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–+ servings
cut up and sliced whole smoked chicken on a platter
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Lemon Rosemary Smoked Chicken

Lemon Rosemary Smoked Chicken is a great dinner to add to your grilling plans. Layers of delicious flavor make this whole smoked chicken a great option that will blow the store bought rotisserie chickens away. 
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time2 hours
Additional Time4 hours
Total Time6 hours 15 minutes
Course: Chicken
Cuisine: American
Keyword: juicy smoked chicken, smoked chicken on the grill
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 472kcal
Author: Milisa

Ingredients

  • 1 whole chicken

For the Brine:

  • 4 quarts warm water
  • 1 cup kosher salt
  • 1 lemon sliced
  • 1 tablespoon peppercorns

For the Chicken

Instructions

  • In a large pan or bowl, combine warm water with salt and mix until salt dissolves. 
  • Add lemons and peppercorns.
  • Submerge chicken in brine, then cover and refrigerate 1 to 4 hours.
  • Drain chicken well and pat dry with paper towels. Place on a baking sheet.
  • Melt butter and mix with granulated garlic.
  • Using an injector  to get butter under the skin of the chicken and down into the breast, thigh and leg areas.
  • Tie chicken with butcher twine. 
  • Sprinkle dry rub over chicken.
  • Prepare a grill fire to 350° with hickory or oak for smoke flavor.
  • Cook chicken over indirect heat with the grill closed for 1 to 1 1/2 hours keeping the grill temperature between 300 - 325°.
  • Use a digital thermometer to check the chicken in the thickest part of the thigh, near the bone, until it reaches 165°.
  • Remove from grill and allow to rest 15 minutes before slicing.  

Notes

Whole chicken can be wrapped in several layers of plastic wrap and refrigerated up to 2 days. 
Remove meat from bones and store in an airtight container in refrigerator up to 4 days. 
Freeze smoked chicken in a Vacuum Sealer  bags or 2 layers of plastic wrap and a layer of foil up to 3 months. Thaw in refrigerator.
To reheat chicken, add to a skillet with 1 tablespoon of chicken broth or water per cup of chicken. Cover and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally about 8 minutes.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 472kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 41g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 16g | Cholesterol: 162mg | Sodium: 253mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g