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Effortless Smoked Whole Chicken
Have you ever had smoked chicken? Well, this one is simply effortless to make, and turns out fantastic! My kids love this chicken recipe, and we never have leftovers. Check out this effortless smoked whole chicken!
The secret to smoking a whole chicken is to start with a good seasoning rub. Slather it all over that fresh bird and let it rest for a bit. Then set him up in the smoker on a rack and let him cook. It’s really that easy.
Sure, there are always tips and tricks and other helpful bits of information, but that’s why you came here. Read on to find out how to make a perfect smoked whole chicken.
Supplies Needed
Well, obviously you will be needing a smoker. I love my smoker, it’s not fancy but it works great. This simple electric smoker suits my needs just fine. I especially love that the manufacturer is available for help if something goes wrong, and you need a part. Plus, it’s electric, so no need to monitor the heat constantly by adding wood.
You will be in need of some smoking chips as well. For chicken you want a light wood such as apple or cherry. These will add a bit of sweet flavor to the meat as it cooks and give it a good golden glow all over the skin.
I prefer to make my bird stand up while it is smoking. I meat thermometer” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>good meat thermometer to ensure your chicken is cooked all the way through. No one wants pink chicken for dinner, so checking that it is cooked to 165 degrees Fahrenheit is the only way to go. I like that this one can stay in the chicken, and you can just read it without opening the smoker and losing all that flavor.
After these hard supplies, you will need a chicken, some spices, and an optional drip pan to insert under the chicken.
Effortless Smoked Whole Chicken
Equipment
- 1 Smoker
- 1 Chicken rack
- 1 Smoking wood chips
- 1 Meat Thermometer
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp kosher salt
- 2 tsp onion powder
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp dried oregano leaves
- 1/2 tsp white pepper
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1/2 tsp ground ginger
- 1/2 tsp ground coriander
- 1 whole chicken
Instructions
- Mix spices in small bowl.
- Rinse and pat chicken dry using paper towels
- Stand chicken on rack. Coat evenly with spice mixture. Add excess to inside cavity of bird.
- Heat smoker to 250 degrees F
- Place chicken in smoker and cook for about 2 and a half hours.
- Check temperature at about 1 hour, leave thermometer inserted to remotely monitor if possible.
- Once breast reaches 165 degrees and thighs are about 180, remove chicken from smoker. Allow to cool. Carve and serve.
What Goes Best
I like to pair this smoked chicken with a nice fresh potato salad and some grilled vegetables. This really makes it feel like summertime on a lazy weekend. Coincidentally, this is when I actually smoke a whole chicken. (Those recipes will come later, I promise).
You can’t go wrong with this chicken; it really is effortless! Pop it into the smoker, hang out with some friends or family in the back yard and enjoy. The only thing that makes this recipe better is when you raise your own chicken to cook.
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