Smoked Whole Chicken Recipe
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 472kcal
Making a smoked whole chicken with southwestern flavors is a simple way to make chicken that is delicious as a main course, fantastic as leftovers, and amazing as an ingredient in a plethora of other dishes.
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Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 whole chicken 4 to 6 lbs
- 3 tsp Southwest Spice Blend
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1/4 apple diced
Instructions
- Rinse the chicken and pat it dry. Make sure to remove the gizzards.1 whole chicken
- Make a couple of small incisions in the skin between the bottom of the breasts and thighs.
- Use your fingers to loosen the skin around the breasts so there is enough room to spread the seasoning between the skin and the meat. Spread the seasoning on the inside of the cavity.3 tsp Southwest Spice Blend
- Combine the lemon juice and olive oil and rub over the outside of the chicken.1 tbsp olive oil, 1/2 tbsp lemon juice
- Stuff the cavity with the diced apple.1/4 apple
- Truss the chicken using kitchen string.
- Smoke the chicken at 250℉ (121℃) for approximately two hours.
- Melt the butter and baste the outside of the chicken when the internal temperature reaches 150℉ (65℃).1 tbsp butter
- The chicken is done when the thickest part of the breast reaches 165℉ (74℃) and the thigh reaches 175℉ (79℃).
- Let the chicken rest tented under foil for 20 minutes before carving.
Notes
The diced apple adds sweetness and moisture to the chicken, but should always be discarded and never eaten when the bird has finished cooking.
Nutrition
Calories: 472kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 35g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 15g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 150mg | Sodium: 156mg | Potassium: 375mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 360IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 2mg
