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Easy smoked chicken on a whole bird pellet grill, juicy and flavorful.

Smoked Chicken

A delicious and easy method for smoking a whole chicken on a pellet grill that results in juicy meat and crispy skin with minimal hands-on time.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours 30 minutes
Total Time 3 hours 45 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, BBQ
Calories: 350
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 1 whole whole chicken, about 4 to 5 pounds
  • 2 tablespoons oil or melted butter
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt Don't be shy with salt.
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon optional: onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon optional: dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon optional: pinch of brown sugar
  • as needed cup pellet grill pellets (apple, cherry, or hickory)

Method
 

Preparation and Smoking
  1. Preheat the pellet grill to 225-250°F.
  2. Pat the chicken dry and rub it all over with a thin layer of oil.
  3. Season the chicken generously with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and smoked paprika.
  4. Place the chicken on the grill and smoke until the breast reaches 160°F and the thighs are at 175-185°F, approximately 2.5 to 4 hours.
  5. Increase the grill temperature to 375°F for the last 15 minutes to crisp the skin.
  6. Let the chicken rest for 15 minutes before carving.
Carving
  1. Remove the legs and thighs first, then the wings, and finally slice the breast meat.
  2. Alternatively, shred the chicken for easy serving.

Notes

For best results, allow the chicken to sit at room temperature for 20-30 minutes before cooking. If using a marinade, pat the chicken dry before seasoning.