This is the BEST Smoked Whole Chicken recipe. When smoking chicken you’re left with extra crispy skins and juicy meat. Whole smoked chicken, just like Smoked Chicken Wings, only requires 10 minutes prep time.
Whole chicken is coated in a simple mixture of olive oil, herbs and lemon juice (or BBQ) then cooked smoked low and slow, to create a perfectly seasoned crust to compliment the juicy interior infused with smoke.
More popular smoker recipes: Smoked Pork Chops, Smoked Tri Tip and Smoked Picanha.
Ingredients
The only must have ingredient is the whole chicken itself and oil! All the other spices are optional. We have two favorite flavors to choose from:
Garlic Herb – Lemon, Italian seasoning and garlic.
BBQ – BBQ rub and Barbecue sauce.
How Long To Smoke A While Chicken
Wondering how long to smoke chicken? The smoke time will vary depending on the weight and shape of the bird you’re cooking along with other factors, such as outdoor weather (how cold or windy is it?), so it’s difficult to calculate an exact cook time.
Here’s two guidelines to utilize:
How long does it take to smoke whole chicken at 275°F?
It takes approx. 2-2.5 hours when maintaining a constant temperature between 250°F and 275°F.
How long does it take to smoke whole chicken at 375°F?
It takes approx. 60-90 minutes when maintaining a constant temperature between 350°F and 375°F.
How To Smoke A Whole Chicken
Full instructions are in the recipe card, but here’s a quick overview so you know what you’re in for:
- Dry Brine the Bird (Optional) – For extra crispy skin, dry brine the bird with salt.
- Tie, Dry and Season the Bird – Remove the giblets, truss the legs and season away.
- Smoke – Carve out 2 – 2.5 hours cook time.
Internal Temperature
The bird is ready when the breast meat reaches 165°F and the thigh meat reaches 175°F. Make sure to take the temp on both sides of the bird, unless you’re cooking via a rotisserie. Use the lowest temperature of the two.
Also make sure the thermometer isn’t touching any bones as this will affect the reading.
Smoked Chicken Temperature
The goal is to keep the ambient smoked chicken temp as close to 275°F as possible. If you’re opting to use a manual smoker aim to keep it between 250 – 275°F.
Smoking A Whole Chicken
Smoking a whole chicken is easy when using the best smoked chicken recipe! This recipe can be made on any grill, however we don’t recommend a gas grill for longer cook times, such as this one. Full instructions are in the recipe card.
For beginners, here’s a quick cheat sheet for each type of grill:
- Charcoal – Pre-heat the coals until just washed over. Dump them in the middle of your grill and open the vents to 25%. Create smoke by placing wood chunks directly on the pre-heated coals.
- Pellet/Electric Smoker – Pre-heat your grill to 225°F. Follow the manufacture’s instructions to get an even smoke.
Supplies
- Energy Source – The chicken will be on the grill for hours so make sure you stock up on your selected energy source: charcoal, pellets, propane, gas, etc.
- Smoking Wood – Chunks, chips or pellets.
- Thermometer – Always use a thermometer. Always. Our go-to digital thermometer is the Thermaworks Dot. It never fails.
- Water Bottle – Use it to spritz the bird while cooking. We use inexpensive spray bottles from Amazon.
Wood Recommendations
Wondering what wood to use to make for a flavorful whole chicken? There are quite a few that work well. Pecan is our favorite when smoking poultry. It lends a nice sweetness to the meat. Cherry wood and apple wood are great options as well.
If you want a heavier smoke flavor, opt for oak. We don’t recommend using hickory wood due to the intense flavor.
Dry Brining
Like super crispy skin? The key is to dry brine the bird to help draw excess moisture out of the skin before cooking. It’s a simple process, but does take advance planning as it needs to dry brine for a minimum of 6 hours, up to 24 hours.
Check out the recipe card below for the “how to dry brine a chicken” instructions. To read up on the specifics of why this works, check out this informative article on the topic.
Recipe Tips
- You can replace the oil with butter, if you prefer, however the oil is what crisps up the skin.
- We always place a small bowl of water in the smoker when cooking for long periods, to help keep moisture in the meat.
- Make sure to spray the grill or rack prior to heating up, to ensure the chicken doesn’t stick to them.
- As with all chicken recipes, do not leave out at room temperature for more than two hours. If you have leftovers store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Use leftover bones and/or meat and make Instant Pot Bone Broth.
Side Dish Ideas
While you’re already using the smoker, why not throw on a few veggies to round out the meal? Here’s what we love serving next to poultry:
Smoked Potatoes
Smoked Mac and Cheese
Smoked Asparagus
Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Roasted Brussel Sprouts
Ensalada de Papa
Leftover Chicken Ideas
If you have leftover chicken, check out all our chicken recipes and soup recipes for ideas!
What Wine Goes With Chicken
Wine – Syrah, Pinot Noir, Burgundy, Champagne
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