Easy Smoked Chicken Recipes

EASY SMOKED CHICKEN DRUMSTICKS

Steps:

• Combine salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, parsley, mustard, and celery seed in a small bowl. Stir until evenly combined. Lay drumsticks on a clean work surface and rub all sides with the spice mixture.
• Preheat an electric smoker to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C).
• Lay drumsticks directly on the smoker racks and smoke for 2 1/2 hours.

SMOKED CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• Combine water, kosher salt, brown sugar, and apple cider vinegar in a large bowl. Stir until salt and brown sugar are dissolved. Place chicken breasts into brine, cover, and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
• Preheat an electric smoker according to manufacturer's directions to 225 degrees F (110 degrees C) using maple wood chips.
• Remove chicken breasts from brine and rinse under cold water. Pat dry. Combine salt, black pepper, paprika, brown sugar, garlic powder, and onion powder in a bowl. Sprinkle dry rub all over chicken breasts and place skin-side up on a grill rack in the preheated smoker. Place a drip pan underneath.
• Smoke chicken breasts in the preheated smoker until chicken is no longer pink at the bone and the juices run clear, about 4 hours, adding maple wood chips as necessary to keep the smoke continuous. An instant-read thermometer inserted near the bone should read 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).

EASY SMOKED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Soak your hickory chips for 6 hours (may soak overnight).
• Split the chickens if you didn't have your butcher do it for you. Combine the salt, paprika, and pepper; stir well. Sprinkle over the chicken on both sides.
• Combine the vegetable oil, vinegar, and hot sauce, stirring well. Set chicken and oil mixture aside.
• Prepare a fire in your grill; let burn until the coals are gray. Rake the coals to one end of the grill; put an old disposable foil pan on the other end of the grill. Pour water in it to make steam and keep your chicken nice and moist. Sprinkle the hickory chips over the hot coals.
• Place the chicken on the side of the grill over the pan with water in it. Place the lid on the grill. Grill over indirect heat 3 to 3 1/2 hours, or until done. Turn the chicken occasionally. Add hickory chips as needed to keep the smoke going. You may also need to throw a few pieces of charcoal in it to keep the fire going nice and hot. Baste the chicken with the oil mixture during the last hour of grilling time.
• Enjoy!

SMOKED WHOLE CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat a smoker to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C).
• Combine paprika, chili powder, cayenne, black pepper, thyme, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt in a large mixing bowl and mix completely with a fork until well combined.
• Spatchcock the chicken by placing chicken, breast side down, on a work surface. Starting at the tail end, cut along both sides of backbone with kitchen shears. Remove backbone. Grabbing hold of both sides of the chicken, open it like a book. Turn breast side up. Push down on each side of breast with your hands until you hear it crack. Flatten. Rub with the seasoning blend.
• Smoke until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh, near the bone, reads 140 degrees F (60 degrees C), about 3 1/2 hours. Turn up the heat to 350 to 400 degrees F (175 to 200 degrees C) and get direct heat on the skin to finish out with an internal temperature of 160 degrees F (71 degrees C).
• Remove from heat, cover in foil, and allow to rest until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F (74 degrees C), about 10 minutes. Cut and serve.