smoking recipes, it is very easy, you just have to know your smoker so you can gauge when it will be done.
When chickens go on sale I like to buy more than one. Then I can smoke one to eat for dinner and use the other one in different recipes. It is a very budget friendly dinner and a great way to stretch you food budget.
You want to make sure to use a good spice blend that you enjoy on the chicken. It will penetrate the meat along with the smoke flavor, so you want to pick something you really enjoy. The smoked chicken rub I use most often is my favorite Best Dry Rub Recipe. It is super versatile blend of spices that isn’t too overpowering or super smokey in flavor. I like to make a big batch and then it just sits in the pantry for when I am ready to use it.
How To Make Smoked Chicken
- The first step it so drizzle a little olive oil over the skin of the chicken. This helps to keep moisture in and make sure the skin doesn’t get a leathery texture while it is smoking.
- Generously season the chicken, but because of the olive oil you don’t want to actually rub it in like you would other meats. Just get it on the surface evenly over the entire chicken.
- Tie up the legs and tuck the wings under. This will help to keep everything tight and together so the whole chicken stays nice and moist.
- Place it on the smoker that is set for 225 -250 degrees F, you can go as high as 275 degrees with a chicken.
- Cook until the breasts temperature is 165 degrees F. Then let the meat rest for 10 minutes before slicing.
- If you want to brush with barbecue sauce do this during the last 5 degrees of cooking. That will give it time to caramelize a little and really flavor the meat.
How Long To Smoke A Chicken
The size of the chicken will be the biggest variable when it comes to smoking a chicken. You can count on about 45 minutes per pound. So the average chicken will take somewhere in the range of 3-5 hours. Chicken isn’t super tough like a lot of cuts of pork you make, so you don’t have to cook it quite as low and slow as Smoked Pork Butt. So if you want to speed things up a little, you can cook at 275 degrees for closer to the 3 hour range.
What Wood To Use For Smoked Chicken
I really like a more mild wood for chicken otherwise I think it over powers the meat. Apple wood chips are my favorite for chicken. They give it flavor, but it isn’t too strong. You could also use cherry, maple, or hickory wood for this recipe and it would be delicious.
What To Serve with Smoked Chicken
More Summer Dinner Recipes
- Classic Grilled Hamburgers
- Smoked Baby Back Ribs
- Grilled Chicken Sandwich
- Spicy Bacon Cheeseburger
- Smoked Tri Tip
- Best Turkey Burger
- Grilled Chicken Thighs
- Jerk Chicken
- Grilled Pork Tenderloin
Smoked Chicken
Smoked Chicken - a whole smoked chicken that is super tender, juicy, and full of flavor. A great way to get dinner on the table the whole family will love.
Ingredients
- 1 whole chicken (4-5 pounds)
- 2 Tbsp Olive Oil
- 1/4 cup Dry Rub (recipe link in notes below)
Instructions
- Preheat smoker to 225-250 degrees F.
- Drizzle olive oil over chicken and sprinkle dry rub over all sides of the chicken. Do not rub the seasoning into the meat or it will clump up.
- Place on chicken and cook for 3-5 hours until a meat thermometer says the chicken breast is 165 degrees F.
- If you want to brush with barbecue sauce do this during the last 5 degrees of cooking temp.
- Remove from the smoker and let stand for 10 minutes before slicing to serve.
Notes
Nutrition Information
Yield
5Serving Size
1Amount Per ServingCalories 334Total Fat 22gSaturated Fat 5gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 14gCholesterol 105mgSodium 98mgCarbohydrates 0gFiber 0gSugar 0gProtein 33g
Nutrition Disclaimer: All information presented on this site is intended for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information shared on dinnersdishesanddesserts.com should only be used as a general guideline.
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Kevin says
This looks so good! I love a good smoked chicken! Cannot wait to have this one!
Jen says
I want to reach through my screen and eat it up!! Such an easy way to get dinner on the table.
Vikki says
So delicious and easy! Beautiful smoky flavor throughout, definitely making again
Sara Welch says
Love a good smoked chicken recipe and this was no exception! The dry rub was the best I have ever tasted!
Catalina says
Yum! It looks so crispy! I can’t resist it at all! The best!
Jacque Hastert says
What a great way to feed a hungry family and get no complaints about dinner for anyone. Like you I also love Costco rotisserie chickens. However, I bet this has more flavor.