Description
Smoked BBQ Chicken is a flavorful and juicy dish made by slow-cooking chicken over wood smoke and basting it with a tangy barbecue sauce.
Ingredients
- 1 whole chicken (about 4 lbs)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp smoked paprika
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp onion powder
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
- 1 cup BBQ sauce (your choice)
- Wood chips (hickory or applewood), soaked in water
Instructions
- Preheat your smoker to 250°F (120°C).
- Rinse and pat dry the chicken. Remove any giblets.
- Brush the chicken with olive oil.
- In a small bowl, mix smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, brown sugar, salt, pepper, and cayenne (if using).
- Rub the spice mix all over the chicken, including under the skin where possible.
- Place the chicken in the smoker, breast side up. Add soaked wood chips to the smoker box or coals.
- Smoke the chicken for about 3-4 hours or until internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) in the thickest part.
- During the last 30 minutes of cooking, baste the chicken with BBQ sauce every 10 minutes.
- Remove the chicken from the smoker and let it rest for 10 minutes before carving.
- Serve with extra BBQ sauce if desired.
Notes
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure the chicken is cooked through.
- You can spatchcock the chicken for more even cooking.
- Try different wood chips for unique flavors.