One of the most rewarding things to smoke on the grill is a smoked chicken. There are tons of ways to do it, but I want to share an easy way to not only get it right, but you will have a go to recipe that you will have to do every week because it tastes so good.
Ingredients:
1 or 2 4 – 5 lbs whole chickens
Your favorite BBQ rub
Cayenne pepper
Salt
Sugar
Black Pepper
Garlic
Equipment : I highly recommend a cooking thermometer to check internal temps. Link below:
******A brine (opitional but if you have the time I recommend)*******
Bring 2 quarts of water to a boil in a large pot and Add 1 cup of brown sugar to the boiling waterA s soon as the sugar dissolves add 1 cup of of your favorite BBQ Rub
How to use the brine
Bring 2 quarts of water to a boil in a large pot Add 1 cup of brown sugar to the boiling water. As soon as the sugar dissolves add 1 cup of your favorite bbq rub. Stir the rub into the mixture and turn off the heat. Add 32oz of ice cubes to the pot to chill the brine
This recipe is enough brine for 1 chicken. It can be easily doubled for multiple chickens or even whole turkeys. Needs to soak for at least 6 hours, but I like for it to go overnight. The brined chicken will be juicer and have more flavor through-and-through.
Directions:
1. After the chickens or chicken has soaked for at least 6 hours, remove the chicken from the brine.
2. Lay it on a sheet pan and spray the entire outside with cooking spray. You can use vegetable, olive, peanut, or any type oil that you want but make sure you do this step! This will help the chicken achieve the golden appearance.
3. Double layer this chicken with seasoning by adding two dustings of seasonings to the whole chicken .
4. First dustings is made up cayenne pepper, black pepper, and garlic powder. (you can do equal portions in a dispenser if you want)
5. Next use your favorite BBQ rub to enhance the color. Since I soaked the chicken overnight there’s no need for injecting.
6. Here is where the smoke will really do the job
7. Your smoker should be set to 275-300 degree range. Cherry or Apple wood chucks, wood or pellets would do a great job. If you don't have a smoker you can set your grill up for indirect heat and cook chickens as well. Cooking at the 275-300 mark will help the whole chicken's skin turn out perfect every time.
8. Usually it takes about 2 hours to cook chickens, but make sure to use a cooking probe.
I start checking the internal temp of the Whole Smoked Chicken at the 1 ½ hour mark just to get a feel for where it is.
9. 165 in the breast and 175 in the thickest part of the thigh.
Let the chicken rest for 10-15 minutes before cutting into it.
Enjoy!
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