Pellet Grill Smoked Whole Chicken

A smoked whole chicken is easy to make on a pellet grill and so delicious. I will explain how simple it is to smoke a chicken and why it's one of the best things you will make all week!

When I want to make something that's both yummy and affordable without too much effort a whole chicken is usually my go-to dish. 

I love smoking a whole chicken because you not only get a flavorful meal but the leftovers can be transformed into a variety of other dishes. One cup of cooked chicken only has 38 grams of protein and only 5 grams of saturated fat making this a healthy dish.

Ingredients

• Whole chicken
• Olive oil
• Chicken seasoning or spice rub
• Lemon
• Onion
• Rosemary sprigs

How to Cook a Whole Chicken on a Pellet Grill

The method for cooking a whole chicken on a pellet grill is pretty simple. Once you've removed any giblets from the chicken, give it a rinse, both inside and out under cold water, and pat it dry.

While your pellet grill is preheating to 225F, brush the chicken skin with olive oil and sprinkle some of the seasonings inside the cavity of the chicken. The bird can then get stuffed with lemon slices, onion, and fresh rosemary sprigs.

Tuck the wings under the bird and tie the legs together in front of the cavity with butcher's twine to promote even cooking. Then season all sides of the exterior of the bird with the remaining seasoning. 

Smoke the bird for one hour at 225F and then increase the heat on your pellet grill to 375F. Allow the chicken to roast until it hits an internal temperature of 165F, then remove it from the heat and let it rest for 15-2o minutes before slicing. 

Is a pellet grill chicken hard to make?

A whole chicken is simple to make when you're using a pellet grill.

The key is to smoke the bird first which will add some sweet and savory flavors. Then you roast it to get the chicken skin nice and crispy. 

When you grill whole chicken, it's just as good as a rotisserie chicken but with the additional pop of smoky flavor from your pellet grill. If you don't have a pellet grill you can still make this dish.

Consider adding a bit of smoked paprika to your dry rub for some additional smoke flavor on your gas grill. You can also get a smoky flavor by placing some wood chips in a smoking box for gas grills for additional flavor.

 

 

How long does it take to smoke a whole chicken?

It can take as long as six hours to smoke a chicken at 225F until it's safe to eat which is an awfully long time to wait. 

Smoked whole chicken needs to come to a safe internal temperature of 165 degrees. So instead of smoking for the entire time, we smoke for the first hour and then roast the chicken to our desired finish temperature.

The additional roasting encourages the chicken to have crispy skin that retains the delicious smoke flavor. This method makes some of the juiciest smoked chicken breasts I've ever tasted. It's so satisfying when you remove the thickest part of the breast and it's just dripping with juices.

Pellet Grill Chicken FAQs

How long does it take to cook a whole pellet chicken?

If you're cooking at a lower temperature, it can take as long as 6 hours to cook a whole chicken on the pellet grill. At higher temperatures, roasting times vary but you can budget about 20 minutes per pound at 375F.

What should I serve with this recipe?

There's nothing I like to serve with roasted chicken more than potatoes and corn. If you want to liven things up a bit, spicy-sweet street corn with bacon and jalapeno goes so well with a whole chicken. And you can't go wrong serving Crispy No-Fry Potatoes alongside. 

How do I store leftover chicken?

The leftover chicken will keep in the refrigerator in a sealed container or bag for up to three days after it's cooked. It's easier to remove the chicken meat from the bones while the chicken is still warm but don't forget to save the bones for soup or stock another day.

Do I need to flip the Chicken?

The great thing about cooking chicken on a pellet grill is that it does not need to be flipped. Because a pellet grill cooks very similarly to your oven, there's no need to flip the bird part way through. 

Now that you've mastered chicken on the pellet grill, you should consider trying to cook a turkey on a charcoal grill. This recipe shows you how to do a delicious smoked turkey when you're ready to do a bigger bird! It also makes an amazing chicken salad! If boneless chicken is more your style, this chicken Cordon bleu recipe is a crowd-pleaser and tastes delicious when cooked on a pellet grill! 

 

📖 Recipe