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Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons light brown sugar
  • ½ tablespoon coarse ground pepper
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 2 teaspoons onion powder
  • 2 tablespoons smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon ground mustard
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 3 ½ lb. whole chicken
  • Olive oil

Instructions

  • Add about 2 handfuls of wood chips to a bowl of water and soak for about 3 hours. You can use the wood of your choice such as hickory, mesquite, oak or a fruit wood.
  • Mix all the dry ingredients together in a small bowl.
  • Pat the chicken dry with paper towels. Generously rub all sides of the chicken with olive oil. Generously rub the seasoning mixture all over the chicken.
  • Place the chicken in your smoker and smoke at 210 to 220 degrees for about 1 hour.
  • Drain the soaked wood chips from the water and add to the smoker for extra flavor. Continue smoking about 45 minutes or until the breast temperature is about 170 degrees F and the thickest part of the thigh is 180 degrees F.
  • Remove from the smoker and lightly cover with tinfoil. Let rest about 5 minutes. Cut and serve warm.

Notes

If you're smoking a 5+ lb. chicken increase your smoking time by roughly 1 hour.
For this recipe we used the Pit Barrel Cooker with hooks.