Smoking a chicken is EASY! Wow your taste buds with this melt-in-your-mouth smoked chicken! Prepped with a brown sugar, smoky paprika, and garlic based rub, this smoked chicken recipe tastes amazing!
Who doesn't love the taste of smoked meat? And I especially love smoked chicken. I've never met anyone who didn't get excited about sitting down to eat a meal that had some type of smoked meat, like slow smoked baby back BBQ ribs or a smoked pork shoulder for pulled pork barbecue sandwiches. Smoked meat is absolutely delicious!
And this Applewood smoked chicken is no different. It's fantastic! It's quick to prep, easy to smoke, and incredibly juicy. It pairs well with so many different side dishes like these creamy homemade deviled eggs, this grilled corn on the cob, and these smoked baked beans! I tell you...it's DELISH!
Smoking a whole chicken has never been easier. Anyone can do it. If you're new to smoking meat, this is a great beginner recipe to make. Even if you have experience smoking meat, this recipe is a must-have in your collection of smoker recipes! Everyone loves the smoky flavor and the taste of this tender meat.
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✔️ Quick Recipe Overview
Why This Is The Best Smoked Chicken Recipe: This is a 5 out of 5 🌟 rated recipe! It's tender, juicy, and full of favor. Watch the video in the recipe card to see how easy it is to smoke a chicken!
How Long It Takes: Marinate 12-24 hours. Smoke for 4-5 hours
Equipment You'll Need: charcoal, gas, electric, or pellet smoker
ℹ️ Why This Recipe Works
1. This smoked chicken can be made using any type of smoker.
2. No brining needed! The meat turns out incredibly moist and tender because you smoke it low and slow.
3. You can use this recipe on a whole chicken, spatchcocked chicken, or individual chicken pieces!
🛒 Ingredients You'll Need
The smoked chicken rub is flavorful and easy to make using common spices typically found in your pantry. It's the perfect mix of smoky and sweet.
- Whole Chicken - use a 4-5 pound whole chicken so that it will cook more evenly while smoking. This larger size also retains moisture better than the smaller ones.
- Dark Brown Sugar - contains molasses which adds more sweetness to the rub.
- Chili Powder - adds a hint of spice that pairs well with the sweetness of the brown sugar.
- Smoked Paprika - gives the rub a subtle smoky flavor.
- Onion Powder - pairs well with the other spices and gives the rub a well rounded flavor.
- Garlic Powder - adds a hint of garlic and savory flavor.
- Oregano - adds an additional layer of flavor to the rub which takes the flavor to a whole new level.
- Salt - adding salt to the rub improves the overall taste by providing a savory element.
Be sure to see the recipe card below for the full ingredients list & instructions!
📋 Variations
- When it comes to smoking a chicken, you can either smoke it whole or spatchcock it.
- For more richness and added flavor, baste it with melted butter a couple of times while it's smoking.
- If using a water pan, try adding a 1 tablespoon of Liquid Smoke to the water. This will add to the smoky flavor.
- When you slow smoke a whole chicken, the skin can become dry and rubbery. And for those who love to eat the skin, you'll want to make sure it's moist and delicious. To get that delicious and moist skin, take a large cheesecloth and soak it in melted butter. Drape it over the chicken before you put it in the smoker. Smoke the whole chicken with the cheesecloth on the entire time and then remove it 30 minutes before it's done smoking.
🔪 How Spatchcock A Chicken
You can smoke a whole chicken with great results, but there is a benefit to spatchcocking. Spatchcocking is a cooking technique where you remove the backbone to split and flatten the bird. When it's flattened, it cooks faster and more evenly than a whole bird. This method results in juicier and more tender meat. I also use this method when making this roasted apple cider chicken!
Step 1: To spatchcock the chicken, start by removing and discarding the innards, such as the neck and liver that may be stuffed in the middle. Then place it on a cutting board.
👩🍳 Important Note: It's not necessary to rinse the chicken. Doing so can actually increase the risk of cross-contamination by the splashing of the water which can spread harmful bacteria around your sink and kitchen. The smoking process will kill the bacteria as long as it's cooked to the proper internal temperate.
Step 2: Using a pair of kitchen shears or a sharp knife, cut along one side of the backbone from the tail to the neck.
Step 3: Repeat on the other side to remove the backbone completely.
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Step 4: Turn the chicken over and press down firmly on the breastbone to flatten it out.
The spatchcocked chicken is now ready to be seasoned and then smoked.
📖 Preparing The Smoker
Depending on the type of smoker you use will depend on how you prep it.
- Light the smoker and preheat it to 225°F before adding the meat.
- If you're using a water pan, use a disposable pan or wrap the water bowl with aluminum foil before adding the water. There are a lot of drippings when smoking and this will make cleanup easier after the smoke.
- Depending on what type of smoker you use will determine if you use wood chips, wood chunks, or pellets. If using wood chunks, they should last the entire smoke time without having to refill the pan. If you use wood chips, they will burn out by the end of the smoke time so check them every 1.5-2 hours and add more as needed.
🐔 How To Smoke A Whole Chicken
Step 1: Start by applying the rub and allow it to marinate. Take the rub and sprinkle it all over the chicken.
👩🍳 Chef's Note: Make sure to press the rub in really well, especially under the skin. This helps enhance the flavor. You want the chicken to be completely covered with the rub.
Step 2: Next, place the chicken in a large dish, cover with plastic wrap, and place in the refrigerator. Allow it to marinate for 12-24 hours.
Step 3: Prep the smoker and once it has preheated to 225°F, put it on a rack in the smoker breast side up.
Step 4: Insert a meat thermometer into the side of the breast ensuring it doesn't touch any part of the bone.
Step 5: Let it smoke low and slow. The method of smoking at a low temperature allows more flavor to build over a longer cook time.
Once the internal meat thermometer reaches 165°F, it's done. Remove it from the smoker and wrap it loosely with aluminum foil. This helps keeps it warm.
Allow it to rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving. This allows the juices to redistribute and settle within the meat, resulting in an incredibly moist and more flavorful meat.
Look at that gorgeous smoked chicken! Smoked to perfection, it's incredibly juicy and makes for the perfect dinner!
🙋🏼 Recipe FAQs
Smoking low and slow won't get you the crispy chicken skin you're looking for. One method you can introduce is to start smoking at 225°F and then increase the smoker temperature to around 300°F toward the end of the smoking process. If you use this method, you have to be careful and do it just right so the meat doesn't dry out.
Another option is to brine the chicken and then smoke it at 325°F the entire time to try and get crispy skin. It can be done, you just have to adjust the smoking process.
I'm a fan of the low and slow process because that's the method that results in juicy and tender meat. Smoke a whole chicken, spatchcock chicken, and individual pieces between 225°F-250°F.
Apple wood works best with this recipe, but any mild flavored wood will work well. Pecan and cherry wood are all great choices!
There are 2 ways to ensure the meat doesn't dry out during smoking:
1. Smoking meat low and slow helps allows the meat to cook slowly and evenly. This gentle cooking process ensures the meat doesn't dry out and that the heat has enough time to penetrate the meat, breaking down the connective tissues and making it tender.
2. Ensure you don't overcook it. Remove the chicken from the smoker as soon as the internal meat thermometer reaches 165°F.
💭 Expert Tips
- Ensure the chicken is completely thawed before applying the rub and smoking it.
- For best results, let it marinate in the refrigerator overnight.
- I use (and recommend) wood chunks instead of wood chips for this recipe. Using larger pieces of wood produces a greater amount of smoke, enhancing the flavor of the meat.
- Always smoke to temperature, not time. As a general rule, you can estimate approximately 1.5 to 2 hours of smoking time per pound of chicken. Always use a digital meat thermometer when smoking meat to monitor the temperature of the meat. When it reaches 165°F, it's done.
- When using a smoker, the temperature will range back and forth several degrees. For best results, keep the smoker between 225°F and 250°F. But don't let it go over 250°F.
- Store in a container with a lid in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- For best results, reheat in the oven until warm. To ensure the meat doesn't dry out, add a small amount of chicken broth.
🍽️ Other Smoked Foods You'll Love
If you tried this smoked chicken or any other recipes on my website, please let me know how it turned out in the comments below. I love hearing from you! And, please leave a 🌟 rating while you're there!
👩🍳 Looking for more information about smoking meat? Are you looking for more smoker recipes? I recently published a smoking cookbook that contains 65 smoker recipes that anyone can make!
Order your of Smoking Meat Made Easy copy today!
Applewood Smoked Chicken
Equipment
- Smoker any type
Ingredients
- ¼ cup dark brown sugar, packed
- 2 Tablespoons chili powder
- 1 Tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 Tablespoon onion powder
- 1 Tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 Tablespoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 whole chicken, 4 to 5 pounds
Instructions
How To Spatchcock A Whole Chicken
- Start by removing and discarding the innards, such as the neck and liver that may be stuffed in the middle of the chicken. Place the whole chicken on a cutting board.
- Using a pair of kitchen shears or a sharp knife, cut along one side of the backbone from the tail to the neck.
- Repeat on the other side to remove the backbone completely.
- Turn the chicken over and press down firmly on the breastbone to flatten it out.
How To Smoke Chicken
- In a small bowl, mix together ¼ cup brown sugar, 2 tablespoons of chili powder, 1 tablespoon of smoked paprika, 1 tablespoon of onion powder, 1 tablespoon of garlic powder, 1 tablespoon of oregano, and 1 teaspoon of salt.
- Generously cover the chicken with the rub. Make sure to press the rub into the chicken really well, especially under the skin. You want the chicken to be completely covered with the rub.
- Cover the dish and refrigerate for 12-24 hours.
- After the chicken has marinated, prep the smoker accordingly and preheat it until the smoker reaches 225°F.
- Once the smoker has preheated, put the whole chicken on a rack in the smoker breast side up. Insert a meat thermometer into the side of the chicken breast ensuring it doesn't touch any part of the bone.
- Smoke the chicken at about 225°F until the internal meat thermometer reaches 165°F.
- When the chicken is done, remove it from the smoker.
- Wrap it loosely with aluminum foil and let the chicken rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
Video
Notes
- Ensure the chicken is completely thawed before applying the rub and smoking the chicken.
- I use (and recommend) wood chunks instead of wood chips for this recipe. Using larger pieces of wood produces a greater amount of smoke, enhancing the flavor of the meat.
- Always smoke to temperature, not time. Use a digital meat thermometer when smoking meat to monitor the temperature of the meat.
- When using a smoker, the temperature will range back and forth several degrees. For best results, keep the smoker between 225°F and 250°F. But don't let it go over 250°F.
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David
How do you keep the breast meat at 165 when you take the dark meat to 175? Do you tent it for a certain amount of time or something like that?
Amanda Mason
Hi David! Your chicken is done at 165. I need to update my post. I think I let it get to 175 once...but it's done at 165. You don't want to oversmoke it because it will fry it out.
Cindy
I have yet to smoke anything but ribs and am ready to venture out! So two questions,....do you put rub on skin on the top and meat on the bottom? Do you ever smoke this in a pan for easier clean up? Thanks for any suggestions.
Amanda Mason
Hi Cindy! I put the rub all over the chicken. Top, bottom, sides, and sometimes I rub it under the skin! I try to get it everywhere I dont smoke it in a pan for easier cleanup. You probably could...but I've always read to just put it on the rack. Let me know how it turns out for you! I'm so excited to hear back from you on your results!!
Dave Falwell
Thanks for this. Yours was the first recipe I had ever smoked. 4.5h on the smoker. Lots of smoke flavor. The rub was kind of lost in it. I covered the bird well in it, but didn't get it under the skin. I did marinate it overnight (16h in all).
Do you ever do it skinless or apply rub under the skin?
Amanda Mason
Yes - that is a good point. If you can really penetrate that rub under the chicken skin it would help seep into the chicken more. I've not done it skinless, no. A lot of people like to eat the skin so with the smoked flavor on the skin, it's pretty flavorful.
Miz Helen
Your Applewood Smoked Chicken looks fantastic! Thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday and sure hope you are having a great week!
Miz Helen
Amanda Mason
Yes - this one is a huge hit!
Grosky
I’ve smoked chicken a handful of times in the last 6 months. The colour of the chicken looks great and flavour of the meat is delicious. The problem is rubbery skin. Unless the chicken is cooked at at least 325 the skin will be rubbery and almost inedible. Thoughts?
Amanda Mason
Hi there - I don't eat the skin. I've heard that if you take a cheesecloth and soak it in melted butter then drape it over the bird before you put it in the smoker, it helps protect the skin at a low smoke and is quite tasty. I've not done this though. I agree that low heat plus the smoking process does equal a tough skin. Another thing you can try to do is smoke it at a higher temperature. Got with 325. Keep that meat thermometer in the chicken and when it reaches 165 to 170...it's ready. I can pretty much guarantee that will work perfect for you with my recipe!
I'm glad you love the flavor of my rub!
Ed
You don’t need to smoke it at such a low temperature, bump it up to 275-285. It will be done in a hour and a half to two hours, or slow cook it as Amanda says, then pop it it a hot oven for An additional 10 minutes to crisp up the skin. I should mention that I also brine my chicken so it doesn’t dry out.
Amanda Mason
Good tips, for sure! thanks for sharing, Ed!
Ben Myhre
I still have yet to buy a smoker, but it is on my list. As much as I would love to buy one of the old-time wood smokers and picture myself on the deck watching it all day, I don't know if I can do that! I am more thinking a high-quality electric smoker that is good at maintaining temperature.
If I happened to inherit a basic one, I might do that, as free or next to free is always good.
I love smoked stuff and also love experimenting, so I really don't know why I haven't splurged yet. The chicken you are picturing here looks so good and I want to eat it all. Even the skin. Especially the skin. Don't tell my doctor.
Amanda Mason
HA HA! this made me laugh! I won't tell your doctor! Thank you for the responses on the pictures! Seriously - go get a smoker! The one I have and linked to in my post makes it SUPER easy to smoke. I don't have to babysit it all day; I just monitor it! You'll thank yourself for buying one!
Gale
I am also the female smoker/griller of our family. I recipes and cell photos of my smoking meats. Maybe it is a blond thing hehe.
I spatchcock (cut backbone out) turkey to cook in a 2/3 the time. I slide my fingers between the breast and skin to place rub on breast meat. Once you go smoked turkey you will never go back to dry oven roasted turkey. Thanks
Gale
Leaves the breast meat more protected to spatchcock the chicken or turkey.
Amanda Mason
Interesting! I've never done that! I'll have to check it out!!
Rose
I'm new to smoking meat but I recently purchased a very nice propane smoker. I have the Applewood chunks to make this recipe but I couldn't find in your instructions whether I leave the chunks in the smoker the entire time it's cooking or not. Would you please elaborate on that part of the process.
Amanda Mason
Hi there! Yes, leave the chunks in there the entire time. When you start smoking meats that require a longer smoke time, you'll want to add more chunks to your pan but for this recipe, the chunks are added at the beginning and your leave them alone until the smoking is done. Make sure you soak your chunks before you start smoking. I soak mine in water overnight. Also, you'll have a separate pan of water in your smoker so when you smoke (or at least in my smoker) I have a separate pan for my chunks and a separate pan for my water. I line my water pan with aluminum foil then put the water in. Let me know if you have any other questions! Some people also cover their wood chunks with aluminum foil and poke holes in it. Lots of different methods. Let me know if you have any other specific questions!
Kristen R
That chicken looks absolutely fabulous! Love the flavor combinations!
Amanda Mason
Thanks! Yes, you will love it. It's a beautiful color and the moisture in this smoked chicken is ridiculous! So moist and flavorful!
Elaine @ Dishes Delish
I have yet to smoke chicken. Or smoke any meat for that matter. But this recipe makes me want to. It looks so delicious!!
Amanda Mason
Thanks! Having a smoker is one of the BEST purchases I've ever bought. We smoke everything. Such an amazing investment! If you ever try it, let me know how it turns out!
Julie
Are we related? 😉
This mom of four has a vegetarian, one lactose intolerant, one gluten intolerent, and three who can eat anything. Since I cook from scratch, it's not that hard to adjust/tweak. Trying your smoked chicken today.
Amanda Mason
Let me know how you like it!! It's cold here in AZ so using my smoker would be perfect on a day like today!
Jo
Wow this was amazing! Rub is perfect! We did chicken drumsticks and wings and chicken was moist and juicy.....delicious! Thank you for sharing this
Amanda Mason
Hi Jo!!
I am so glad you liked it! Thanks for taking the time to leave me a comment!!