Want juicy, tender chicken every time? Smoke your bird! For a perfectly moist flavorful chicken, this is the best way to cook a whole chicken for easy meal prep or dinner.
Contents
When it comes to meals that will change how you cook, a smoked whole chicken is one of them. With juicy, tender meat and tons of flavor, smoking may be your new go-to method for whole chicken every time.
Ingredients
- ▢ 1 whole chicken thawed completely, giblets removed
- ▢ 4 tbsp butter
- ▢ 3 tbsp GirlsCanGrill Chicken Rub
- ▢ 1 tsp salt
- ▢ 2 to 3 tbsp oil
Instructions
Prep the chicken
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Remove the chicken from the packaging and dry it off very well with a paper towel. Remove the neck and any other items from the cavity and be sure to dry the cavity out well as well.
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If needed, place a paper towel in the cavity for a few minutes to absorb and liquid.
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Carefully lift up the skin on the breast from the bottom, using your fingers and loosen it. Place the butter under the skin as far as you can manage to get it.
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Season the chicken liberally with the chicken rub and salt.
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Place the chicken on a wire rack on top of a rimmed baking sheet.
Preheat the smoker
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When ready to smoke, preheat the Traeger to 325 degrees F. Add wood chips in a smoker box or wood chunks in the hottest corner of your grill to add more smoke flavor.
Smoke the chicken
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Place the bird, still on the wire rack and baking sheet, directly on the grill grates. Close the lid and smoke for 1 to 1 ½ hours.
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At the 30 minute mark, baste the chicken with the oil, by gently dabbing it over the skin. Continue to baste every 15 to 20 minutes until the chicken breast reaches 160F and the thighs reach 170 degrees F with a digital meat thermometer.
Rest & serve
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Carefully remove the baking sheet from the grill.
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Allow the chicken to rest for 15 minutes. As it rests, it will rise another 5 degrees internaly due to carryover cooking.
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Carve the chicken by slicing the legs and wings from the bird. Then remove the thighs and slice the breasts from the breast bone.
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Serve with barbecue sauce if desired.
Nutrition
Serving: 1g | Calories: 381kcal | Carbohydrates: 0.01g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 31g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 115mg | Sodium: 536mg | Potassium: 242mg | Sugar: 0.01g | Vitamin A: 411IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 16mg | Iron: 1mg
