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Home » Grilling

Smoked Whole Chicken

Published: Apr 25, 2022 · Modified: Sep 29, 2022 by Scott · This post may contain affiliate links where I earn a commission, at no charge to you, if you make a purchase using my link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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This smoked whole chicken is seasoned with a homemade BBQ dry rub, then smoked low and slow for a moist, juicy chicken that's full of flavor.

Smoked whole chicken shown on a cutting board.
Jump to:
  • Why this Recipe Works
  • Smoked Chicken Rub
  • How to Spatchcock a Whole Chicken
  • What Temperature to Smoke a Chicken
  • How to Cook Chicken on a Smoker
  • Smoked Chicken Internal Temperature
  • How Long to Smoke Chicken
  • How to Make Smoked Chicken with Crispy Skin
  • Recipe Tips and FAQs
  • What to Serve with Smoked Chicken
  • 📖 Recipe
  • More Recipes for your Smoker

Why this Recipe Works

Cooking whole chicken on the smoker can be tricky if not done correctly. Just like roasted chicken in your oven, the white meat can easily dry out when overcooked.

But in this whole smoked chicken recipe we will "spatchcock" the bird, or remove the backbone and flatten the chicken.

Smoking spatchcock chicken helps to reduce the cooking time and make the whole chicken cook more evenly to avoid drying out the white meat. It's the best way to smoke a whole chicken!

Smoked Chicken Rub

This quick and simple bbq rub for smoked chicken is sweet from the brown sugar with a mild spice level from the paprika and black pepper.

If you like more spice in your smoked BBQ chicken you can add a teaspoon or two of cayenne pepper to the mix. For a deeper smoke flavor you can substitute smoked paprika.

To prepare the rub, simply add all of the ingredients to a small bowl and stir to combine. If time allows I highly recommend applying the rub the night before you cook to allow the seasoning time to penetrate the meat.

Labeled photo showing the seasonings for the chicken rub in a bowl before mixing.

How to Spatchcock a Whole Chicken

  1. Lay the chicken on a cutting board with the breast meat facing down.
  2. Locate the backbone, then begin trimming the bones along the backbone with kitchen shears, to separate the thigh. Continue up toward the wings until you've cut through one side.
  3. Repeat on the other side of the backbone and remove the backbone. I recommend freezing the backbone to use later for stock.
  4. Flip the chicken over so the breast is facing up. Then press down firmly with both hands on the breast bone to flatten the breast. Arrange the thighs so the meat and skin is facing up and tuck the wing tips under the breast.
Photo collage showing the process of removing the backbone of a whole chicken, then spreading it apart to spatchcock it for faster cooking.

What Temperature to Smoke a Chicken

I recommend smoking chicken at 275°F. The higher temp will cook the chicken faster, making it less likely to dry out, but is still low enough to allow plenty of time for the smoke to flavor the meat.

Many smoked meats, like pork and beef, are best when cooked at 225°F. This low temperature allows the fat and connective tissue to slowly render and flavor the meat as it cooks to become ultra tender. But chicken has much less fat and the delicate white meat can easily dry out during a long cook.

How to Cook Chicken on a Smoker

  1. Lightly coat the chicken skin with olive oil. Season the chicken on all sides with the rub and work some in under the skin with your hands, being careful to not tear the skin.
  2. Preheat your smoker to 275°F, then place the chicken on the rack with the skin facing up and add a few wood chunks to produce the smoke.
  3. Cook the chicken until it reaches an internal temperature of 160°F in the deepest part of the breast.
  4. Transfer the chicken to a cutting board and tent with foil. Allow the chicken to rest for 15 minutes before carving.
A whole chicken shown on a smoker before being cooked.
A whole chicken shown on a smoker after being cooked.

Smoked Chicken Internal Temperature

When smoking a whole chicken I recommend removing the chicken from the smoker when the internal temperature in the thickest part of the breast reaches 160°F and the thighs are around 165-170°F.

Then transfer the chicken to a cutting board and tent with foil. Let the chicken rest for 15 minutes. This resting time will allow the juices to redistribute and results in a moister, juicer chicken.

Pulling the chicken at this temperature will help to avoid drying out the white meat. As the chicken rests, the internal temperature will continue to rise to the USDA recommended temperature of 165°F.

If you leave the chicken on your smoker until it reaches 165 degrees it will continue to rise closer to 170°F as it rests and the white meat is much more likely to dry out.

I recommend using a high-quality digital thermometer with a leave-in probe inserted in the deepest part of the breast to monitor the temperature throughout the cook.

It's also best to check the meat with an instant-read thermometer in several places when finished to ensure the chicken is properly cooked throughout.

How Long to Smoke Chicken

When smoking a whole chicken at 275°F plan on around 30 minutes per pound, or 2 to 2 1⁄2 hours for a 4 pound chicken. If you smoke at a lower temperature of 225-250°F plan on closer to 3 to 3 1⁄2 hours for a 4 pound bird.

Remember though, there are many factors that can impact cook time. So it's important to smoke chicken to temperature and not time.

A spatchcocked chicken cooking on a smoker.

How to Make Smoked Chicken with Crispy Skin

Smoked chicken skin can be tough and leathery. Giving the skin a light coat of oil and smoking your chicken at 275°F help to reduce this and make it softer, but it will still not be crispy.

If you want really crispy chicken skin, you will need to use high heat at the end of the cooking process. This can be done in a 425°F oven or on a hot grill. This is the same technique I use in my crispy smoked chicken wings recipe.

I recommend removing the chicken from the smoker around 5 degrees earlier, at 155°F, if you want to make smoked chicken with crispy skin. Then transfer to the oven or grill and cook for around 10 minutes, until the skin is nice and crisp. Be careful to avoid burning the skin if using a grill.

Smoking chicken on a pellet grill, such as a Traeger, makes this process easy. You can simply raise the cooking temperature at the end using the controller on your smoker. Plan on raising the temperature around 30 minutes before the end of the cook to allow time to come up to high temp.

Recipe Tips and FAQs

How to store smoked chicken

Store leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 5 days.

How to reheat smoked chicken

To reheat leftover smoked chicken cover with foil and heat in a 275°F oven until warmed through. Smaller portions can be covered in plastic wrap and heated in the microwave.

What wood to use for smoked chicken

I recommend a mild to medium flavored wood such as hickory, or a fruit wood such as apple or cherry for smoked chicken. Pecan wood is also nice for chicken.

What to Serve with Smoked Chicken

This whole smoked chicken is juicy and flavorful and can be served with or without barbecue sauce and it can also be shredded and served as pulled BBQ chicken.

It pairs great with all of your traditional barbecue cookout side dishes. Here are a few of my favorites:

  • Instant Pot Baked Beans
  • Creamy Bacon Mac and Cheese
  • Instant Pot Southern Style Green Beans
  • Hawaiian Mac Salad
  • Greek Orzo Pasta Salad

If you try this recipe don't forget to leave a RATING or COMMENT below. I would love to hear from you!!! And FOLLOW me on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram for all the latest recipes!

📖 Recipe

Smoked whole chicken shown on a cutting board.

Smoked Whole Chicken Recipe

This smoked whole chicken is spatchcocked and coated in a flavorful dry rub, then slow smoked, resulting in moist flavorful chicken.
5 from 3 votes
Print Pin Share Rate
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 3 hrs
Servings: 4
Calories: 308kcal

Ingredients

  • 4 pound whole chicken, spatchcocked (see notes)
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil

Smoked Chicken Rub

  • 2 Tablespoons light brown sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon Paprika
  • 1 Tablespoon Kosher salt
  • 1½ teaspoons ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions

  • Add all of the rub ingredients to a small bowl and stir until combined.
  • Lightly coat the chicken skin with olive oil. Season the chicken on all sides with the rub and work some in under the skin with your hands, being careful to not tear the skin.
  • Preheat your smoker to 275°F, then place the chicken on the rack with the skin facing up and add a few wood chunks to produce the smoke.
  • Cook the chicken until it reaches an internal temperature of 160°F in the deepest part of the breast. Then transfer to a cutting board and tent with foil.
  • Allow the chicken to rest for 15 minutes before carving

Notes

How to spatchcock a chicken
  1. Lay the chicken on a cutting board with the breast meat facing down.
  2. Locate the backbone, then begin trimming the bones along the backbone with kitchen shears, to separate the thigh. Continue up toward the wings until you've cut through one side.
  3. Repeat on the other side of the backbone and remove the backbone. I recommend freezing the backbone to use later for stock.
  4. Flip the chicken over so the breast is facing up. Then press down firmly with both hands on the breast bone to flatten the breast. Arrange the thighs so the meat and skin is facing up and tuck the wing tips under the breast.

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 308kcalProtein: 28gFat: 17gCholesterol: 122mgSodium: 153mgPotassium: 276mg

* All nutrition information we provide are estimates based on third party calculators. We encourage you to calculate these on your own for accurate results.

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Chicken, smoked chicken, smoker
Tried this recipe?Don't forget to leave a rating above and mention @disheswithdad or tag #disheswithdad on social media!

More Recipes for your Smoker

  • Smoked St. Louis Spare Ribs
  • Crispy Smoked Chicken Wings
  • Smoked Pulled Pork Barbecue
  • Smoked Turkey Breast
  • Smoked Meatloaf
  • Smoked Pork Tenderloin Wrapped in Bacon
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Comments

  1. Romeo Slaybaugh

    July 12, 2022 at 11:10 pm

    Thanks for writing this! I've been bbqing all summer and looking forward to it again this weekend! Excited to try burgers for my next bbq.

    Reply

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Hello, I'm Scott! ! I'm a former professional cook and a long-time home cook. I created this space to share my favorite quick and easy, family-friendly recipes and hopefully inspire you to try some of them for yourself!

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About Me

Hello, I'm Scott! ! I'm a former professional cook and a long-time home cook. I created this space to share my favorite quick and easy, family-friendly recipes and hopefully inspire you to try some of them for yourself!

Read More →

Lighter Favorites

  • Grilled Balsamic Steak Salad
  • Asian Chicken Meatballs
  • Kale and Farro Salad with Roasted Butternut Squash
  • Greek Chicken Souvlaki Kebabs
  • Tropical Green Smoothie
  • Baked Lemon Dill Salmon

See More →

Featured Recipes

  • Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole (Without Soup!)
  • Enchiladas with Green Sauce
  • Lasagna with Homemade Noodles
  • Instant Pot Pork Roast and Potatoes
  • Brioche French Toast Casserole
  • Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta

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